E: hello@innovationequity.org
William (Will) Collins is an educator and senior non-profit executive serving as the Chief Advancement Officer for the Surge Institute. The Surge Institute strengthens the diverse talent pipeline and ensures the next wave of leaders represents the populations that education reform and equity efforts seek to serve. As CAO, William is a key leadership team member and owner of developing and leading strategies that drive Surge’s revenue and growth. Since 2018, William has raised over $31M to support Surge's programming and expansion. Will’s career started in Corporate America. His relationship-building strengths, business acumen, faith, and commitment to developing others quickly advanced him through global retail merchandise planning assignments for Fortune 500 companies, including Target and Home Depot.
Despite his corporate success, he surrendered to his lifelong call to be an educator. With this career pivot, he entered the classroom and taught economics in the Chicago Public Schools for six years. During this time, he explored opportunities to lead high-impact initiatives that benefit urban youth and transform urban communities, and so began his journey into the non-profit sector.
William holds degrees from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, DePaul University and an executive certificate from Georgetown University. In 2021, he was named one of Chicago's Top African American Leaders by Crain's Chicago Business, and in 2022 he was named one of Crain’s Notable Leaders in Community Development. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious Surge Fellowship, Chicago Urban League's IMPACT Leadership Development program, Education Pioneers Fellowship, and the Allstate Foundation's Nonprofit Leadership Center Executive Leadership Program. He serves on the boards of Open Books Chicago, the national board of Democracy Prep Public Schools, Hopebound, and the University of Minnesota Alumni Association. William is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and 100 Black Men of Chicago. He resides in the greater Chicago metropolitan area with his wife, Alicia.
