Why Levine Impact Lab?
Levine Impact Lab is a 501(c)3 nonprofit
EIN: 93-4925946
Peter Levine’s belief in trust-based philanthropy led to the creation of the Levine Impact Lab, which invests in both individual and organizational development in order to accelerate positive change.
The Lab embodies this idea through Peter’s robust commitment, which includes not only a significant multi-year financial gift but also his pledge to advise grantees, connect them with his broad network of business contacts, and help strengthen their organizations’ operations. The Lab also empowers the organizations and networks it fosters to amplify those groups’ stories.
The inaugural cohort of the Lab was incubated at the Honnold Foundation. The Honnold Foundation partners with marginalized communities to expand equitable solar energy access.
The climate crisis brings increasing emergencies, especially for the vulnerable and underserved populations that feel the worst of its effects. But it is in these places where we find inspired, motivated leaders driven to make change. And moments of crisis bring opportunities to shed old models and embrace ingenuity. The Lab brings its deep business and nonprofit experience, as well as a willingness to listen and learn, to these grassroots leaders and communities.
Why Now?
Because intersecting perspectives amplify our impact and light a better and more equitable way forward.
A Better World
The Lab partners with organizations and leaders that emerge from the communities they serve. Using a foundation of open and trusting relationships, we support those organizations’ resilience to help them achieve their goals. We tailor our process to the needs of every project and are unafraid to rethink philanthropic convention in service of realizing big potential.
By changing the narratives of environmental and social justice, we want to make life more equitable and help communities flourish around the world.
What Sets LIL Apart?
Student Internships
In Person Retreats
Undivided Attention
Access to VC Communities
Meet Levine Impact Lab
Peter Levine
Peter Levine, currently a general partner at venture-capital firm a16z, brings to the Lab nearly three decades experience with leading businesses and investing. Originally a software engineer, he rose to senior vice president and general manager of the data center and cloud division at Citrix before turning to VC investing. His leadership experience and belief in “the CEO as cultural epicenter” shapes the Lab’s focus on sharpening individuals’ skills; likewise his commitment to open-source software has informed the Lab’s intention to create and share a framework that demonstrates new models of independence, resilience, and growth for the nonprofit sector.
Nellie Barrett
Nellie Barrett (she/they) serves as the Lab’s Program Director. In this role, she is responsible for guiding the Lab’s curriculum and closely engaging with grant partners to help them meet their individual and organizational goals. Nellie specializes in using inclusive, collaborative methods to design programs that build organizational capacity. From working alongside public library workers to grassroots environmental justice leaders, their work has been recognized at the local and national level. Nellie holds a bachelor's degree in women’s and gender studies and is currently pursuing their master’s in public policy.
Werner Rehm
Werner comes to LIL from McKinsey & Company, where he served as a corporate-finance expert and one of the leaders of S&CF Insights, McKinsey’s center of competence for financial and capital-markets analysis, M&A, and valuation. He also led the firm’s work in investor relations and investor communications. At LIL, Werner advises the staff and cohort on in-depth financial analyses, organizational valuation, and capital structure.
Born and raised in Germany, Werner has worked in Berlin, Boston, Frankfurt, and New York, throughout his career.
Jiten (Jitendra) Vaidya
Jiten has broad experience as a technologist and executive at startups (co-founder/CEO at PlanetScale), large companies (Google, YouTube, Dropbox), and government (USDS). He grew up in India, attended the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and has lived and worked in Silicon Valley for the last thirty years. At LIL, Jiten serves as lead advisor for the Quarterly Advising Program.
When Jiten was 21, he lost his fingers to frostbite while climbing in the Himalayas. This experience continues to shape who he is as a person and a leader, and has strengthened his empathy for others facing personal adversity and trauma. A friend, ex-colleague, and CEO of a venture-backed company, described him as a "stabilizing and motivating force independent of domains". He strives to help leaders and companies that are shaping our future. In his free time, he loves to hike, cook for friends and family (partner, two kids and a cat), and read widely and voraciously.
Gary Levine
Gary brings to the Lab more than 20 years of leadership experience owning and running a business. He has realized success and growth challenges in many facets of his company, including operations, finance/budgeting, marketing and organizational planning. "It's the challenging times that enable us to grow, when we can step back to see the bigger picture and realize there is more than one way to get to our goal." Gary's passion for learning and problem-solving are his greatest assets as he steps into his role as Executive Director of the Lab and, along with his close connection to his brother Peter, is excited about the possibilities the Lab can offer to our cohort organizations and the non-profit community.
Chani Guthrie
Chani Guthrie serves as the Lab’s Program & Communications Manager. Chani has an MBA from the Sustainable Innovation MBA Program at the University of Vermont. She brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit program management, events, operations, and finance. Chani is passionate about conservation, the clean energy transition, sustainable food systems, and building strong communities. Having worked in both the nonprofit sector and small businesses in Vermont, she loves finding creative solutions to make a positive impact. When she's not working, you can catch her exploring the great outdoors with her dog, embarking on new travel adventures, or enjoying quality time with friends and family.
Potencia M. Baraka
Potencia M. Baraka joined the Lab in 2024 as a Sustainable Business Fellow. In this role, she works closely with grant partners providing project support, financial planning and business strategy consulting services to strengthen their operations. Her work is driven by a passion for environmental justice and a commitment to supporting non profit organizations efforts to thrive in their mission and achieve meaningful impact in their communities. Potencia earned an MBA in Sustainable Innovation from the University of Vermont, and has experience working in the financial management, strategic advising, and non profit sectors. Aside from her job, she loves cooking, volunteering, and reading non-fiction books.
To learn more about our mission, programs, and philosophy, please visit our FAQ page.