In her role as Associate Executive Director, Lauren is responsible for building and maintaining the BWJF infrastructure. She oversees all foundation operations including website development, due diligence and audit requirements, and trademark and copyright registration. Lauren is the key stakeholder for all foundation/grantee relationships, as well as back office and administrative support. In addition, Lauren manages non-foundation philanthropy and special projects for the Johnson family.

Prior to joining BWJF, Lauren was the Johnson Company's manager of philanthropy. She coordinated charitable giving across multiple funding entities, stewarding communications with receiving organizations as well as family trustees, accounting and investment teams.  Lauren managed the full charitable giving process from organization research to developing funding opportunities, to grant distribution and documentation auditing. 

Before the Johnson Company, Lauren drafted architectural proposals for a national interior design firm and supported the marketing needs for an office of 450 architects and designers. 

Lauren graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Russian Studies and Political Science. She and her husband, Max, live in New Jersey with their two daughters.  A family of avid hikers, the Howards visited 12 of New Jersey’s 15 waterfall hiking destinations in 2024 —only 3 to go!