From factories and restaurants to the frontlines in social service, Carl Wolf’s journey into nonprofit leadership didn’t follow a conventional path—but it was always guided by purpose. With a background in history and a fluency in Spanish gained through immersion in Mexico, Carl found himself drawn toward advocacy and activism from a young age. “Learning Spanish opened a door,” he reflects. “It got me my first job in social services, working with migrant farm workers in Indiana. But it wasn’t just about the language—it was about values. I grew up in a family that understood inequality as a structural reality. The idea that we should be active in building a better world has always been with me.”
That grounding perspective led him to return to school to pursue a Master’s in social work in 2005, nearly a decade after completing his undergraduate degree. What started as grassroots activism transformed into a career focused on community-based solutions and systemic change. “The mindset for doing this work came long before the resume did,” Carl shares. “We live in a deeply unequal world, and our ability to provide for everyone exists—it’s the systems that stand in the way.”
Carl Wolf, Executive Director of Respond Now
Carl now serves as the Executive Director of Respond Now, and he joined the Board of Directors of Housing Action Illinois in 2019. His commitment to affordable housing and ending homelessness is rooted in a belief that the work nonprofits do is both essential and insufficient on its own. “We’re a vital band-aid, but we need to talk about the deeper wounds,” he says. “What I wish more people understood is that our work is crucial, but limited. We need to keep pushing for larger change, even as we meet immediate needs.”
To Carl, the concept of home is powerful: “It means safety. It means comfort. It means control over your own space.” He found that after a period of constant travel, simply being home brought a renewed sense of appreciation for that security—a feeling he wants to help extend to every individual through his work.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, Carl is hopeful about what can be achieved through collective persistence. “I’d like to see our building renovation completed, our medical respite and shelter programs expanded, and yes, I’d love to see the Cubs in the World Series,” he says with a smile. “But more than anything, I’m looking for persistence. These are hard times, but Respond Now and organizations like it have weathered many storms. We become stronger when we lean on our communities—and when we refuse to give up.”