Team

Laurie serves members through strategic leadership of Arizona Grantmakers Forum, creating and sustaining relationships with aligned philanthropic, nonprofit and community partners. She works closely with the Public Policy Committee and board of directors to elevate Arizona philanthropy’s voice through public policy advocacy and community engagement.

Before joining Arizona Grantmakers in 2015, Laurie worked to improve policy outcomes for Arizonans for more than 25 years. She began her career as a research analyst for the Arizona House of Representatives before joining the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, where she served as senior vice president of public affairs and as president and chief executive officer, among other roles. In 2014, Laurie was a Washington, D.C. correspondent for Cronkite News, producing more than 30 stories covering politics, immigration and Indian affairs for Arizona news media outlets.

Laurie has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Mass Communication degree from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is active in United Philanthropy Forum and is a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, the Cover Kids Coalition and the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits Policy Council.

A native of the Southwest, Laurie grew up in various swimming pools in Tempe, Arizona. She loves traveling, watching movies and kitchen-testing new recipes for her ever-forgiving husband. On weekends, you can generally find Laurie with her nose in a book, hiking “rolling hills” on a treadmill with one eye trained on the day’s political news. She tries—with mixed success—to live by the Golden Rule.

Email Laurie

Erin serves as the first point of contact for current and prospective members and supports Arizona philanthropy professional through thoughtfuly crafted learning opportunities and member engagement and outreach. She works closesly with affinity groups, committees and community leaders to create highly rated educational programs and enhance member value. Erin plays an important role in empowering members, raising the voice of Arizona philanthropy and growing the Arizona Grantmakers Forum network. 

Erin is a native Arizonan and has a deep knowledge of Arizona philanthropy from her background in fundraising, events, and community engagement. Erin spent the last several years at Make-A-Wish Arizona where she served in various positions on the organization's development team. She played a key role in developing the organization's youth philanthropy, third-party fundraising and annual giving programs.

Erin is a Valley Leadership Accelerate alumna and is currently pursuing a master's degree in organizational leadership from Arizona State University. She is passionate about philanthropy and proud to empower members as part of the Arizona Grantmakers team. 

Email Erin