Laura Croft joined the CDC Foundation in 2011 with a 26-year combination of non-profit and private sector expertise in institutional advancement, management, and business development. As vice president for advancement, she leads the advancement team in all aspects of resource development efforts to support domestic and global health protection work. This includes building innovative public-private partnerships with philanthropy and private sector to fight threats to health, safety and security in the U.S. and around the world. As a tactical officer for advancement work, she collaborates with CDC leaders, world-class scientists and external public health stakeholders to tackle complex public health challenges through the speed and agility of a nonprofit. Laura is a member of the senior leadership team driving strategic direction for revenue generation and serves as lead for the Foundation’s emergency response fundraising efforts. The CDC Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) organization created by Congress to forge effective partnerships between private sector, philanthropy and CDC on critical public health priorities.

During her tenure at the Foundation, she was instrumental in launching the development of the first U.S.-based longitudinal data collection system for sickle cell disease. This system allows unprecedented insight into the devastating course of the disease and the burden of its effects on Americans. Laura successfully managed private resource mobilization efforts for the national Million Hearts® Initiative to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes. During the Zika outbreak, she led efforts to build over 40 partnerships to launch the Zika Contraception Access Network for women in Puerto Rico, securing approximately $75 million in resources to protect those at greatest risk. Laura continued her development efforts following hurricanes Irma and Maria raise resources to stand up an island-wide vaccination campaign and restore critical public health laboratory operations. Most recently, Laura served as the primary lead for fundraising strategy and coordination for the COVID-19 pandemic mobilizing over $550 million in resources to meet domestic and global public health needs.

Prior to joining the CDC Foundation, Laura served as director of development of The Children’s Museum of Atlanta leading capital and programmatic advancement initiatives. Her career also includes development work as a major gifts officer with The Atlanta Botanical Garden and director of Tocqueville and Ivan Allen Societies of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. 

Laura holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in finance and a minor in Spanish from the University of North Georgia (class of 1985). Laura is married to Phil Croft, UNG alumni ’84 and is the mother of two wonderful daughters – Tinsley and Rebecca. In January 2022, Laura was recognized as an outstanding alumnae leader during UNG’s Women of Leadership Recognition Luncheon.