Serena Lai
About Serena Lai
Serena Lai is a Director at CCS Fundraising and has extensive experience in nonprofit strategy and philanthropy. She holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and has worked in various roles focused on elevating nonprofit causes and ensuring their success.
Current Role at CCS Fundraising
Serena Lai serves as a Director at CCS Fundraising, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she focuses on elevating nonprofit causes through both traditional and innovative strategies. Her work is centered on ensuring the continued success of various nonprofit organizations, leveraging her extensive background in nonprofit strategy and philanthropy.
Previous Experience at The Aspen Institute
Serena Lai worked at The Aspen Institute as a William Randolph Hearst Fellow in the Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation for six months in 2021. Prior to this, she also served as a Fellow in the same program for two months earlier that year. Her experiences at The Aspen Institute contributed to her understanding of philanthropy and social innovation.
Educational Background
Serena Lai holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Chicago, where she also earned a Master of Arts (MA). Additionally, she completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Georgia, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (BA). She furthered her education at the City University of New York-Brooklyn College Latin/Greek Institute.
Expertise in Nonprofit Strategy
Serena Lai has developed expertise in nonprofit strategy and philanthropy, with a focus on transformational change and program strengthening. Her experience includes working as a Nonprofit Project Manager at the Community Programs Accelerator at the University of Chicago and as an Associate Consultant at Partec Consulting Group.
Consulting Roles and Contributions
In addition to her role at CCS Fundraising, Serena Lai has been serving as an LSAT Fairness Consultant for the Law School Admission Council since 2017 and as a GMAT Fairness Consultant for the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) since 2019. These consulting roles reflect her commitment to fairness and equity in educational assessments.