Simone Sneed

Simone N. Sneed-McGurl is a creative problem solver living at the intersection of doing good and doing well. She thrives on helping innovative leaders to fund social impact initiatives, activate critical stakeholders and engage partners for the long term. Ever an optimist, Simone imagines a social change future where impact isn''t limited by for profit vs. non-profit.

Over the last decade Simone has been a social enterprise advocate and advisor. She has raised and helped to deploy $25M in philanthropic capital for issues ranging from teen pregnancy prevention to environmentalism. Currently, she is the Director of Board Relations for the Environmental Defense Fund, a global environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the systems upon which all life depends. In her role she ensures EDF’s ability to govern smartly and maintain institutional integrity in the US and abroad. Committed to nurturing the next generation of social impact leaders Simone also teaches social enterprise management s to students as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Service at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

As a writer and public speaker her work has appeared in Blavity, The Huffington Post, CNN, Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Journal of Governmental Finance and Public Policy, Levo League, Policy Micand Cosmopolitan Latina. And she has presented at the Princeton University L.E.A.D Summit, American Express, the Center For Non-Profit Management, New York University’s Social Enterprise Bootcamp, SoapBox Feminist Camp, The NYS Society of CPAs and the New Leaders Council. She’s also received numerous awards and fellowships including the University at Albany’s “30 Under 30” award, NYU Wagner’s IGNITE Fellowship, New Leaders Council Fellowship, Center For Women in Government Fellowship and participated in the George Washington Graduate School of Political Management Semester in Washington program.