Kerrie M. Mitchell serves as the youngest and fourth President and CEO of the Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation. Since stepping into her role in March 2023, Kerrie has revitalized the Foundation’s infrastructure, ensuring its alignment with DPSCD and elevating its impact. In less than two years, she developed a three-year strategic plan to secure long-term sustainability, established a formal partnership agreement with DPSCD that positions the Foundation as its official philanthropic arm, and filled 100% of staffing positions with top talent. Under her leadership, the Foundation has raised over $28 million, directly benefiting students and families by supporting key strategic priorities like career readiness, access to basic needs, and educational equity. Kerrie’s strategic vision and commitment to excellence have transformed the Foundation into a model of trust-based philanthropy.

Under Kerrie’s leadership, the Foundation achieved a historic milestone by securing funding for an eight-figure, transformational initiative that will be announced in 2025. This project represents the largest financial commitment in the Foundation’s history and promises to create lasting opportunities for DPSCD students. Additionally, Kerrie’s efforts have positioned the Foundation to support large-scale initiatives like Career Technical Educations programs, ensuring long-term benefits for students and families.

Kerrie Mitchell is a visionary leader whose work as President and CEO of the DPSCD Foundation embodies the resilience and excellence of Detroit. As a proud Black woman leading the philanthropic arm of Michigan’s largest public school district, Kerrie champions equity and opportunity for over 50,000 students across 108 schools.

Prior to joining the DPSCD Foundation 2023, Kerrie was the Executive Vice President of Strategy,  Development, and Marketing for Matrix Human Services for nearly seven years. Kerrie assisted in  growing its annual giving from $1.5m to $6.5m, while developing a marketing program that resulted in nearly two million earned media placements in a single year.

Kerrie began her career in journalism and broadcasting, working for IHeartRadio and Radio One - Detroit. Guided by her desire to leverage her innovative communications and media skills to revitalize her community, Kerrie quickly shifted her professional ambitions to work with mission-driven organizations. As communications coordinator for The Detroit Police Athletic League in 2013, she led fundraising efforts that resulted in a 60% increase in online giving. In 2015, Kerrie worked initially as the Marketing and Communications Director for the Great Lakes Field Council of the Boy Scouts of America’s Michigan Crossroads Council and was eventually promoted to the statewide position of Public Relations Director for the Michigan Crossroads Council, where she created and led the first statewide community service initiative to deliver over 3,000 cases of bottled water to the residents of Flint, MI. 

Kerrie holds a dual Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Arts from Wayne State University and has received the 40 Under 40 Award from the Michigan Chronicle (2018); the Spirit of Detroit Award from the Detroit City Council (2019); the Most Valuable Millennial Award from Corps Magazine (2021); and Woman of Excellence from the Michigan Chronicle (2024).