Heather B. Lancaster is a seasoned development professional with two decades of experience in major gift fundraising and development strategy. She began serving as Chief Development Officer for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation in July 2025, leading the organization’s fundraising efforts to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have served since the terrorist attacks of September 2001.
Prior to this role, Heather served at the U.S. Naval Institute, joining in 2012 as Director of Development and advancing to Executive Vice President in 2018. During her tenure, she led a small team focused on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors. She also oversaw the planning and successful execution of the Institute’s first-ever comprehensive campaign. The campaign’s cornerstone was the construction of the Jack C. Taylor Conference Center; a transformational capital project located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy. Under Heather’s leadership, the Institute’s annual fundraising more than quintupled and supported the creation of an eight-figure reserve fund to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability.
Before her time at the Naval Institute, Heather held key fundraising roles at the Naval Academy Foundation, where she was both a rising gift officer and class giving program coordinator. She created the Foundation’s young alumni giving initiative and a “first gift” program for graduating midshipmen. Earlier in her career, she worked at FINRA, where she managed educational content for conferences serving the securities industry.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Heather is actively engaged in community service. She serves on the Board of the Jess Carson Foundation, an Annapolis-based family foundation supporting terminally and critically ill children and their families. She is also proud to have served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for St. Margaret’s Day School.
Heather is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where she majored in Economics and Studio Art while playing Division I lacrosse. She currently resides in Annapolis with her husband and two daughters.