Emily Lundgard named director of strategy

Emily Lundgard, senior program director for Enterprise Community Partners, is joining The George Gund Foundation as director of strategy. In this new role, Lundgard will work closely with the program team to integrate and align grantmaking strategies to advance the Foundation’s overarching priorities—Climate Change, Equity and Racial Justice, and Democracy Building—as outlined in the Foundation’s What We Believe statement, as well as cultivate relationships to achieve program alignment; conduct research on local, state, and federal policy issues; and implement a consistent communications strategy.

Lundgard has more than fifteen years of federal, state, and local level public and nonprofit service. At Enterprise Community Partners, she formulated and directed Enterprise Ohio’s first policy and advocacy agenda. That included building broad coalitions to create more affordable quality homes and stronger, more equitable neighborhoods. She advanced policies including tax abatement reform and renters’ rights. Lundgard also built and directed the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition, a public-private coalition to address and prevent the crisis of childhood lead poisoning; helped create and capitalize a multi-million dollar Lead Safe Home Fund; and drafted and led advocacy for new local and state lead safe policies.

Previously, Lundgard worked for Cuyahoga County government as the director of communications. She managed media relations, marketing, and internal communications for the County Executive and all county departments. Before that role, Lundgard served as Cuyahoga County’s first ever special assistant for regional collaboration where she coordinated collaboration among the area’s 59 communities and led Cuyahoga County’s state and federal advocacy efforts. Lundgard also worked at the Ohio Department of Development as a legislative liaison under Governors Strickland and Kasich and served as legislative service commission fellow in the Ohio Senate.

“We are excited for Emily to join our team,” said Gund president Tony Richardson. “Her experience in coalition building, public policy, and strategic communications will bode well for the Foundation as we seek to further integrate our program areas and bolster our digital presence.”

Lundgard’s civic engagements include serving on the board of trustees for Ohio City Incorporated and the advisory board for Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services. Lundgard holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science and a master’s degree in public administration from Ohio University.