Laura Zumdahl, Donors Forum's Vice President of Nonprofit Services, has been selected as a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Award, given by the Association Forum of Chicagoland, a nonprofit association that advances the practice of association management, and USAE, an association management trade newspaper.

The award recognizes 40 association nonprofit professionals who demonstrate a high potential for success in leadership, exhibit a strong commitment to the association management profession, and are under 40 years of age.  Laura was selected from a pool of 150 applicants for this inaugural award.

In her position as Vice President of Nonprofit Services at Donors Forum, Laura provides leadership to capacity-building efforts to strengthen nonprofits. "This award is truly a tribute to Laura's many meaningful accomplishments both at Donors Forum and earlier in her career," said Valerie S. Lies, Donors Forum's President and CEO. "It underlines her tremendous potential for success in leadership within an association or in the broader nonprofit and philanthropic community," she added.

“It is an honor to be named to the list,” Laura said. “It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to do work that impacts the nonprofit sector in Illinois – we need strong, effective nonprofits to tackle the big problems in our community, and I’m privileged to be part of that through my work at Donors Forum. "

Prior to joining Donors Forum in 2011, Laura was the Interim Executive Director and Associate Executive Director of Cabrini Green Legal Aid; prior to that, she held leadership roles at nonprofits focused on higher education and child welfare. Laura was also named a 2011 Emerging Nonprofit Leadership Fellow by the Chicago Community Trust. Laura earned a B.A. in Sociology from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois; a M.A. in Social Work from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration; and a Ph.D. in Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

Laura and the other awardees will be honored on Mon., Dec. 16 at a reception, as well as at a Holiday Showcase Luncheon in downtown Chicago.

— Marilou Jones, Director of Communications