Lauren Ott

Background

About Lauren Ott

It was a different time for our sector when I took the job with Impact Genome in 2022. We focused on evaluating grants and verifying that impact had taken place. It was important work, but for some, it felt more like a nice-to-have than a must-have. ESG'ers got it, nonprofits saw value, and consultants were leveraging the Registry to enhance their work. Now, in the present-day world, the inability to verify the impact of grants or impact investments is a huge problem, amplified by political uncertainty and a growing mistrust of nonprofits. The trust deficit is at an all-time high. How do we fix this? How do we build trust across nonprofits & funders, in order to strengthen relations and ensure the sector's survival? I'm incredibly proud of our team, because we've pushed the sector to see that social outcomes can be Impact Verified®, nonprofits can build trust in their work instantly sharing the Impact Verified® Seal, and funders don't need to dictate the activities when they have access to a Verified Impact Report. Creating the biggest impact possible has continued to act as my compass when choosing where my career will bring me next, and as the Head of Membership at Impact Genome, I'm fulfilled knowing that our work is ensuring nonprofits can shift from survival to thriving when they can demonstrate their proven impact. I launched and ran the social enterprise Kits for a Cause, which changed the way that employee engagement intersects with social impact. Formerly the Director of Global Business Development with a demonstrated history of working in the nonprofit and governmental industries. Skilled in Sales Strategy, International Relations, Management, Philanthropy, and Community Engagement. Served as Craig Kielburger's right-hand; instructed strategy, executive communications, and stakeholder engagement. Dedicated professional with an Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) focused in Political Science; Concentration in International Relations; Minor in History from Carleton University.