Carla Thompson Payton is Chief Strategist and Impact Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She is one of the foremost philanthropic leaders creating systemic change for children and families, promoting a more just economy and advancing racial equity. As the chief strategist and impact officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, she leads the creative and strategic direction of the organization’s multi-billion dollar programming from design through evaluation. As a member of the executive team, she is also responsible for the overall strategic direction and leadership of the foundation.

Prior to joining the foundation in 2012, Thompson Payton served for over a decade in local, state, and federal public service, ultimately as the deputy director of the Office of Child Care at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, she was the inaugural assistant superintendent for early childhood education for the District of Columbia, where she led the first publicly funded pre-kindergarten program. Her efforts led to developing dynamic new learning opportunities for children and their educators and public-private partnerships.

Thompson Payton has been honored for her leadership in early childhood education by the Administration for Children and Families; the Children’s Defense Fund; and the Temple University Institute on Disabilities. Essence magazine named her one of the “50 Women Who Made Us Proud.” She also serves on boards and committees for nonprofit associations and professional organizations. She wrote Black Girl Magic: C-suite Leadership in Philanthropic Organizations and has been cited in numerous news media for her expertise. In addition, she is the author of three publications related to school readiness and advocacy. 

She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Syracuse University.  She also holds a doctorate in educational and organizational leadership and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania.