Lauren Candela-Katz is the Chief Advancement Officer and serves as Executive Leadership at Westchester Jewish Community Services. Founded in 1943, WJCS provides mental health and support services to over 20,000 Westchester residents of all backgrounds and ages each year. Lauren brings an extensive background in fundraising, communications, community, and government relations and organizational development to WJCS. Most recently, she previously served in Executive Leadership positions as Chief Development Officer at Lifting Up Westchester, an organization that serves people who are unhoused and hungry in Westchester County, and Chief Development Officer at Abbott House which serves children in foster care and adults with intellectual and developmental needs. Lauren’s career also includes leadership positions in healthcare including White Plains Hospital, Hudson River Healthcare, and Calvary Hospital. Lauren began her career at the Jewish Federations of Metrowest, NJ and Stamford, CT and continued at National UJA, spending a decade working in Jewish philanthropy.
Lauren earned a Master of Social Work degree in Community Organization, a Certificate of Jewish Communal Service from The Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and certified in The Psychology of Philanthropy through the Institute of Sustainable Philanthropy, and a graduate of Volunteer NY Leadership Westchester.
Lauren serves on Nonprofit Westchester’s Advocacy Committee and shares her passion as a frequent workshop facilitator throughout Westchester and the region. She has previously served on the board of the Westchester Chapter, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and Chaired National Philanthropy Day Conferences and Education Programming; the Leadership Summit Committee of United Way; the board of Bet Am Shalom and religious school boards at the JCC of Harrison and Temple Israel Center of White Plains.
