Background:
Rebecca Gifford Goldberg is Bellwether’s managing partner.
She joined Bellwether in 2010 as one of the organization’s first hires upon its founding. Under her leadership, Bellwether’s Strategic Advising practice area doubled in size and impact from 2021 to 2024. During this time, Rebecca built and expanded services focused on districts, governance, pathways to economic mobility, place-based partnerships, financial sustainability (including merger support), and academic and program strategy. She oversaw the integration of Education Board Partners into Bellwether in 2023. Rebecca brings 20 years of experience to Bellwether as an adviser to nonprofits, school networks, districts, and philanthropies; a school operator; and a private sector consultant.
Recent publications and appearances include Secure and Resilient: A Financial Management Guide for Education Nonprofits; Navigating Financial Management for Education Nonprofits; NPR: America’s School Funding Crisis: Budget Cuts, Rising Costs And No Help In Sight; and NPR: Final Debate – Live Updates and Fact Checks.
Prior to joining Bellwether, Rebecca worked at McKinsey & Company, where she managed engagements with leading global institutions on growth strategy, sales and marketing, and operational efficiency in the health care and education sectors. Earlier in her career, she supported the ongoing operations of a public charter school and worked with parents and students to launch an innovative school model. Rebecca directed the Maryland Leadership Workshops’ senior high program for three years, providing students from diverse backgrounds across the mid-Atlantic with leadership skills development.
Rebecca holds a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. She was recognized as a Truman Scholar for her early career commitment to public service. Rebecca serves on the board of directors for the SEED Foundation and Maryland Leadership Workshops. She is the sister, daughter, and granddaughter of public school educators. Rebecca lives in Maryland with her husband, who is a first-generation American, and their two children.
Why I do this work:
Postsecondary education was the gateway to a better life for my family and my husband’s family (he is a first-generation American). I want to make sure that all children — especially Black, Hispanic, Latino, low-income, and other students from historically marginalized communities — have the educational opportunities and resources they need to reach their fullest potential.
Experience at Bellwether:
Strategic Planning; Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis; Data Collection and Analysis; Analysis; New Organization Design and Launch; Business Plan Development; Growth and Expansion Strategy; Human Capital/Organizational Design; Performance Improvement/Sustainability; Performance Metrics; Grant Development and Implementation; Financial Analysis and Modeling; Implementation Planning; Market Assessment; Project Management; CMO/Charter School Operators; District Schools; Foundations; Advocacy Organizations
Client segments served:
Early Childhood; K-12 Schools; Postsecondary/Higher Education; School Districts; CMO/Charter Schools; Foundations and Grantees; Nonprofit Organizations; Policy Organizations; Advocacy Groups; Product and Service Providers
Sample clients:
Communities In Schools, Education Forward DC, NewSchools Venture Fund, Partners for Rural Impact, and more than 20 public school networks and districts.
Contact Information
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Issue Expertise
Charter Schools
COVID-19
Early Childhood Education
Innovation and Personalized Learning
Private Schools
Rural Education
School Districts
Standards and Accountability
Talent and Organizational Effectiveness
Urban Education
