Matt Watkins is Principal of Watkins Public Affairs, a national public affairs consulting firm based in Chicago. He advises foundations, nonprofits, government agencies, and intermediaries on funding strategy, communications, and program design — with a track record of supporting more than $1.7 billion in competitive public and philanthropic funding across 40+ states. Matt writes the "Watch Your Language" column for Chronicle of Philanthropy and contributes to Slate, Washington Monthly, Governing, The Progressive, and other national outlets. He is a Civic Nation Change Collective Fellow, an MPPA candidate at Northwestern University, and serves on the board of several Chicago based nonprofits. .