Lauren Patterson joined the New Canaan Community Foundation as President & CEO in 2016. She has over fifteen years of experience in community philanthropy, and is passionate about building relationships, growing impactful philanthropy, and thoughtfully supporting work in community. 

Prior to her current role, Lauren served as Director of Programs at Washington Area Women’s Foundation where she led the foundation’s grantmaking, advocacy, and research on the economic security of women and girls. She also previously managed grantmaking and donor engagement at The Community Foundation for Montgomery County, an affiliate of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region (now the Greater Washington Community Foundation).

She has worked with or served on many coalitions, cross-sector efforts, and funders collaboratives, including the Early Care & Education Funders Collaborative, the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative, and the Ascend Network of the Aspen Institute.  She currently serves on the Board of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, the state-wide association of grantmakers.