Signature Initiatives
Laura is a strategic philanthropist who enjoys creating high-impact programs designed to strengthen organizational effectiveness and scale meaningful change. Laura’s signature initiatives are bold, collaborative efforts that drive innovation, spark civic dialogue, and create catalytic impact.
Embark
Embark is a cohort-based program for young interfaith and mixed-heritage couples to deepen their connection with each other and Jewish life, regardless of their backgrounds and without pressure to convert.
Socrates Program
The Aspen Institute Socrates Program provides a forum for emerging leaders from various professions to convene and explore contemporary issues through expert-moderated dialogue.
Center for Media and Democracy in Israel
The Center for Media and Democracy in Israel is a non-partisan, non-profit, news organization that empowers the public and promotes democratic discourse in Israel through investigative journalism and groundbreaking storytelling that sparks action.
Duke Gap Year Program
The Duke Gap Year Program provides funding for students who wish to take a gap year prior to enrolling at Duke University.
Lauder Family Giving Circle
The Lauder Family Giving Circle brings together family members to work side-by-side as equal partners in philanthropy.
Honeycomb
The Jewish Teen Foundation Board programs offer teens the opportunity to explore Jewish values and ideas, develop leadership skills, and practice high-impact philanthropy alongside peers.
Service Year Alliance
Service Year Alliance is an organization relentlessly pursuing a bold vision — making a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans.
DeLet Master of Arts in Teaching
The DeLeT Alumni Network is a support and resource network of the DeLeT fellowship program that helps DeLeT alumni to continue to grow as Jewish educators, teachers, and teacher-leaders throughout their careers.
Aspen Giving Network
The Giving Network engages philanthropists in the Aspen, CO, region about pressing community issues and needs through collaborative learning. By pooling funds and resources, we make impactful grants to regional nonprofits who serve to catalyze change.
Past Initiatives
Black Teacher Pipeline
The Black Teacher Pipeline is a national educational justice campaign led by the Center for Black Educator Development to inspire the next generation of Black educators.
Classroom Exchanges Project
The Classroom Exchanges project of the National Constitution Center engages middle and high school students across the U.S. in virtual debates about the Constitution. Active and retired judges serve as debate moderators. Partner funders include the Charles Koch Foundation and the Bezos Family Foundation.