Director of External Affairs and Policy, Compass Family Services

Mary Kate is an advocate, writer, and ally in the movement to end homelessness. In her current role, she leads policy and advocacy efforts to improve systems and increase resources for homeless and at-risk families. She also co-chairs the Homeless Emergency Service Providers Association, a coalition of 30 community-based agencies working on the front lines of San Francisco’s homelessness crisis. Mary Kate is deeply invested in providing families and young people with the resources they need to build fulfilling lives. She believes in structural solutions for structural problems, including a well-funded social services sector where nonprofits and diverse leadership can thrive.

Mary Kate holds a B.A. in philosophy from Columbia College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. Her writing has appeared in CityLab, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and the Nonprofit Quarterly.

Rise Up Cohort: California 2019