Diane Lebson grew up as a first-generation American in Milford, Connecticut, as the daughter of working-class, Polish immigrants who instilled in her a strong work ethic and desire to “do good.”
After studying international relations in college, Diane stayed in Washington and began her nonprofit career on the national staff of United Way, the largest charity in the United States at the time. Over the course of 17 years, she managed United Way’s national literacy program, directed the national board of trustees and built a women’s giving program that, to date, has raised more than $2 billion and mobilized over 70,000 philanthropists. After leaving United Way, Diane went on to lead U.S. fundraising operations for an international nongovernmental organization that serves orphans and abandoned children, lead a public library foundation, serve as the chief of protocol at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia, and oversee the women’s giving program for the American Red Cross.
In 2018, she and her husband cofounded Evergreen Philanthropic Solutions, a national consultancy that helps nonprofit organizations, individuals, corporations, and foundations achieve their philanthropic goals. Diane is also the author of “For a Good Cause: A Practical Guide to Giving Joyfully.”
