Samantha Jakubowski
Chief Executive Officer
Samantha Jakubowski is the Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS). She is thrilled to return to JCYS, where she previously was the Chief Advancement Officer and oversaw the agency’s fundraising, marketing, communications, and leadership development program. She brings with her nonprofit management experience in both legacy and start-up organizations, as well as deep passion for youth development, board leadership, and the Chicago Jewish community.
Prior to returning to JCYS, Samantha was the Senior Director of Advancement at Leading Edge and ensured the organization had the resources it needed to grow. Before Boardified was acquired by Leading Edge in 2022, Samantha was the Chief Growth Officer and managed the organization’s operations and programs that served board members across North America. She co-led the post-acquisition integration of Boardified into Leading Edge and successfully migrated its programs, operations, and funding.
Throughout her career, Samantha has supported over 250 local and national Jewish nonprofits in their board development and organizational capacity-building journeys. As a seasoned development professional, she has raised over $20M for nonprofits, including $5M to support board development programs. In 2024, the Jewish United Fund of Chicago named Samantha to their 36 Under 36 List. Samantha graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in Business Institutions.