Jim Parsons

President, The Brinson Foundation

Jim Parsons is the President of The Brinson Foundation, a private family foundation based in Chicago which supports education and scientific research programs. Jim is a past chair of the Board of Directors of Forefront (formerly Donors Forum), where he continues to serve on the Development, Membership & Communications and Policy Committees.  Jim is a member the Board of the Directors of the National Center for Family Philanthropy; the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Architecture Foundation; and the Board of Directors of King-Bruwaert House, a continuous care retirement community. He also chairs the Board of Advisors of the Morton Arboretum and serves on the Leadership Council of the Chicago Public Education Fund and the Illinois Attorney General’s Charitable Advisory Council.  He previously served on the Board of Trustees of Denison University and is a life trustee and former Board chair of The Community House, a social services agency located in west suburban Chicago. Prior to his career in philanthropy, Jim practiced law at the Chicago law firm of Gardner, Carton & Douglas (now Drinker, Biddle & Reath) where he also served as Managing Partner. Jim received his law degree from The University of Chicago and his undergraduate degree from Denison University.