Chris Wheat

Background

About Chris Wheat

Chris Wheat is the Managing Director for Policy and Government Affairs at the Sustainable Cities Fund and Sustainable Cities Action Fund. The Funds provide financial support, technical assistance, and strategic guidance for place-based programs that expand economic opportunity, improve quality of life, and combat the climate crisis. Operating as a strategic regrantor, the Funds partner directly with cities, local organizations, and other subnational actors to help funder initiatives achieve greater impact. In addition, Chris is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and serves on the Board of the Center for Neighborhood Technology.Previously, Chris was Executive Director of the Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State at Chicago Booth. He also led strategy and city engagement for the American Cities Climate Challenge at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Earlier in his career, Chris spent seven years in the Office of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, serving as Chief of Policy and Chief Sustainability Officer.A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Chris holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from Chicago Booth.