For Daniel Ash, the work of social justice is more than a profession; it’s a calling rooted in personal experience and shaped by the transformative power of human connection.
What began as a simple urge to help his hometown community in Ohio has evolved into a decades-long mission to build equity, amplify the voices of underrepresented individuals and uplift communities across Chicago.
Today, Ash serves as president of the Field Foundation, where he leads efforts to support nonprofits that are reshaping the city, particularly on the South and West Sides.
The foundation focuses on strengthening local journalism, the arts, civic infrastructure and grassroots leadership. But beyond the numbers, Ash is focused on something deeper: the stories, relationships and networks that create lasting change.
“The Field Foundation exists to help communities see themselves and support each other. We’re here to help build a more equitable Chicago from the inside out,” stated Ash.
Ash’s journey to this point spans cities, sectors, and decades, but it began with a leap of faith, like so many powerful stories.
Ash, a native of Ohio, graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in economics and earned a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship at Princeton University. That opportunity launched him on a path toward public service and advocacy, but it wasn’t until he arrived in Chicago in 1992 that things truly began to take shape.
It was a powerful beginning to a deep and enduring relationship with the city and its people. Inspired by that moment, Ash committed himself to public service and laid the groundwork for a career centered on equity, culture and community empowerment.
Before joining the Field Foundation in 2022, Ash held leadership roles that shaped the trajectory of philanthropy and civic life in Chicago.
As Associate Vice President of Community Impact at The Chicago Community Trust, he developed the Building Collective Power strategy—an approach designed to center resident leadership, storytelling and organizing in efforts to build equitable neighborhoods.
He also served as the Trust’s Chief Marketing Officer, launching “On the Table”—a citywide civic dialogue that drew thousands of Chicagoans into conversations about community challenges and solutions.
Before that, Ash spent a decade at Chicago Public Media as Vice President, driving revenue growth and shaping the station’s strategy. His earlier roles, spanning public health, poverty law, and HIV/AIDS prevention, include work at the Shriver Center, Chicago’s Department of Public Health and the Center for Family Policy and Practice.
These experiences solidified his conviction in grassroots power and the value of investing in individuals, not just programs. His leadership reflects that philosophy.
“I’m not interested in short-term wins; I’m interested in transformation and helping communities build their capacity to thrive.”
Ash’s approach to leadership is also profoundly influenced by his upbringing. Adopted as a child, he often speaks about his father’s role in shaping his values and worldview.
“I feel fortunate to have been adopted. It was a blessing to be chosen to have someone say, ‘I will raise you,’ Ash said.
His father, a World War II veteran, modeled a kind of nurturing, present, and emotionally open masculinity. “He showed affection, listened deeply and created space for emotional connection. That kind of vulnerability wasn’t just allowed, it was encouraged,”
Those early lessons helped Ash challenge mainstream narratives about Black masculinity. “I was raised around men who worked with their hands, steelworkers, veterans, but they were some of the most emotionally connected people I’ve ever met. That’s the side of Black manhood that doesn’t get shown enough.”
Ash sees similar patterns of brotherhood and connection among young Black men today, though different circumstances often shape them. “Humans need networks; sometimes, in environments shaped by poverty or violence, those networks form as street organizations. The needs are the same as identity, belonging and safety. But the outcomes can be tragic when those networks are rooted in trauma.”
From L–R: Deon Hodrick, community advocate and entrepreneur; Richard Wallace, founder of Equity and Transformation (EAT); Clinton Boyd, Jr., executive director of Fathers, Families & Healthy Communities; and Daniel Ash, president of the Field Foundation, speak during the “Breaking the Chains” panel on reclaiming wealth, power, and dignity for Black men in Chicago (Photo Courtesy of The Field Foundation).
Still, Ash is hopeful. “I see more and more men—young and old—seeking spaces to connect and heal. Whether it’s a Bible study group or a community organization, these safe spaces matter.”
More than anything, Ash says, fatherhood is the most essential title he holds. He and his wife, Sarah, raised three sons, now in their twenties, and Father’s Day is a time he treasures, not for the gifts, but for the togetherness.
“I’m simple; give me a long walk with my sons and my wife, and I’m happy.”
Those walks, often stretching from six to eight miles across the city, are a family tradition. “My oldest son told me recently how much he values that time. It reminded me of my childhood when we’d take Sunday drives as a family. Those small, consistent acts build trust.”
Ash views parenting not just as guidance but as a partnership. “I tell my sons, ‘You’re still in the early chapters of your novel.’ I want them to enjoy the process, not just chase outcomes. My father helped me understand that the how is just as important as the what, whether in work, relationships or life.”
Ash’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2025, he was named one of Crain’s Chicago Notable Leaders in Philanthropy. He received the Minorities in Public Policy Studies (MiPPS) Alumni Award from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy in 2024. He was honored with the Advocate for Equity Award from Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy in 2022. He also serves on several boards, including The Moth, CAN TV, Community Desk Chicago and Catchafire.
Even with accolades and influence, Ash remains focused on the people behind the policies and programs. “At the end of the day, we all need something to ground us: faith, family, community, those are the anchors. That’s where the work begins.”
And for Daniel Ash, that work is far from over.
For more information and to connect with Daniel Ash, visit www.fieldfoundation.org.