LAUREN GELMANN is a seasoned fundraising leader with over 21 years of diverse experience in the development sector, focusing on high-impact annual campaigns, events, and cultivating meaningful donor relationships. A proud graduate of Yale University, Lauren is currently the Assistant Director of Advancement at The Field School. She is responsible for all facets of the annual fund program, volunteer management, and the yearly auction. Previously, she was the Annual Giving and Campaign Manager at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT, where she oversaw the development of a $40 million campaign. Prior to that, she was the Director of Annual Giving at Charles E. Smith Life Communities (CESLC), where she first learned about Iris and saw firsthand the powerful effect that Iris programming had on residents across all levels of care. Earlier roles also include serving as the Director of Annual Giving at New Canaan Country School, Development Officer at United World College – USA, and Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs and Development at Cornell University. Lauren's early career highlights include securing individual commitments for reunion campaigns at Yale Law School and increasing community participation at the Joseph Slifka Center at Yale University. She began her career in political fundraising as Finance Director for DeStefano for Connecticut.