Lauren E. McGowan

About Lauren E. McGowan

My personal and professional experiences have cultivated a relentless drive to fight poverty and a deep commitment to equity and justice. Throughout my career, I have worked to increase access to housing, food, education, and income by harnessing the potential of philanthropic, community, and government resources. In 2023, I joined LISC as the Executive Director of the Puget Sound office. LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) is a national nonprofit that provides financing and support for community development across the country. As one of over 30 local offices, LISC Puget Sound partners with local government, community development corporations, and other nonprofits to revitalize neighborhoods and create opportunities for all.I am also the Principal and Founder of Revolution Strategies, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to advancing equitable solutions to end poverty. Prior to LISC, I spent 17 years with United Way of King County, where I designed initiatives that annually increased access to housing, food, higher education, and income for people. In response to the pandemic, I successfully raised over $100 million in public and private funds to ensure our neighbors had access to essential resources like food and housing.I believe that homelessness and poverty are the result of policy choices that can be eradicated with the right investments and interventions at the scale of the problems. My passion lies in making government programs more effective, modernizing our SafetyNet, ensuring college students have access to basic needs, leveraging National Service, and strengthening our democracy.My experience includes:Social impact leadership with 20 years of experience guiding high-impact teams to scale solutions to poverty by working at the intersection of direct service, philanthropy, and policy.Expertise in poverty reduction, homelessness, hunger, tax credits, and economic mobility.Strategic grant-making and systems building with a strong commitment to racial equity and social justice.Proven success as a creative fundraiser, responsible for raising and stewarding over $50 million in public and private gifts annually.Skilled communicator with extensive experience in advocacy, media relations, and public speaking.Dynamic leader with a passion for driving results-driven teams, coalitions, and governing boards.

Experience

1. Principal Consultant

   Revolution Strategies

   Aug 2022 — Present · US

   Revolution Strategies is a Seattle based boutique consulting firm that advances equitable solutions to end poverty. Founded by Lauren E. McGowan, Revolution Strategies advises Community Based Organizations, Governments, and Companies across the country on strategies to reduce hunger, homelessness, and poverty. Revolution strategies believes direct cash assistance is one of the most powerful anti-poverty strategies. They are especially interested in projects that increase access to the federal safety net and cash assistance programs by harnessing effective policies, good technology, and equitable implementation practices.

Skills

• Workshop Facilitation
• Philanthropy
• Policy Analysis
• Board Development
• Politics
• Policy
• Strategy
• Program Evaluation
• Nonprofits
• Community Organizing
• Program Development
• Program Management
• Volunteer Training
• Nonprofit Management
• Resource Development
• Public Speaking
• Youth Development
• National Service
• Entrepreneurship
• Goal Oriented
• Public Policy
• Volunteering
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Grants
• Social Media
• Social Services
• Program Design
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Non-Profit Administration
• Results Oriented
• Volunteer Management
• Training
• Strategic Leadership
• Fundraising
• Community Engagement
• Strategic Partnerships
• Board Governance
• Grant Management
• Volunteer Recruiting