Aj Calhoun

Managing Director, Leading on Opportunity

Role
Managing Director at Leading On Opportunity
Location
Charlotte, NC, US
LinkedIn followers
500 followers
General Business & ManagementView LinkedIn profile

About Aj Calhoun

I specialize in creating scalable strategies that leverage data to address complex social challenges.Here are a few examples of the impact I\'ve made in the past decade- Architected the Opportunity Compass, a tool for visualizing data on the key drivers of economic mobility + aligning the work of 100+ nonprofits and $50M+ in philanthropic investment- Founded TEDx conferences on 2 continents- Taught human-centered design to UChicago economists- Crafted climate action plans for a coalition of 94 megacity mayors- Wrangled votes for the now-President of the European ParliamentWanting to make an impact in my hometown, I returned to Charlotte in 2020 to work with Leading on Opportunity (LOO) at Foundation For The Carolinas where I serve as Director of Research and Impact. In this role, I leverage my unique blend of expertise in economics, design, and theology.

Experience

  1. Managing Director

    Leading On Opportunity

    Feb 2026 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

    Steward org-wide strategy and ops (think Chief of Staff) while leading LOO’s research, thought leadership, and innovation work. Manage funder relationships, national/regional partnerships, and priority initiatives. Ensure responsible stewardship for sunset.

Education

  • Reformed Theological Seminary

    Master of Arts in Religion (MAR), Public Theology

  • University of Chicago

    Master of Public Policy (MPP), Policy Innovation and Evaluation

  • Furman University

    Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with honors, Urban Studies and Political Science

  • Duke University

    Certificate, Nonprofit Management

Skills

  • Design Thinking
  • Nonprofits
  • Writing
  • Sustainability
  • Storytelling
  • Photoshop
  • Graphic Design
  • Change Management
  • Branding & Identity
  • New Venture Development
  • Event Planning
  • Non-Profit Leadership
  • Project Execution
  • Strategic Planning
  • International Relations
  • Public Speaking
  • Social Media
  • Public Policy
  • Strategic Communications
  • Editing
  • Strategy
  • Microsoft Word
  • Advertising
  • Indesign
  • International Trade
  • Public Relations
  • Leadership Development
  • Video Production
  • Urbanism
  • Project Management
  • Powerpoint
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Community Outreach
  • Community Development
  • Fundraising
  • Press Releases
  • Microsoft Office
  • Blogging
  • Research

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Aj Calhoun — Managing Director at Leading On Opportunity in Charlotte, NC, US | Unifers