Lorii Rabinowitz, CEO of Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF)
Leadership Foundation Alumni: Leadership Denver 2011 and Leadership Exchange 2013-2016, 2018
Lorii’s upbringing in New Mexico shaped her view of her community and the world that would lead her to a career focused on inclusion and education. Both her parents were educators – one involved deeply with social service organizations and the other focused on civil justice. Many of her closest friends were first-generation college students, and she attended their quinceañeras and other cultural and religious celebrations, building an appreciation for diversity.
Her career began in the broadcast industry, including several years at 9NEWS where she managed educational outreach, strategic partnerships and external relationships. She left to join a start-up focused on strategic consulting and then became executive director of the Denver Center for Arts & Technology, a nonprofit school that in the end couldn’t find an affordable location, but an effort that Lorii said taught her about her own strengths and the value of collaboration and transparency.
At DSF, Lorii is known as a leader with a deep commitment to her team and community. She forges connections across sectors and is passionate about fostering equitable opportunities and outcomes with students who reflect historically underrepresented communities in higher education, including students of color, first generation college students, and students with low income. She has created a collaborative, trusting culture with the DSF team, helping them to empower and inspire Denver students on their journeys to and through college and building the future of our community.
When the pandemic hit, she oversaw advisors as they immediately worked to connect with students remotely and provide students with support as they went from focusing on their path to college to worrying about access to food, housing and technology. Under Lorii’s guidance, the team strengthened relationships with food banks, mental health providers and other services. She also implemented equity and inclusion training and made changes to staff policies and hiring practices to be as inclusive as possible.
Outside of DSF, she is the former chair of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Board of Directors, served on the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a trustee of the Rose Community Foundation. She volunteers for numerous organizations including Project Angel Heart and Big Brothers Big Sisters and was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Business of 2019 by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.