September 24, 2026
Member: Kristin Carlson Vogen, J.D.
Role: Chair, Board of Directors
You were just elected Chair of the Civic Federation Board of Directors. What originally drew you to the organization, and what continues to interest you about our work?
I first became aware of the Civic Federation when I was CEO of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. Laurence Msall lived in Oak Park and volunteered on one of our committees. It wasn’t until I started attending the Federation’s annual luncheons when I was working at The Chicago Community Trust that I really began to understand the level of research and reporting the organization does throughout the city and state. When I joined the board – early in Joe’s leadership – I challenged a few aspects of our board governance, became active with the development of the strategic plan, and identified strongly with the core purpose of the Civic Federation: maximizing government efficiency, transparency, and accountability in Illinois. What continues to interest me is how adept the staff is at simplifying complex policies and budgets into short, accessible papers.
The Federation has changed and grown a lot in the last few years. From your perspective as a member and now Board Chair, what are you most excited to see the organization take on next?
Broadening our audience. The first and second pillars of our current strategic plan – Reimagine Engagement and Amplify Our Voice – are both extremely exciting to me. The accessible-to-all one-page summaries the team writes are exceptional. The issues tackled by the Civic Federation – including the city budget, CPS budget and governance, and property taxes – are all critically important for every resident of metro Chicago and the state. But these topics can seem remote and wonky for the typical individual. The Civic Federation’s talented staff makes the complex easy to understand – our job now is to increase our reach so more people become better informed citizens.
We have doubled-down in some of our core areas (budget oversight) but expanded into new areas of research (e.g. IDEC, SNAP, Medicaid). Are there particular issues or areas of our work that especially resonate with you? Why?
Budget oversight will remain central to the Federation – for good reason. In January, I researched the impact of SNAP program changes for Illinois residents and the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood in preparation for a panel I moderated. I was puzzled when Civic Federation papers continued to show up at the top of my searches as the topics seemed irrelevant to the purpose of the organization. Upon reflection, I recognized the truth in the Federation’s perennial theme: “Everything is Connected”. Each of those and other expanded areas of research impact the state and city budgets – and consequently, each resident’s property, income, and other taxes. That said, I’m most curious about the issue that looms over our daily life and the future of the city and state: pension reform.
You’ve had your own career and civic experiences outside of the Civic Federation. How have those experiences shaped the way you think about the role organizations like ours can play in Chicago and Illinois?
Most of my career has been spent helping individuals identify how they want to make a difference in the world. Initially my lens was solely focused on tax-efficient philanthropic giving. Over time and through greater exposure and interaction with various organizations and individuals, however, my aperture has widened. Every person, every house, every community has a story. And each is impacted – too often unequally – by government policies. Policies to protect or assist one group or geography may cause significant harm – immediately or in the future – to others, or even the same group. What has made me so committed to the work of the Federation is its focus on unbiased research shared in an accessible manner. Sometimes, the role of the Federation is to ask the questions no one else is asking.
Looking beyond the organization, what is your vision for Chicago and its next generation of voters and leaders? What gives you optimism about our region’s future?
My vision for Chicago includes thriving business communities in every neighborhood, where people safely travel on efficient public transit, know their neighbors, and consume local media. I would like to see increased enrollment in well-resourced neighborhood Chicago Public Schools. My vision includes an active and knowledgeable populace that understands the importance of their individual votes. We have amazing business incubators in Chicago in mHUB, The Hatchery, and P33 Chicago – to name only three. Our region has incredible bones – and industrious people. Our collective care for those around us is what ultimately provides me optimism for our future.
Fill in the blank: Chicago has the best ____.
Night skyline. [Or] is the best at providing morning energy.
Your best friend is coming to Chicago for the first time. They only have 24 hours to spend and there’s no price limit. What should they do?
I love this question! Primarily because my husband and I did this over the summer when family came to town (ok – we had a budget, and we had more than 24 hours, but still!). Itinerary: Wrigley for a Cubs game (a W!), the Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise aboard the First Lady, walk along the Riverwalk, a Grant Park Music Festival concert at Millenium Park – picnic on the lawn!, lunch in Chinatown, and visit to Pullman National Historic Park. With one friend and no need to sleep, I would add cocktails at Cindy’s Rooftop for the view, The Art Institute, a walk along the lake, the Obama Presidential Center, and a local theater production.
The throughline of Kristin’s career has been connecting opportunities for individuals of all ages and all generations to match their values with their giving and their investments. Currently, Kristin is one-third of the Donor Advised Fund Research Collective (DAFRC), leveraging her extensive knowledge and expertise about donor advised funds. Additionally, she builds partnerships within Chicago and the Midwest region for SOCAP Global and consults with various individuals and private foundations. In both for-profit and non-profit entities, Kristin’s leadership and subject matter expertise have assisted individuals, families, and public charities advance mission aligned investment and giving strategies. Kristin previously served as associate vice president, philanthropic strategies & innovation at The Chicago Community Trust. Before joining the Trust, she was president and CEO of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. Earlier in her career Kristin worked at Bank of America/U.S. Trust as a philanthropic specialist.
Presently, Kristin serves as Board Chair of the Civic Federation, is a trustee of Window to the World Communications, Inc. (WTTW 11/WFMT 98.7), board member of Friends of the Children – Chicago, and chair of Women Leaders in Philanthropy, a giving group of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. Kristin is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and has served as adjunct professor at Concordia University Chicago, teaching in its Not-For-Profit Program.
Kristin earned her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, and her B.B.A. in Human Resource Management from Abilene Christian University.