Mari Bennett

Mari serves as the Director of Development at the Aspire Public Schools Foundation, where she partners with leaders across Aspire to identify and pursue opportunities to deepen support for over 15,000 scholars, and oversees the Foundation’s portfolio of institutional relationships and philanthropic grants.

Previously, Mari worked for TNTP, where she served in a number of roles including Senior Manager of Development and Director of Teach California Charters. Mari also served as the Chief Operating Officer for T2 Advanced Training Group, a consulting company that developed and facilitated highly specialized training courses. Mari has taught students from early childhood through college, published curriculum and research, and served as the President of an NGO. Her volunteer leadership experience is extensive, including support for the Cub Scouts, Girls on the Run of Los Angeles, Kiva, Dartmouth College, and the United States Peace Corps.

Mari has spent over 15 years serving, managing, and mentoring in the non-profit sector with constant alignment to the bigger-picture mission of breaking down structural inequalities and championing equity. She is thrilled to continue this work in service of Aspire’s scholars.

Mari holds a Bachelor’s Degree in both Psychology and English Literature from Dartmouth College, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Mercy College. She received special recognition as the Orange County Waves of Service Scholar while she was a Doctoral Student in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology.