Lillian Peña Torres is a seasoned development professional with over 30 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and development operations. As Director of Development for the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, Lillian establishes fundraising systems and processes, cultivates and grows relationships with institutional donors, and provides expert guidance to WRI Ross Center’s global program and country teams on crafting high-impact, multi-million-dollar proposals.

Lillian has been with World Resources Institute (WRI) since 1997, serving in a range of institutional and programmatic fundraising roles. Her tenure includes positions such as Director of Development Operations and Internal Philanthropy, and she has played a key role in WRI milestones—from managing fundraising for WRI’s Sustainable Enterprise Program, the Institute's first program engaging the private sector on sustainability issues, to helping establish WRI’s first country office in China.

Before joining WRI, Lillian held development positions in several environmental and social service nonprofits, including the House of Ruth, Conservation International, and the International Division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Lillian holds a master’s degree in applied Anthropology and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maryland.