Madison Yoder is the Director of Development at Ohio Excels. She is a passionate advocate for equity and has dedicated her career to making an impact on the most vulnerable and underserved youth in Ohio. Along with her passion for education, Madison brings a decade of experience leading successful fundraising, communications and event planning efforts to this role.

Prior to joining Ohio Excels, Madison served as the Communications and Grants Manager for Star House from 2019 to 2023, helping lift Central Ohio youth, ages 14-24, out of homelessness and into a community of hope. Madison grew and managed Star House’s extensive grant and donation portfolio while simultaneously leading all its communications efforts. In addition, she co-chaired and organized lucrative annual galas and oversaw major communications campaigns that attracted statewide and national attention, including Star House’s feature on 60 Minutes in 2021.

Madison began her career in state-level education policy in 2014 at The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, serving as the Communications Specialist for The Ohio Standard Coalition, where she helped save and advance policies that promote educational excellence for all Ohio students. From 2017 to 2019, she served as the Communications and Policy Associate for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, where she led many communications efforts for their national and Ohio offices.

Madison graduated from Ohio University with a BA in English – Literature, Culture, & Writing and a minor in Environmental Health Sciences. She is proud to serve as a member of the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission Public Awareness Subcommittee. Madison is the youngest of seven children and is a first-generation college graduate. She lives in Columbus with her boyfriend Sam, their three cats and Keeshond-Shepherd mix, Smokey.