Scott McLellan, Board Member

Scott McLellan is a builder, strategist, and leader who brings heart and hustle to every table he sits at. As Executive Director of The Julian Grace Foundation, Scott has spent the past two years reshaping what bold, community-centered philanthropy looks like—leading with equity, trust, and service.

Under his leadership, the Foundation has expanded its impact, elevated its voice in the philanthropic sector, and stayed grounded in the vision and values of the family. Scott’s approach is rooted in collaboration and powered by a belief that the most transformative solutions come from those closest to the work.

Before stepping into his role at the Foundation, Scott served as Executive Director of Heart of the City, a youth development organization in Waukegan, IL. When Scott joined Heart of the City in 2018, the program had just one active member. Over the next five years, he led a remarkable transformation—growing membership to over 500 youth participants by 2022 (even through the pandemic). This 500-fold increase was fueled by a strategic focus on outreach, community trust-building, and high-quality programming that responded to the real needs of young people and their families. Under his leadership, the organization expanded its footprint across multiple Lake County communities, deepened community partnerships, and introduced new pathways for academic support, leadership development, and athletic engagement. His earlier tenure as a leader within Boys & Girls Clubs further established him as a go-to thought leader for operational excellence, culture building, and community impact.

Scott also brings his experience to boardrooms across the sector, having served on the boards of the YMCA of Metro Chicago, The Health Foundation of Northern Lake County, and Art Impact Project. He currently lends his insight and energy to the boards of the Chicago Center for Arts & Technology, Heart of the City, Action in Africa, and City Year Chicago.

Off the clock, Scott is all about family, fairways, and fast breaks. He’s a former college athlete who played basketball at Olivet Nazarene University—where he also earned his degree in social work—and a loyal Chicago Sky fan who believes deeply in the power of sport, art, and education to transform lives.