Laura Safran

Senior Advisor, Partnerships

Favorite inspirational quote:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

– Maya Angelou

Laura is Managing Director of Client Services, where she leads Aperio’s partnerships with nonprofit organizations. As a career frontline fundraiser and leader, Laura brings her expertise in board engagement, major gifts, annual giving, and campaigns. She has led Aperio’s partnerships with organizations such as: Action Against Hunger, Arkansas Foodbank, Catholic Charities of Boston, Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Feeding South Florida, Food Bank for New York City, the Lupus Foundation of America, San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, and South Michigan Food Bank.

Prior to joining Aperio, Laura served as Director of Individual Giving at City Harvest, where she provided strategic guidance and management to the fundraising team, while also managing a personal portfolio of donors. During her time at City Harvest, Laura was responsible for a fundraising goal of $22 million (of the $36 million organizational budget). She restructured the individual giving team and strategy, which resulted in a 34% increase in annual revenue over four years. Laura led a transformation of board engagement in philanthropy, which increased board giving to 12% of overall revenue. 

Previously, Laura served as a frontline fundraiser at Villanova University, securing six-figure gifts for the University’s $600 million Campaign. Laura rapidly increased regional fundraising results in New York City by assisting in opening the first regional office for Villanova University. 

Laura holds a BA in Communications and Psychology from Villanova University. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and son.

Pronouns: she/her

Areas of expertise: major gifts, board engagement, junior board development, case development, capital campaigns, strategic planning

Causes I’m most passionate about: hunger relief, poverty alleviation, education, equal rights for ALL

My fundraising story: I started my fundraising career as a major gift officer for my alma mater, Villanova University. After receiving a crash-course in fundraising, I decided I wanted to work for a local organization helping the city I loved, NYC. I joined City Harvest and stayed for six years, raising millions of dollars to help feed New Yorkers in need.

Why I care about helping nonprofits grow: I am passionate about enabling nonprofits to achieve their missions by helping grow their philanthropy programs. I love working with fundraisers. I think it is important to remember that fundraising isn’t asking for money, it’s facilitating the impact that philanthropists want to have on their communities. 

Hobbies: playing with my son Jackson, cooking, riding my bike around the North Fork of Long Island

Unusual talent: I can recite the alphabet backwards.