Laura McCargar

President, Perrin Family Foundation

Laura McCargar was appointed as President of the Perrin Family Foundation (PFF) in June of 2016. Laura joined the foundation in 2011 as a Program Officer, where she played a central role in designing the foundation’s youth-led social change grantmaking and the oversaw the development and implementation of capacity building initiatives designed to strengthen, promote and expand youth organizing across Connecticut. Laura’s work in the philanthropic sector and her deep belief in the power of youth-led social change is informed by her experience as a youth worker and organizer.

Prior to joining the Perrin Family Foundation, Laura was awarded a Soros Justice Fellowship from Open Society Foundations to engage in research and organizing around the previously little known role that alternative schools and adult education programs play in Connecticut’s school-to-prison pipeline. From 2002-2010, Laura served as the founding Executive Director of Youth Rights Media, a New Haven-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth to use media and organizing strategies to create community change.

Contributions

Governance Practices for Better Decision Making

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Kerry Ellington, Connie Malloy, Lisl Schoepflin, Miki Akimoto, Laura McCargar

conference, meeting
Governance practices of philanthropic families are evolving to include more diverse voices and perspectives. Two common pathways for donors to become more informed and proximate to the communities they partner with include: the appointment of an expert or community advisory committee to guide social impact strategies and decisions, and appointing independent board members. What are the considerations a family must… Read More

Balancing Power Dynamics

Posted on February 14, 2019 by David Perrin, Farhad Ebrahimi, John Mullaney, Laura McCargar

How can you use your privilege to address the power imbalances that exist between funders and community partners? How can your board members build more honest and collaborative relationships, while also supporting other funders in building more authentic relationships with their grantees? This conversation will feature a variety of practical tips for bridging the power divide with your grantees, with… Read More

Privacy, Purpose and the Public Trust: Finding a Balance

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Bob Reid, John Mullaney, Laura McCargar, Pam David, Jason Born

How do you balance what you share externally with your family’s need for privacy? And what are the benefits and challenges of being transparent in your communications and relationships? Join NCFP as we explore this topic with family philanthropy experts. Additional Resources: Foundation Transparency: Opacity — It’ s Complicated How We Operate Governance at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation… Read More

The First Year in the Life of a New Executive Director

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Adam Simon, John Hicks, Laura McCargar, Sharmila Rao Thakkar

How can your board develop a transition plan to maximize your new or incoming executive director’s prospects for success? What is the board and board chair’s role in orienting the new CEO? What tips do successful freshman CEO’s have for developing strong board/staff relations; setting boundaries; learning more about the community and causes served by the foundation; and understanding and… Read More
Voices from the Field

Walking the Talk: Striving for Authentic Partnership with Our Grantees

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Laura McCargar

In November, PFF Program Officer Laura McCargar joined Michael Moody of the Johnson Center for Family Philanthropy and NCFP Fellow and Board Member Katherine Lorenz of the George and Cynthia Mitchell Foundation at the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations conference in Houston, Texas to talk about collaboration in the context of family philanthropy… Read More

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