3rd Culture Consulting

With over twenty-five years of experience in nonprofit organizational management, strategic planning, leadership development, fundraising and collaborative partnerships, Laura Kozak is positioned to provide resources and guidance to enhance the performance of mission driven leadership and fundraising teams.

 

As interim president for Grace Hill Settlement House from 2016-2018, Laura committed twenty four months to shepherding the Grace Hill board through major leadership changes  while achieving robust fundraising goals and while cost cutting and preparing the agency programs and staff for strategic partnerships, including merger of programs and services. 

 

Kozak joined Grace Hill in 2008 as Vice President for Development for Grace Hill Health Centers, Inc. and Grace Hill Settlement House, responsible for securing over $4.5 million in major gifts for Grace Hill and has grown its annual fund threefold. Parallel to the fund development growth, Kozak built community and corporate volunteer programs, engaging thousands of volunteers and launching key volunteer initiatives including partnerships with Aramark, the Junior League of St. Louis and PNC Bank.  In 2014, Kozak began serving as Chief Administrative Officer at Grace Hill Settlement House.  As CAO, Kozak devoted the practices that created a strong philanthropy program to the development of human capital – leading a strategic shift at Grace Hill in talent management and the attraction and retention of high-performing people. During that time, she partnered closely with the agency senior management and volunteer leadership to improve governance and strategic direction in an environment challenged by shifting federal funding.  Grace Hill, as a United Way agency which also receives nearly 50% of its funding from federal contracts, has provided her with the opportunity to develop acumen for leading and managing in the complex funding environment of social services.

 

While working at Grace Hill, Laura Kozak completed an MBA from the Olin School of Business Executive MBA program in 2010, #2 in the world that year by The Wall Street Journal.  Kozak is also a graduate of the American Express Leadership Academy and serves on the Boards of Bravely, Inc. (formerly Magdalene STL) and the Maren Fund.  She was recognized in the St. Louis Business Journal as a member of the 2008 40 Under 40 Class.  Kozak has worked with major education and mission driven institutions, including Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Joseph’s Academy, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Affinia Health Centers.