Laura Skelton

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Laura has served the Seattle nonprofit sector for the past 15 years, including as a full-time employee, a consultant, and a board member. Since 2019, Laura has primarily served in interim leadership roles – for organizations working on diverse issues, including homelessness, food security and access, commercial sexual exploitation, senior independence, and more. Laura has deep experience in leading organizations through transition and in recovering from financial difficulties. In addition, Laura is a gifted manager of people and actively encourages her staff’s growth and development.

Through her work with Valtas, Laura most recently served as Interim Executive Director for the nonprofit, Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank. She assisted in refreshing their mission, vision, and values as well as establishing three new strategic priorities. In response to rising fuel costs in the summer of 2022, she oversaw implementation of a one-time gas and grocery card distribution to clients, assisting nearly 600 households. Through Laura’s guidance, there was a conversion to more efficient payroll and bookkeeping systems, and the successful onboarding of a new Executive Director.

Prior to her work with Valtas, Laura proudly served as the Executive Director of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility for five years, leading the organization through a substantial reinvigoration. She helped rebuild the organization’s membership base, refocus programs, establish dozens of partnerships, and attract significant new financial support – more than doubling revenue over a 5-year period. As a result, the organization started its fifth decade on strong footing to meet its mission of abolishing nuclear weapons and stopping climate change. In her role as Executive Director, Laura was responsible for all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, staff management, and strategic planning.
 
Laura also served as a Program Director for two national education-focused nonprofit organizations. At Alexander Hamilton Scholars, Laura was responsible for all seven of the organization’s programs, directly supporting hundreds of high-achieving, low-income youth in realizing their full potential. At Facing the Future, Laura authored over twenty published curriculum resources, including one of the nation’s first climate change resources for classroom teachers, as well as the nation’s first comprehensive sustainability textbook for high school students. She supported thousands of teachers across the US and abroad in implementing that curriculum. Laura’s career began as a science teacher, where she applied her passion for environmental sustainability.
 
Laura holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in ecology. She also holds a certificate from the Interim Executives Academy, a program of Third Sector Company.

LAURA'S RESUME >