Cushing Announces New Chief Development Officer

Laurie Maranian, who has been at Cardinal Cushing Centers for 16 years in various roles within the Development Department, has officially been named Chief Development Officer for the nonprofit. She will oversee all fundraising for the over $40 million organization, with over $2,000,000 raised to date in 2026.  

After graduation from Harvard College with a BA in Sociology, Maranian began her career coordinating social and recreation programming for teens and young adults with Down syndrome, and then transitioned to Cardinal Cushing Centers in 2010. “My adult brother Chuck has Down syndrome so I’d heard of Cardinal Cushing Centers and knew I was interested in the nonprofit world,” said Maranian. “I was immediately drawn to Cushing’s inclusive environment, the size of the campus in Hanover, and the number of students and adults they had the capacity to serve.”

“We are extremely excited to promote Laurie to this role after having been instrumental in that department for the last 16 years,” said Michelle Markowitz, President and CEO of Cushing. “The Development team is eager to learn and grow, and Laurie is the perfect person to lead the charge,” she added. “I can think of no better person to tell the Cushing story and nurture the relationships that result in grants, donations and sponsors to support our exceptional organization.” 

Maranian is also co-founder of Urban PowerHouse, a nonprofit gym and powerlifting training facility in the Hyde Park area of Boston whose mission is to “get a barbell into the hands of individuals of color living in and around Boston,” reduce risk factors for disease and create an inclusive community, is a certified running coach, a semi-professional power lifter, and has run the Boston Marathon twice. She previously served on the Board for Women in Development, and served as Chair of the Non-Profit Affinity Group of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce.