Lauren Y. Casteel is the first person in Colorado to lead three foundations and possesses more than 20 years of philanthropic leadership as well as a career-long dedication to inclusiveness. Lauren is an experienced and recognized advocate for women, children, youth, and families in Colorado.

Throughout her career, Lauren has earned numerous accolades. Most recently, she received the Anti Defamation League Mountain States Region's 2018 Civil Rights Award; she received the 2016 Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award, presented annually by Denver’s Mayor to a member of the community; she was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in 2015 by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce; and in 2014, she was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.

Faye is the vice president for inclusion and diversity at CoBank and is proudly The Women’s Foundation’s first Black board chair. Faye is well known in the field of inclusion and diversity.

Over her career, she has received many honors, including the 25 most powerful women by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, a woman of distinction by the Girls Scouts of America in Colorado, Leadership Denver’s Martin Luther King, Jr. business and social responsibility award, One Colorado’s ally award, the Paul Hunter award from the Colorado Human Rights Campaign, and trailblazer award from The Urban League of Metropolitan Denver.

Faye is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Denver Alumnae Chapter; the Colorado Women’s Forum; Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, Denver Chapter; The Junior League of Denver; and The Links, Incorporated, Denver Chapter.

Formerly, she served on The National Board of Directors for The Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

In addition to her new role as board chair of The Women’s Foundation, Faye is a board member for The Arc of Colorado and The Arc of The United States - organizations that advocate for and provide services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“I come to this work because of my fabulous daughter, Elleana, who is a member of the differently abled community. My passion is to ensure that the IDD community is respected, included, and treated with dignity. No person with a disability should be left behind.” — Faye