Jim Clark
As leader of the nation’s largest facility-based youth development organization, Jim Clark directs a network of 5,500+ Boys & Girls Club sites that serve more than 4 million young people annually in all 50 states and on U.S. military installations worldwide. Boys & Girls Clubs of America also takes pride in being the nation’s longest serving and largest provider of Native Youth services.
Since joining Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2012, Jim spearheaded a major restructuring of the organization and introduced an exciting new strategy to allow more youth to achieve positive outcomes in three priority areas: academic success, good character and leadership, and health and wellness. To support Boys & Girls Clubs in fostering these vital outcomes, he emphasizes the importance of building organizational capacity, improving program quality and consistency, expanding the Boys & Girls Club national network and positioning Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the nation’s leading advocate for youth.
Under Jim’s leadership, Boys & Girls Clubs of America originated a national youth outcomes study that supports continuous quality improvement and demonstrates the impact of the Club experience in the areas of education, leadership and health outcomes, as documented in the organization’s annual National Youth Outcomes Report. Boys & Girls Clubs of America continues to introduce programming that supports the three outcome areas, including STEM initiatives, summer learning loss programs and workforce readiness programs.
With a commitment to support local Club success, Jim is leading efforts to strengthen technology and digital capabilities within Boys & Girls Clubs. This includes MyFuture.net, a web platform where youth can learn digital skills; YD Toolbox, a mobile communications app for Club staff; and MyClubHub, a comprehensive site management system. Additionally, Boys & Girls Clubs of America supports local Club success with training and consultations to augment key areas including child safety, executive and board development, high school graduation rate and childhood obesity. A mission milestone was achieved in 2023 when the 5,000th Club was opened in Illinois.
For these and other efforts, Boys & Girls Clubs of America ranked in the Top 10 in Forbes America’s Top 100 Charities, and received premier rankings by Candid and Charity Navigator.
Jim began his career at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 1979, where he served senior leadership roles in distribution, marketing and customer service operations and advanced to senior vice president. In 2004, he departed the media company after 24 years to become president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, which he served as a board member for 10 years. Under his direction, the organization benefitted from seven consecutive years of revenue growth, added 17 new service locations, realized a 30% increase in membership and more than doubled staff during his seven-year tenure.
He holds a business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Authored Articles
When we listen to and support our nation’s youth, our country’s future will be in good hands.
In just a few weeks, Club leaders, staff, members, and supporters came together—sharing powerful stories, contacting elected officials, and mobilizing communities to advocate for young people.
We call on the Administration, with bipartisan support in Congress, to act swiftly and release the funds that families are already counting on. America’s future depends on how we show up for its kids — especially right now.
When we all stand united for youth, we don’t only just ensure a smoother school year ahead — we remind ourselves that not only do these kids deserve great futures, they’re going to shape our future.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark shares the latest data on today’s kids and teens.
