CSIS Welcomes Autumn Sample Kurtz as Senior Director of Development for Economic Security & Technology

Photo: CSIS
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 25, 2024 – The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) today announced that Autumn Sample Kurtz has joined CSIS as Senior Director of Development for Economic Security and Technology.
Kurtz, who most recently served as director of philanthropy at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) from January 2022 to June 2024, will provide leadership on the strategy and execution of business development and fundraising activities for CSIS’s newly established Economic Security and Technology Department, in addition to playing an integral role on CSIS’s central development and strategic planning team.
“Autumn brings to CSIS extensive experience in fundraising and relationship cultivation in the economic and tech policy space. She will play a critical role in advancing the mission of our new Economic Security and Technology Department as it develops cross-cutting research on key areas shaping U.S. industrial strategy and competitiveness,” said CSIS Chief Development Officer Fredrick Anyanwu. “I am delighted to welcome Autumn to the Development Office at CSIS.”
Kurtz’s 17 years of frontline fundraising experience include her most recent role at PIIE, where she oversaw individual giving, including managing PIIE’s individual giving councils; managed internal operations for the Next Bretton Woods Group; and was an integral team member in launching the first in-person Next STEP (Solutions to Economic Problems) Global Conference in Singapore. Prior to her role at PIIE, she served as director of development for the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics from October 2015 to December 2021.
From February 2013 to October 2015, Kurtz served as director of strategic partnerships and then executive director of Tech4America, a nonpartisan nonprofit that paired technology executives with public officials to incubate public-private partnerships. Before that, from April 2011 to November 2012, she served as NorCal/Northwest Regional Finance Director for Obama for America. She holds a BA from Purdue University in political science and public relations.
“At this pivotal moment for global prosperity and innovation, it is a privilege to support the critical work being done here at CSIS,” said Kurtz. “The breadth of world-class expertise and visionary leadership within the Economic Security and Technology team inspire me. I look forward to applying my experience to advance our high-quality research and initiatives.”
Visit here to learn more about the CSIS Economic Security and Technology Department’s mission and newly announced leadership.
For media inquiries, please contact H. Andrew Schwartz (ASchwartz@csis.org) and Sam Cestari (SCestari@csis.org).