Who We Are

Laura Cannata grew up outside of Buffalo, NY, and has worked the past 30 years in Greater Boston. She split her time between Milton and Eastham with her husband Paul and their two children, Caroline and Will before settling permanently in Eastham in June 2023. Laura will lead and implement the CDP's development, marketing, and communications strategy to raise the organization's visibility and secure a diverse and sustainable revenue portfolio to support the CDP's program growth and strategic goals.

With over 30 years of experience as a nonprofit and fundraising professional, Laura brings a thoughtful and thorough approach to donor engagement and strives to create positive, long-lasting relationships to help organizations achieve their engagement goals. Before joining the CDP, Laura was a senior consultant for the Development Guild DDI. She oversaw fundraising consulting engagements serving regional, national, and global nonprofits in education, health and science, the arts, and human service. As a fundraising director at The Baker Center for Children and Families, Make-A-Wish Foundation of MA, and Daily Table, she significantly increased relationships and contributed revenue during her tenure. Her experience includes donor relations at Milton Academy, overseeing stewardship communications and events to support the school's successful $175 million campaign.

Laura earned her undergraduate degree at Hamilton College and a Master of Business Administration from Boston University with a concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management. Outside of work, Laura enjoys having rich conversations with family and friends, cooking, listening to music, practicing yoga, exercising outdoors, and gardening.