Lori Lander Goodman has more than 35 years of experience strengthening nonprofits in communities across the United States. Since 2018, she has served as Chief Executive Officer of LEAP: Learn. Engage. Advocate. Partner. (formerly Isla Vista Youth Projects). Her passion for the success and well-being of children and families, and for building a just, trauma-informed, healthy work culture, is at the center of her leadership. Her creation of the Goleta Valley Community Partnership network during COVID exemplifies her collaborative approach, bringing together leaders across sectors to create coordinated responses to community needs and trauma-informed care. More recently, she spearheaded LEAP’s expansion into Lompoc, expanding her agency’s impact and reach.

Lori serves on the board of EveryChildCA and the Executive Committee of Santa Barbara County Kids Network, and works with state legislators on early childhood education policy and funding. She was named 2025 Woman of the Year for California Senate District 21 and received the 2023 Santa Barbara County Women’s Commission Community Service Award. Lori holds a BA in Women’s Studies from UC Santa Cruz, an MSW from the University of Southern California, and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Hebrew Union College.

A native Californian and world traveler, Lori has visited six continents and still hopes to reach Antarctica. Known for her quick mind and love of learning, she is a Jeopardy! champion (2018) who went on to compete on Master Minds (2021). She is a devoted trivia player and San Francisco Giants fan. She lives in Goleta with her husband, Rabbi Evan Goodman; they have two grown sons, Ilan and Noah, and a cockatiel named Piper.