Susan W. Lane brings more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership to her role as Director of Development at the Mind & Life Institute, including more than 15 years in higher education advancement. Her work has centered on building long-term relationships with donors, foundations, and philanthropic partners who want to support thoughtful, meaningful change.
Before joining Mind & Life, Susan held senior fundraising roles with Michigan State University, Florida International University, 1% for the Planet, and Mercy For Animals, with experience spanning major gifts, campaign strategy, donor advising, and planned giving. She is especially interested in helping people connect what they care about most with opportunities to make a real difference.
Susan has a natural curiosity about people, ideas, and the questions that sit at the intersection of science, meaning, compassion, and community. At Mind & Life, she works to grow and strengthen the philanthropic partnerships that support the Institute’s mission to bridge contemplative wisdom and science in service of human flourishing.
