Episcopal Charities of New York Names Lauren Jenkins Chung as Executive Director

Appointment to advance the organization’s mission and programs with funding and strategic support to impact nearly 1 million people annually.

Today, Episcopal Charities of the Diocese of New York (Episcopal Charities) announced Lauren Jenkins Chung, a staff leader and former board director, has been promoted as its next Executive Director. Chung is a nonprofit management professional with nearly two decades of leadership experience in New York City’s nonprofit sector. Most recently serving as the Chief Advancement and Operations Officer of Episcopal Charities, Chung has expertise in driving mission-driven organizational strategy and development to support programs that make a measurable positive impact on vulnerable people and communities.

Episcopal Charities makes grants and provides program support to build a more just and compassionate society grounded in the inclusive mission and values of the Episcopal Diocese of New York – and The Episcopal Church more broadly. The organization focuses on acute need across the 10 counties of the Diocese, covering a diverse range of communities from the Bronx to Staten Island and Westchester to Dutchess Counties. Episcopal Charities specializes in connecting with community-based organizations – including over 100 Episcopal parish-affiliated programs – and their local leaders to address food insecurity, youth education, addiction recovery and the needs of the formerly incarcerated as well as focusing on efforts to help protect displaced people in the region, including migrant and homeless populations. 

Andrew Horrocks, President of the Board, Episcopal Charities, stated: “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted that Lauren has accepted our offer to become the fourth Executive Director in our 30-year history. Lauren has been a board director and a member of staff over the course of a decade and brings deep knowledge of our mission, organization, programs, donors, community partners and, most importantly, the people we serve. We believe Lauren is the ideal leader for Episcopal Charities as we advance our mission and serve nearly 1 million people annually while also pursuing our organizational growth objectives.”

The Right Rev. Matthew F. Heyd, the 17th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, commented: "Lauren Jenkins Chung is the right leader for this moment. I’m delighted that she’ll serve as the next Executive Director of Episcopal Charities. New York needs our engagement more than ever. Congregational outreach programs make a difference in every neighborhood of the Diocese of New York. Episcopal Charities makes that service possible.  I’m excited about the difference that Lauren will make as Executive Director.”

Lauren Jenkins Chung shared: “As Episcopal Charities enters its 30th year of service, I could not be more honored to be named the next Executive Director, a role that in this moment demands humility, agile leadership, focus and tenacity. My time at Episcopal Charities has taught me that to best serve people and meet their acute needs in every corner of the region we serve, we must continue to innovate and incubate new programs with our partners that respond to needs as they arise, particularly rising food and housing insecurity.” 

As Chief Advancement and Operations Officer at Episcopal Charities, Chung led the organization’s fundraising and operations. During her tenure, she secured record-breaking grant support, establishing the $420,000 Frances Perkins Endowment for Social Work — the second-largest endowment in the organization’s history. Chung also serves as President of the Board of Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York and previously served as President of the New York Junior League, where she oversaw strategic planning and advocacy. She was also elected to serve previously on the Community Education Council in Manhattan’s District 2, representing 25,000 public school students.

Lauren began her career in Washington, DC as a public higher education lobbyist and holds a B.A. from the University of Florida, as well as an M.P.A. in Public and Nonprofit Management from the New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She is an active parishioner at Calvary-St. George’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, where she has served on the Vestry, or parish leadership council, and as Stewardship Chair.

As Executive Director, Chung will lead Episcopal Charities in its mission to serve and care for communities throughout the Diocese of New York, building on its legacy of partnership and compassion, working with community partners to help meet today’s urgent needs that people are facing – and create lasting impact.

Discover the impact of Episcopal Charities by visiting www.episcopalcharities-newyork.org and following on LinkedIn and Instagram. To support the mission, vulnerable people and communities, click here. 

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Episcopal Charities of New York is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that has served as the outreach arm of the Episcopal Diocese of New York for the past 25 years. It provides critical funding, operational support and volunteers to approximately 100 local programs working to transform the lives of more than 1 million people in need each year.