Ben Mitchell

The Community Reinvestment Program partners with organizations across the state to support economic development, reentry services, legal assistance and violence prevention.

Seattle, Washington, United States

About

Experienced government relations leader and policy strategist with more than 20 years of cross-sector experience spanning project management, policy analysis, legislative processes, jurisdictional partnerships, and engagement with lawmakers and government agencies. Skilled at facilitating relationships between organizations, elected officials, and government agencies at state and local levels. Proven success in team leadership and coalition building. Committed to outcomes-focused policy solutions that advance equity and thriving communities.

Experience

  • Community Relations Strategist at Washington State Department of Commerce
    Apr 2026 - Present · 3 mos

    Supports the implementation of the Community Reinvestment Program (CRP). Coordinates CRP-related policy and legislative activities; supports CRP’s community relations and stakeholder engagement efforts to ensure CRP is community-driven; provides technical communication coordination.

  • Foundation for Tacoma Students (Full-time · 6 yrs 7 mos)
    • Director of Policy & Advocacy
      Jan 2022 - Mar 2026 · 4 yrs 3 mos

      Led the policy and advocacy work of the Foundation for Tacoma Students. Focused on policy change and implementation that addresses the structural barriers and disconnects between high school, higher education, and our workforce systems.

    • Project Manager
      Sep 2019 - Feb 2022 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      Accelerated the progress of the Graduate Tacoma movement through a national grant. In collaboration with consultants, external partners, and staff, helped to plan, coordinate, report project progress, and see through results.

  • Program Manager, Community Investment at Social Venture Partners Seattle
    Nov 2014 - Aug 2019 · 4 yrs 10 mos

    Designed and executed annual grant program strategies in early childhood development, K-12 and post-secondary education, and environmental justice; and stewarded grantee relationships in a diverse portfolio of community-based organizations with a focus on organizational capacity development.

  • Chemonics International (3 yrs 5 mos)
    • Operations Director, Kyrgyzstan Local Development Program
      Aug 2012 - Mar 2014 · 1 yr 8 mos

      Helped to achieve program success through the effective management of a 15-person Operations Team responsible for all budgetary planning and monitoring, communications, contracting and procurement, and all administrative and logistics issues.

    • Manager, Caucasus & Central Asia
      Nov 2010 - Aug 2012 · 1 yr 10 mos

      Supported the successful implementation of foreign assistance programs through the provision of project management support in the areas of budget planning and monitoring, communications and reporting, consultant recruiting, and contractual compliance.

  • Community Development Specialist at Peace Corps
    Mar 2006 - May 2008 · 2 yrs 3 mos

    Partnered with World Vision Albania in contributing to activity design including setting goals, determining milestones, allocating resources, creating monitoring and evaluation standards, and in evaluating the five-year impact of World Vision’s programming.