Lauren Rutkin serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Philanthropy at Geller and, for the past 21 years, as the Director of the Geller Family Foundation. Bringing over thirty years of experience, she manages the personal interests of the Geller family in matters of charitable giving, engaging the next generation, board relationships, special projects of importance to the family, and political giving. Lauren is also a member of Geller’s Management Committee.
In addition to directing the Geller Family Foundation, Lauren developed Geller’s philanthropic and community engagement program, GellerCares, an initiative that integrates charitable interests across multiple dimensions including adopting schools in low-income areas, engaging in environmental programs, and more. Lauren also oversees Geller’s Community Outreach for Diversity and Inclusion (C.O.D.I.) Program.
From 2023 – 2024, Lauren served as a member of the Geller Culture Committee, which operated as an independent body of leaders responsible for providing feedback and input on firm-level strategic initiatives and matters that impact culture and employee experience within the firm.
Prior to joining Geller, Lauren started the consulting practice Ventures in Philanthropy where she assisted clients in not-for-profit fundraising, building and analyzing fundraising structures, creating development plans, staff training, and building a development office.
Lauren was also an Executive Director at the Community Counseling Service Inc. (CCS), a fund-raising consulting firm, where, among other projects, she managed and coordinated the day-to-day operations for a $110 million capital campaign within a college environment. Prior to her role at CCS, Lauren held a variety of positions in development for not-for-profit organizations.
Lauren dedicates a substantial amount of her time to serving on the Board of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC), as well as within her local community where she serves on the Anti-Semitism Task Force for the Maplewood-South Orange School District and the Anti-Semitism Essex County Taskforce. Prior, she held a variety of positions in her children’s schools and served as the former President of the Columbia High School Baseball Boosters. Lauren is leading a $25M campaign fund pro-bono for the Staying Together Community of Nir Oz.
Lauren is married to a Reform Rabbi, Matthew D. Gewirtz. She is very involved in Congregation B’nai Jeshurun (TBJ) where she served on the Religious School Committee and the Development Committee. Lauren developed and implemented curriculum in the areas of Tzedakah and Philanthropy for TBJ and other synagogues.
Lauren received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont where she majored in English. Lauren resides in Maplewood, N.J. with her husband and three children.