Lillian Pena Torres
Senior Manager, Institutional Engagement and Development, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Lillian is the Senior Manager of Institutional Engagement and Development at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and has over 25 years of experience in non-profit fundraising and development operations. In this role, she leads and oversees global fund development for WRI Ross Center across five country offices. She develops and implements solicitation strategies for top donor relationships and identifies and qualifies new prospective donors, and she leads the establishment and implementation of a strong donor stewardship program. She is also responsible for implementing and overseeing the use of fundraising systems and processes in the program that include pipeline and proposal development.
Prior to this role, Lillian was Director of Development Operations and Internal Philanthropy for WRI’s Development Department. She managed institutional foundation relations and supported WRI leadership and programs in their fund development. Lillian also worked with WRI’s China Office staff to support fundraising and donor outreach, and worked closely with the Vice President for Institutional Strategy and Development to manage the day to day operations of the Development department.
Lillian has been with WRI since 1997. She has served the Institute in a variety of institutional and programmatic fundraising capacities including corporate and foundation fundraising for WRI’s former Sustainable Enterprise Program (now WRI’s Business Center) and directing prospect research.
Prior to joining WRI, Lillian worked in a number of environmental and social service non-profits in a fundraising capacity including the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, House of Ruth, Conservation International, and in the International Division of the US Chamber of Commerce.
Lillian holds a Masters of Applied Anthropology and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maryland.