Lauren Sampson

Lauren Sampson joined The Opportunity Network as Chief Development Officer with over twenty years of development and donor-relations experience.

She previously served as Chief Development Officer at GLAAD, whose mission is to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive media representation of the LGBTQ community and create national and local programs that advance LGBTQ acceptance. In her role, Sampson developed the vision, strategy, and direction of the organization’s fundraising efforts. She led a team of nineteen dynamic fundraising professionals during a period of growth and recognition on the national stage.

Sampson’s commitment to social justice and advocacy is deeply felt and long-standing. Prior to GLAAD, she served as the Deputy Chief Development Officer at the Innocence Project, whose mission is to fight for fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice, free the innocent, and prevent wrongful convictions. In her role, she led the fundraising operations and oversaw institutional funding, planned giving, digital fundraising, development operations, and individual giving. She also previously held fundraising positions at the New York City Bar Association, Cardozo School of Law, Stevens Institute of Technology, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, and Baruch College.