Irena Schneider

Irena Schneider is a long-time democracy enthusiast and nonprofit fundraising leader. At Issue One, she spearheads institutional fundraising and advancement operations, strengthening the systems that nurture philanthropic engagement across the organization. Prior to Issue One, Irena led the Development team at the Center for Countering Digital Hate, where she advanced the case for accountable social media and helped quadruple the organization’s income. This adds to a longer tenure building strategic partnerships with global philanthropies at the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. In 2018, Irena earned her PhD in political economy at King’s College London, focusing on institutional trust in autocratic regimes. Outside work, she can be found running the trails, analyzing Gilmore Girls plotlines or throwing an elaborate dinner party.