Lewton will work with Trust donors and professional advisors to create charitable legacies through thoughtful and creative planning.
Contact:
Lauren Stewart, Turn Two
lauren@turn-two.co | (804) 690-9966
Courtney Biggs
Senior Manager, Public Relations
cbiggs@thenytrust.org | (929) 326-2723
NEW YORK (Jan 14, 2025) – The New York Community Trust, New York’s largest community foundation, today announced Audra Lewton as its first director of planned giving.
Lewton will work with Trust donors and professional advisors to create charitable legacies through thoughtful and creative planning.
“We couldn’t be happier to have Audra join our team as we enter our second century of partnering with generous New Yorkers to support our local communities,” said Amy Freitag, The Trust’s president. “Audra’s extensive background in nonprofits, planned giving, and trust and estate law will help donors amplify their charitable giving for the good of the region.”
Lewton began her career as an associate in the private client group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. She then spent more than a decade at Barnard College as director of gift and estate planning and assistant general counsel. Before joining The Trust, Audra worked in private practice at Brick & Patel LLP and later established her own law office, where she focused on estate and charitable planning for individuals and families and advising and supporting nonprofits. Lewton earned a B.A. magna cum laude from Wellesley College and a J.D. cum laude from Cornell Law School.
“I’ve long known about and admired The Trust, both as a lifelong New Yorker and a professional advisor,” said Lewton. “I’m excited for this opportunity to partner with its savvy and devoted donors and professional advisors to give back to communities in my hometown and beyond in profoundly meaningful ways.”
Audra is a board member for the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York and a team leader for the Lustgarten Foundation’s annual Long Island Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
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About The New York Community Trust
As New York’s largest community foundation, The New York Community Trust fosters and engages in enduring and innovative philanthropy, making grants that bring together the diverse, local knowledge and expertise of its team, nonprofits, and partners to help donors fulfill their vision for the causes they love. From education and the arts to health care and the environment, The New York Community Trust seeks to improve every aspect of the cultural and civic life of New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. The New York Community Trust celebrates 100 years of impact and looks forward to the next 100 years of improving life for New Yorkers. This is philanthropy by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers.
