Terry Cosgrove

President and CEO

Terry Cosgrove is the President and CEO of Personal PAC. In 1989, Cosgrove was hired as Executive Director of Personal PAC. He, along with the Board of Directors, has been instrumental in developing Personal PAC’s sophisticated strategy for electing pro-choice candidates. This strategy incorporates an intensive paid telephone program that has identified nearly ½ million pro-choice voters in Illinois, plus a sophisticated direct mail campaign and comprehensive campaign consulting.

Cosgrove’s campaign consulting is a real plus in implementing Personal PAC’s political strategy. He works closely with numerous candidates to make sure they have the nuts-and-bolts tools to win on election day. Among other things, he assists candidates in selecting pollsters, media consultants, direct mail firms, and paid campaign staffers. He also helps them recruit volunteers, execute fundraising plans, and any other activity necessary to ensure their success. In 1999, Terry became President and CEO of Personal PAC.

Over the past twenty-five years, in addition to his Personal PAC responsibilities, Cosgrove has managed many political campaigns and has lent assistance to NARAL, Planned Parenthood, NOW, National Pro-Choice Resource Center, Voters for Choice, Women’s Campaign Fund and the Emergency Abortion Loan Fund. In 1992, Cosgrove played a pivotal role in restoring abortion services for poor women at Cook County Hospital, one of the largest public hospitals in the nation.

Cosgrove has been honored with the 'Freedom of Choice' award by the Chicago Abortion Fund (2004) and was a 2010 recipient of the Chicago Foundation for Women “Impact Award.” In 2008, Cosgrove received the “Harold Washington Award” from the Independent Voters of Illinois. Cosgrove currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Trust Women Foundation which continues the legacy of Dr. George Tiller (who in 2009 was assassinated in his Wichita, Kansas church by an anti-abortion terrorist) in helping women gain access to reproductive health care services. Cosgrove is a member of the Equality Illinois PAC Board of Directors and serves as a Human Rights Commissioner for the State of Illinois.

Cosgrove holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Master’s degrees in both Labor and Industrial Relations and Social Policy.