Naomi Orensten, Director, Research, leads research initiatives at CEP. She speaks about CEP’s research at regional and national conferences, facilitates workshops about effective funder practices, and has co-authored reports such as Policy Influence: What Foundations are Doing and Why and The Future of Foundation Philanthropy: The CEO Perspective.

Prior to this role, Naomi was a director on CEP’s Assessment and Advisory Services team, in which she led relationships with funders using CEP’s assessments and customized advisory services, and supported foundation staff and leadership on topics related to philanthropic effectiveness.

Previously, Naomi worked as a nonprofit and philanthropic consultant, providing clients with a range of evaluation, strategy-planning, and capacity-building services that helped programs and organizations reach their goals. Her professional experience includes serving in program and grantmaking roles for a number of nonprofit organizations in the fields of education, human services, and civic engagement. Naomi also brings experience working in the Jewish community.

Naomi holds an EdM in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BA from Brandeis University. She serves on the board of an international human rights nonprofit, volunteers with a career coach/mentorship program for first-generation college graduates (of which she is one herself), and is a member of a nationwide giving circle. Naomi grew up on the shores of Lake Superior in rural northern Wisconsin and currently lives in Cambridge with her spouse and their two sons. She enjoys hiking, baking, a good cup of tea, and is often chasing after two surprisingly fast kids.