Kelly Frances Bates

As president, Kelly (she/her) leads the strategic direction of IISC and supports its dynamic and diverse team of consultants and trainers to meet the organization’s highest aspirations for social change and racial equity.

Kelly is a social changer, nonprofit civic leader, and lawyer who for more than twenty-five years has led advocacy, organizing, racial justice, and women’s organizations promoting collaboration, equity, and civic engagement, both locally and nationally. She strives each day to develop and embody the heart, skills, and mindset of a facilitative leader and civic innovator for progressive movement building across the country and in communities.

In both personal and professional settings, Kelly is known for her passionate belief in everyone’s potential and power, the ability of leaders to transcend barriers through shared leadership, and for organizations to do the work of justice.

An experienced consultant, facilitator, and trainer with an approach that is creative, accessible, welcoming, focused, and direct, Kelly is known for her unique skills in supporting leaders and high-conflict teams to become more collaborative. She has consulted to nonprofits, foundations, academic institutions, corporations, and businesses to help them navigate through times of challenge to more transformative, equitable, and resilient futures.

Kelly’s a #coolmom, fitness enthusiast, and writer. She’s working on her first novel.