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Stephanie Somerman

Senior Director
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI

Pronouns: she/her/hers

At Elevate, Stephanie specializes in supporting clients on the frontline of social change to be the best they can be. Her expertise lies in institutional fundraising strategy and writing for policy, research, advocacy, organizing, and grassroots power building programs. Through all her work, she focuses on driving resources to organizations committed to challenging and changing systems for the better.

Stephanie has built a career helping nonprofits of all sizes achieve innovative and sustainable outcomes to complex problems. Prior to Elevate, she worked with Save the Children and Council for a Strong America to raise funding for local, state and national advocacy programs focused on early childhood education and children’s health. Previously, she worked in the progressive national security community on issue campaigns focused on the pentagon budget and nuclear weapons.

Before moving to Washington, DC, Stephanie was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine, where she spearheaded community development projects on maternal health, gender development, HIV/AIDS awareness, workforce development, leadership, and volunteerism. She continues this work raising humanitarian support for the people of Kherson, Ukraine who have been overwhelmingly impacted by Russian aggression and occupation.

Her career began in student organizing with the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network at the University of Michigan where she earned a Master of Public Policy in Nonprofit Management and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Mathematics. Stephanie is a fan of all things Michigan Wolverines, an avid risk-taker, and proud resident of Kingman Park, where she resides with her two kids, partner, and Doug the Dog.

What is your favorite thing to do in DC?

Walking or riding my bike down the mall to marvel at the monuments, museums, and (most importantly) tourists.

What is your grammatical pet peeve?

Too much jargon! Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Tina Fey.

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