Cascade Philanthropy Advisors is led by Lowell Weiss, who has spent nearly two decades working to spark social change across a broad array of local, national, and global issues. Prior to starting Cascade Philanthropy Advisors in 2008, Lowell served in a leadership role at one of the world’s foremost change-making institutions, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Among his many responsibilities, Lowell served as staff director of the team responsible for providing Bill and Melinda Gates with analytical insights on how to make highest and best use of Warren Buffett’s historic $31 billion gift to the foundation. During his tenure at Gates, Lowell drew upon knowledge he gained as the director of the chairman’s office at a pioneering venture philanthropy organization, the Morino Institute, which is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children in the National Capital Region. Lowell has also worked for change through public service and the media. As Special Assistant to the President in the Clinton White House, Lowell traveled extensively with President Clinton, wrote more than 150 speeches for him, and served as a key communications strategist on issues ranging from the environment to economic development. He also served in a similar capacity with Vice President Al Gore during the 1996 presidential campaign. Before that, he wrote a New York Times bestselling book with political consultant James Carville; served as an editor at The Atlantic Monthly; and published articles in magazines including The Atlantic Monthly, U.S. News and World Report, and The New Republic. Lowell spearheaded a successful statewide campaign to strengthen traffic safety laws in Washington State; serves on the advisory board of Juma Ventures Seattle; served on the board of City Year Seattle/King County; helped create an initiative that inspired 1,000 federal employees to serve as reading tutors in D.C. Public Schools; and for many years served as a mentor in Northeast Washington, DC. He graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College in 1990.