Lisa Cylar Barrett has over 25 years of combined experience in the legal, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves as the Senior Advisor and Counsel to the CEO at Wellspring Philanthropic Fund working collaboratively with senior leadership on legal and programmatic strategy as the Foundation winds down its operations. Previously, she served as the Director of the Civil Society Program and led the Foundation’s efforts to create a more equitable, representative, and fully engaged electorate and a more just, responsive, and resilient US democracy.

Ms. Cylar Barrett has spent her career working to effectively execute multipronged strategies to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice. Immediately prior to joining Wellspring, Lisa served as Director of Policy and Director of the Washington D.C. Office at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), where she led and managed the federal and state level policy work for the organization including the organization’s voting rights and political participation efforts. In conjunction with her core roles, she served as a member of LDF’s Senior Leadership Team, where she assisted with the development and execution of the strategic direction for the organization.

Ms. Cylar Barrett’s career has also included serving as Managing Director, Federal Policy at PolicyLink, Senior Associate at the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), Senior Program Officer for the Skillman Foundation, and Program Officer and Director of Development at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Prior to her philanthropic career, Ms. Cylar Barrett practiced labor and employment law.

Ms. Cylar Barrett received her B.A. from Spelman College and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.