Washington, D.C.—The DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) announced today that Ed Lazere is stepping down as Executive Director, effective immediately. Jacquelyn L. Lendsey, a seasoned nonprofit executive, has been hired as Interim Director while the Board of Directors undertakes a comprehensive search for a new leader to guide DCFPI into the future.
Ed is leaving DCFPI to pursue another career option that he plans to announce soon. He has led DCFPI, an independent nonprofit organization that promotes opportunity and widespread prosperity for all residents of the District of Columbia through thoughtful policy solutions, since 2001. Under his leadership, DCFPI has become the primary source of independent information on the DC budget and one of the most influential policy organizations focused on the District.
“Ed has been a tremendous leader of DCFPI, shaping policies that improved the lives of thousands of District residents and promoted greater equity in the District,” said Judith Sandalow, Chair of DCFPI’s Board of Directors. “We will miss having Ed at the helm, but his impact and legacy will carry forward as DCFPI enters its next phase of increasing impact.”
Under Ed’s tenure, DCFPI has grown from a staff of one to 11, broadened its issue areas, built healthy reserves, and spun off from its parent organization to become independent. The organization is well-positioned to continue to thrive in the future, with an active and dynamic Board of Directors and a strong staff, including Policy Director Tazra Mitchell, who has a decade of state fiscal and anti-poverty policy experience. DCFPI will continue to achieve policy change for the District’s families, building on the notable successes that it accomplished under Ed’s tenure, including:
- Rolling back a time limit in assistance to families that would have pushed 10,000 children into deep poverty
- Leading a school finance commission that recommended creation of “at-risk” funds to supplement resources at high-poverty schools, and then fighting to ensure those funds get to the intended schools
- Creating the largest state or local Earned Income Tax Credit for residents who work but remain poor, and strengthening property tax assistance to ensure low-income families are not pushed out of their homes by rising taxes
“It’s been an honor, blessing, and pleasure to lead DCFPI for nearly two decades,” Lazere said. “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people throughout the District to make our city a better, more equitable community.”
Jacquelyn L. Lendsey will serve as Interim Executive Director while the Board conducts the search for Ed’s replacement. Lendsey has more than 25 years’ experience leading national and local nonprofit organizations. Since 2012, she has served as an interim executive professional, skilled at guiding organizations through transition in a limited time frame. She is a native Washingtonian, and a member of the Interim Executive Network, a network of experienced professional interim executives in the DC metro region, and Leadership Greater Washington.
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