Lauren Sgandurra, CAP©, is the Director of Donor Services with the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada. Lauren’s experience and knowledge are demonstrated by her leadership of large funds with advisory committees and public grant cycles, including the Truckee River Fund, Dream Tags Charitable Fund, and the Raymond C. Rude Foundation Fund. As a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® and Impact Philanthropy Advisor, she has the expertise to guide fundholders and advisory committees as they achieve their charitable goals.

Lauren helped develop, and now oversees, the Community Foundation’s growing scholarship program, manages the High School Giving Circle, which educates youth about philanthropy, and leads the Foundation’s disaster philanthropy work. She also oversees distributions from the Emergency Action Fund for community emergencies.

Lauren brings a personal passion for environmental and human rights to her work at the Foundation and also serves on the Board of Directors for Zawadisha, an organization that empowers women in rural Kenya through microloans for renewable energy products.

Lauren was born and raised in Nevada but is an avid traveler. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno (International Affairs major and Spanish minor); and studied abroad in Cyprus and Chile. She earned a Master’s degree from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey in 2012; (International Policy, focusing on Conflict Resolution and Human Rights), including conducting fieldwork in Nepal.

Lauren nurtures her interests and energy through yoga, baking, hiking, and snowshoeing, and enjoys exploring hot springs found off Nevada backroads.