Lauren Stebbins

Lauren Stebbins is a Program Officer with The Barra Foundation focusing on developing and implementing impact investing strategies that accompany the foundation’s grantmaking.

Driven by a commitment to addressing systemic inequities that hinder access to resources and opportunity for marginalized populations, Lauren has worked in a diverse range of roles in mission-driven organizations, cultivating and honing skills in strategy development, investment due diligence, program management, research, analysis and communications. Prior to joining Barra, she served as a Development Project Manager with Stone Sherick Consulting Group where she focused on project management and fundraising for affordable housing and social purpose real estate. Lauren also spent four years at Opportunity Finance Network managing and implementing programmatic initiatives designed to provide capacity building resources, financial support and learning opportunities to community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Her areas of expertise include place-based investment, affordable housing development, small business development, barriers to financial security, and the intersections between community investment, economic mobility, and health and education outcomes. She holds an undergraduate degree in sociology and political science from Brown University and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys endurance cycling and cultivating a green thumb by nurturing numerous houseplants and an outdoor garden.