Helping Young People Thrive: What Adolescent Brain Science Means for Philanthropy
Pricing: Free – A members only event
According to Exponent Philanthropy’s 2026 Foundation Operations and Management Report, 85% of our member organizations make grants supporting children and youth.
How can the science of the adolescent brain help funders make smarter investments and achieve greater impact for young people?
Join Lisa Lawson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, for a conversation about her book, Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children, and what it means for philanthropy.
Research shows that adolescence is a remarkable period of growth and opportunity — a time when the right relationships, experiences, and support can make a lasting difference. Yet too often, our assumptions about teenagers and young adults keep us from recognizing their potential.
Lisa is known for making complex research accessible and actionable. She’ll show how funders of all sizes can put brain science to work, offering real-world insights for busy, leanly staffed funders who want practical guidance, not theory.
Facilitated by Exponent Philanthropy CEO Paul Daugherty, this fireside chat will include time for your questions and discussion with fellow philanthropic leaders. Bring your curiosity and leave with fresh ideas to inform your foundation’s work.
This CEO session is supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Speaker
Lisa M. Lawson is the president and chief executive officer of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Since taking the helm in 2019, Lawson has launched several initiatives to maximize Casey’s impact, including Thrive by 25® — a groundbreaking effort aligning the Foundation’s work in child welfare and juvenile justice reform, economic opportunity, and community development to improve outcomes for Generation Z (adolescents ages 14 to 24).
The strategy, which is showing promising results, has inspired new programs and partnerships with public, private and nonprofit organizations; expanded the field’s understanding and use of adolescent brain science to enhance the effectiveness of interventions; increased investments in prevention efforts; and shifted public policy to better support young people in school, work and life. In September 2025, Lawson released a new book about these efforts called Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children.
Before becoming president, Lawson was the Foundation’s executive vice president and chief program officer, overseeing all the organization’s grant-making efforts. Prior to that, she served as vice president of external affairs, leading Casey’s work to provide data, analysis, research and policy solutions to help all children realize their full potential.
Lawson came to the Foundation after a 14-year career with UPS, where she held various roles, including president of the UPS Foundation and vice president of corporate public relations. Her unique blend of philanthropic and corporate expertise has helped Lawson expand Casey’s reach and find new ways to improve child well-being.
A testament to her influence in the sector was Lawson’s selection as one of Inside Philanthropy’s 50 most powerful women in U.S. philanthropy in 2023 and her inclusion in the Nonprofit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 list in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.
Lawson’s dedication to service extends beyond the Annie E. Casey Foundation. She serves on several national boards, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and is an advisory board member of the public company Twilio.org. She is also deeply committed to the Foundation’s hometown, serving on the boards of Baltimore’s Promise and the Greater Washington Partnership.
An Atlanta native, Lawson earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Michigan. She also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Livingstone College.
Who Should Attend
This event is open exclusively to CEOs and lead executives of Exponent Philanthropy member organizations.
Registration and Other Policies
Prior to the program, you will receive your unique access information. By registering for this program, participants are agreeing to Exponent Philanthropy’s Participant Guidelines. Please contact us by email or at 202-580-6560 if you have any questions.
Platform and Accessibility
This program uses Zoom; automated closed captioning is available. We can provide additional accommodations upon request (e.g., live captioner, ASL interpreter).
Please contact info@exponentphilanthropy.org or call 202-580-6560 if you need any accommodations.
