Kyra Jennings is a political consultant and campaign operative known for working with left-of-center groups and candidates. She is the president of Freedman Consulting and was instrumental in the creation of the Criminal Justice Funders Forum. ^{1 2}

Largely political in nature, Freedman Consulting bills itself as working toward “the greater social good.” Freedman Consulting’s clients include Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Democracy Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. ^{3 2}

During her time as vice president for Freedman, Jennings was responsible for developing strategic plans for the Ford Foundation, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR), and Obama for America 2012. She also launched the Democracy Funders Collaborative, Next Century Cities, the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, and Skills for America’s Future. ^{2 1}

Early Career

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Duke University, Kyra Jennings worked with the Democratic Leadership Council as its deputy press secretary and with the Progressive Policy Institute. She went on to serve as a communications director for U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), as a press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and as a press secretary for Alex Sink, the 2010 Florida Democratic nominee for governor. ^{2 1}

Freedman Consulting

She joined Freedman Consulting in 2011, a consulting firm for philanthropies, public interest organizations, and policymakers that provides strategic planning, coalition management, and policy development consulting. Largely political in nature, the firm bills itself as working toward “the greater social good.” Freedman Consulting clients include Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Democracy Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. ^{3 2}

While serving as vice president of Freedman Consulting, Jennings also launched the Democracy Funders Collaborative, Next Century Cities, the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, and Skills for America’s Future. She was responsible for developing strategic plans for the Ford Foundation, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR), and Obama for America 2012. ^{2 1}

In 2017, Freedman Consulting worked with a group of foundations focused on criminal justice reform to build the Criminal Justice Funders Forum. ⁴ These initial foundations included the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. ⁵ Jennings was instrumental in the launch of the Forum. ¹

In October 2024, Jennings became the president of Freedman Consulting. She oversees the company’s operations, projects, and personnel, and advises the firm’s client teams. She also directs the planning and growth strategies of the firm. ²

1. “Our Team.” Freedman Consulting. Accessed November 30, 2024. https://tfreedmanconsulting.com/our-team/.
2. “Kyra Jennings.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 30, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyra-jennings-8abb9027/.
3. “Our Work.” Freedman Consulting, LLC. Accessed November 6, 2024. https://tfreedmanconsulting.com/our-work/
4. “Building a Funders Forum for Criminal Justice Reform.” Freedman Consulting, LLC – Our Work. Accessed November 6, 2024. https://tfreedmanconsulting.com/our-work/
5. “Milestones.” Art For Justice Fund. Accessed November 6, 2024. https://artforjusticefund.org/milestones/