Helen Sacco

Linking data to holistic, scalable solutions

Helen is motivated by using the power of innovation to overcome the barriers caused by inadequate funding. Drawing from her background in social entrepreneurship, impact investing, and nonprofit program development, Helen studies the ways that public and private institutions develop, fund, measure, and analyze comprehensive social impact initiatives. Her best-practices, multi-sector approach guides TCC Group partners—including clients, grantees, and other external stakeholders—toward the development of holistic and scalable solutions.

As a graduate student at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, Helen built the business case for a lean data tool to help nonprofits, social enterprises, and impact funders improve their social impact measurement and management processes. The work earned her and her team an Ignite Fellowship at NYU’s Entrepreneurial Institute and the Jo Ivey Boufford Award for Innovation.

AT TCC Group, Helen leverages her skills in research and innovation to conduct landscape analyses, synthesize evaluations, and provide support for a variety of programs in the HIV/AIDS space. Her contributions link data to solutions, making it possible for communities to share in the development of their own positive outcomes.

At TCC Group:

Helen applies skills in research and social impact to develop landscape analyses, synthesize evaluations, and provide program support for the following ViiV Healthcare programs:

• ACCCELERATE! evaluation, content development, and communications support
• Positive Action for Youth grants management, copyediting, and content development support
• Latinx grants management, evaluation, copy-editing, and communications support

Before TCC Group:

• New York University, Wagner Graduate School of Public Service: Helen spent the majority of her graduate career crafting a thesis on social impact measurement and management within the social impact ecosystem—connecting foundations, nonprofits, social enterprises, and impact investing teams. In doing so, Helen and her team developed the business case for a lean data tool to help nonprofits, social enterprises, and impact funders improve their measurement and management processes based on best practices, pain points, and trends identified in a market analysis of players in the social impact ecosystem. This work earned her team a spot as Ignite Fellows at NYU’s Entrepreneurial Institute and the Jo Ivey Boufford Award for Innovation from NYU upon graduation.
• Starting Right, Now: Helen spent two years working at a nonprofit helping homeless, unaccompanied youth break the generational cycle of poverty. Coordinating all scholarships for the organization, she consistently exceeded fundraising goals, helping her students earn over $1 million per year to attend college or trade school without the burden of crippling debt. Many of the students she worked with are finishing college, working in stable careers, or pursuing post-graduate education.

Education:

• New York University
  • Master of Public Administration – Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy
    • Specialized in Social Impact, Investment, and Innovation
  • University of Tampa
    • Bachelor of Science, Public Health

Additional Works:

Helen spent over a year working at an impact investing intermediary where she wrote blog articles covering impact investing market trends through the eyes of various thought-leaders working in the space:

• Jackie Vanderbrug, Bank of America
• Valerie Red-Horse Mohl, Social Venture
• Keith Beverly, moXY Financial and Gary Clement, Clement Asset Management