Staff: Lara Nassar

Lara Nassar is the Deputy Director of Development on the National Team at Friends of the Children. In her role, she engages donors in the organization’s transformative work and advances national fundraising efforts.

Lara has dedicated her career to improving the lives of young people. After earning her B.A. in English & Comparative Literary Studies from Occidental College, she helped lead development efforts at Families Forward Learning Center, supporting low-income families through free early childhood education and social services. She then managed national fundraising and engagement events for the Pablove Foundation, improving the lives of children living with cancer through the arts and cutting-edge pediatric research. Following four years at Pablove, she returned to Occidental to lead the annual fund, expanding access and opportunity for current and future students.

With more than 12 years of nonprofit development experience, Lara is excited to help break the cycle of generational poverty through her work at Friends. After 17 years in Los Angeles, she has returned home to Portland, OR, where she enjoys the changing seasons, exploring nature, berry and flower picking, farmers market visits, and eating her way through the city.