Elizabeth DiLauro

Elizabeth DiLauro joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in 2022. To the role, she brings expertise in devising advocacy strategies that drive policy change nationally and in states, including mobilization, grantmaking, communications, coalition building, parent leadership, and technical assistance. Throughout her career, she worked to promote policies and systems that ensure all children and families have the opportunity and resources to thrive. At RWJF, she will help to build a Culture of Health through coordinating and shaping strategy and grantmaking related to policy advocacy and campaigns at the state level. She praises the Foundation’s commitment to changing the public and political discourse and advancing long-term change in the social policies that impact our nation’s health and well-being. 

Previously, Liz served as the senior director of advocacy at ZERO TO THREE, where she was responsible for the organization’s advocacy strategy to advance a policy agenda for young children and families. In this role, she founded Think Babies™ as the leading national campaign for babies and families, resulting in 35+ state policy wins in 3 years and increased federal political will for paid leave, child care, and economic security. She also led Strolling Thunder™, an event held annually on Capitol Hill and in state capitals across the country to connect families with lived experiences directly with their policymakers to advocate for policy change. 

Earlier in her career, Liz worked with the Pew Charitable Trusts where she crafted state campaigns to increase access to children’s dental care, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry where she advanced strategies to support children’s mental health policy. She has also worked in federal and state advocacy with Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) USA. Liz is a member of Women in Government Relations, through which she was nominated as Advocate of the Year in 2020. She also served on the board of Cedar Lane Nursery School. 

Liz holds a Master of Public Administration from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, with a specialization in public and non-profit policy and management. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University. 

Born in Massachusetts, Liz resides in Kensington, Maryland, with her husband and three children. She enjoys exploring the parks and hiking trails of the Washington, D.C. area with her family; getting to the beach on Cape Cod as much as possible; doing her best not to kill her garden; and cheering at her childrens’ many, many sporting events.