Chief of External Affairs
she/her/hers

Lauren Bennett is the Chief of External Affairs at Funders Together for Housing Justice, where she leads the organization’s communications, public policy, and advocacy strategy to advance housing justice nationwide. Since joining the organization in 2015 and being promoted to her current role in 2024, she has played a central role in positioning philanthropy as an active partner in systems change—mobilizing funders to engage in federal, state, and local policy advocacy that advances housing abundance, thriving communities, and people power.

In her role, Lauren develops and executes integrated communications and advocacy strategies that elevate the organization’s impact, strengthen member engagement, and expand cross-sector partnerships. She regularly drafts and ghostwrites op-eds, policy briefs, talking points, and thought leadership for senior leaders and board members, with work featured in philanthropic media such as the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She has led the development of the organization’s first comprehensive policy framework and has coordinated engagement between philanthropy and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Her work includes supporting a national coalition of housing justice advocacy organizations, facilitating funder briefings and webinars, and partnering with grassroots and national advocates on materials such as amicus briefs and audience-specific messaging.

Previously, Lauren served as Director of Communications and Policy and Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Funders Together, where she directed internal and external communications, led the organization’s racial equity positioning, rebuilt relationships with federal partners, and helped guide philanthropic engagement during the Biden-Harris Administration transition. She brings deep expertise in strategic communications, nonprofit development, coalition building, and federal advocacy, and currently serves in advisory and governance roles within the philanthropic and communications sector. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Eastern Illinois University.

You can often find Lauren reading (give her your latest suggestion!), organizing locally in her community around democracy and immigrant rights, walking in nature as her form of meditation, or at the beach with her family soaking up the beauty of the ocean.