Former KU leader gets gig in D.C. but can stay in Lawrence

A former Kansas University official and Lawrence resident has accepted a position as director of the Social Innovation Fund.

Paul Carttar, a former executive vice chancellor for external affairs at KU, will lead the initiative that is expected to generate $200 million in public and private funds.

He will continue to live in Lawrence, but will work in Washington. D.C. Established with the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the Social Innovation Fund will work with successful nonprofit organizations.

Carttar said the work will be focused in the areas of economic opportunity, youth development and school support and healthy futures.

He said he would lean on his previous experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

“These are issues that directly touch people’s lives, and so to see any success in those kind of endeavors is tremendously satisfying,” Carttar said.

Before he began his new position last week, Carttar had been working for the Monitor Group, a strategic consulting firm, and with its affiliated nonprofit organization, New Profit Inc.