People

Connor LeClair is a Senior Manager in Grassi’s Nonprofit Practice, specializing in charter school finance, strategy and operations. With more than a decade of experience in charter school operations, financial management, authorizer oversight and strategic planning, he brings a well-rounded perspective to the complex challenges school leaders face today. Connor helps organizations strengthen financial performance, navigate regulatory requirements and make informed decisions that support long-term success.

A recognized thought leader in the charter school sector, Connor has presented at national conferences on financial sustainability, governance and growth strategy. He has also served as a resource for charter school finance professionals through technical guidance, peer learning forums and leadership development initiatives. His experience spans school-level and sector-wide advisory work, giving him a deep understanding of the financial, operational and governance considerations that shape successful charter organizations.

Before joining Grassi, Connor served as the Managing Director of Finance for a multi-campus charter school network, where he led strategic financial planning and partnered with executive leadership to establish the organization’s financial direction. In this role, he oversaw financial systems, compliance programs and operational finance functions while working closely with school and regional leaders to improve processes and support organizational objectives.

Earlier in his career, Connor worked with the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, providing fiscal oversight and authorization support to a portfolio of more than 200 charter schools across New York State. This experience gave him valuable insight into charter school finance from both operator and authorizer perspectives and helped him build strong relationships across the education community.

In addition to his school-based leadership experience, Connor has advised charter schools, foundations and authorizing organizations on a variety of strategic initiatives, including evaluating charter applications, assessing multi-school expansion plans, developing finance training programs and advising leadership teams on financial sustainability, governance and long-term planning. Through this work, Connor has developed extensive expertise in financial modeling, audit readiness, grant management, internal controls and scalable financial infrastructure.

Connor has also led significant capital financing initiatives, including the successful issuance of a $50 million bond that supported the development of a new high school facility. Through these experiences, he has developed a practical understanding of the financial, operational and compliance needs of growing charter school organizations, including audit readiness, financial modeling, grant management and scalable back-office infrastructure.

Connor received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business.