Lauren McKown is the Senior Vice President of Development for The GroundTruth Project, home to Report for America. Over the past three years, McKown has led the team responsible for growing GroundTruth from a $2M organization to a $14M organization placing local reporters at scale across the U.S. and globally. A nonprofit strategist, program designer, fundraiser, and storyteller, McKown works with diverse teams to lead and streamline organizational development and communications.
Prior to her time at GroundTruth, McKown led new initiatives and partnerships at MIT D-Lab, spearheading the creation of a comprehensive partnerships portfolio and leading communications efforts for $20M USAID-supported programs advancing global entrepreneurship, and rigorously evaluating technologies for poverty alleviation. A passionate advocate for women’s rights and health, McKown also previously led online communications, online fundraising, and media engagement at Pathfinder International, a $110M nonprofit dedicated to reproductive health.
McKown is a proud alumna of the James Madison College at Michigan State University, where she studied international relations and journalism and served as Managing Editor of The State News, a daily, independent, student-run newspaper. Originally from rural Michigan, McKown now gets her farm fix serving as a Board Member for Gaining Ground, a local nonprofit farm growing organic produce for Boston-area families in need.
