Laura Daum joined Room to Grow as Manager, Foundations in 2024. Previously, she was a Senior Grant Writer at a DC-based philanthropic fundraising firm, where she supported the development strategies of nonprofits working toward social change through investigative journalism, tax reform, criminal justice reform, social services, education, the arts, and more. Before her career in nonprofit development, Laura spent 11 years supporting child and family wellness, first as a community-based therapist and then as an educational administrator. Through this work, she witnessed firsthand how social determinants of health impact child development and developed a passion for helping to create the conditions for equity on a larger scale.

Laura holds an MA in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University and a BS in Psychology from Guilford College. Her training in active listening, conflict resolution, and group dynamics has served her well in all of her professional roles. She currently lives in Memphis, Tennessee, where she can be found trying out new restaurants, seeing live music shows, and taking long walks with her husband, two dogs, and three children.