Joseph Lee

Senior Manager, Assessment and Advisory Services

Joseph leads the creation and presentation of assessment insights for CEP’s clients.

Previously, Joe worked at CEP from 2007 to 2010. Prior to rejoining CEP in 2022, Joe served as a senior advisor at The Boston Foundation where, as part of The Philanthropic Initiative, he consulted with funders and donors to improve the impact of their grantmaking. In addition, Joe has experience working in global health and higher education, with a particular emphasis on program evaluation and project management.

Joe received his Master’s in Health Policy and Management from the Harvard School of Public Health and a B.A. in History and Science from Harvard College. When he’s not working, Joe can be found writing short stories and experimenting with face serums and masks.

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Joseph Lee's Blog Posts

Using Staff Feedback to Guide Your 2026 Agenda
Joseph Lee Senior Manager, Assessment and Advisory Services

At least according to some sources, the statue of limitations has ended on wishing each other a Happy New Year. But, if you’re anything like me, the entire month of January might be viewed as an extension of your end-of-year celebrations — another happy period of...

What’s in a Name: The Politics of Trust and What We Lose When We Talk Past Each Other
Joseph Lee Senior Manager, Assessment and Advisory Services

Recently, I had a call with a funder who was considering whether to commission a Grantee Perception Report (GPR) for the very first time. Usually, these kinds of conversations have a predictable cadence and arc — an overview of CEP’s comparative dataset and the unique...

Thanks (Again) for the Memories: 10 Reasons to Look Back on 2024 With Gratitude and Optimism
Joseph Lee Senior Manager, Assessment and Advisory Services

When putting together year-end lists, it’s hard to avoid a slight feeling of déjà vu; after all, you’re not only looking back on the year that was, but repeating an annual exercise of reflection. Yet in wrapping up 2024, I’m not sure if my colleagues and I on the...

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Why Philanthropy Needs a New Language for Digital Risk
Jean Westrick Executive Director, Technology Association of Grantmakers

by Jean WestrickChloe Heskett | Apr 30, 2026

Ask most foundation leaders what “cybersecurity” means, and they’ll describe firewalls, phishing simulations, and password policies. They're not wrong, but what they describe is a much smaller problem than the one we face. Technology, however, is no longer just tools...

When Shift Happens, What Does It Mean for Philanthropy to Leave Well?
Laila Bell, M.P.A. Vice President, Learning and Impact, The Skillman Foundation
Stephanie Teleki, Ph.D. Director of Learning and Impact, The California Health Care Foundation
Jaime Vazquez, M.A. Senior Associate, Planning and Evaluation, The Pew Charitable Trusts

by Laila Bell, M.P.A., Stephanie Teleki, Ph.D., Jaime Vazquez, M.A.Chloe Heskett | Apr 28, 2026

When a foundation shifts course or steps away, what happens to the work — and to the people who depend on it? Few funders will support a single strategy or approach indefinitely. Needs routinely exceed available resources, forcing difficult choices about where a...

Funders Want Impact, Strong Coalitions Can Deliver It
Monica Martinez Program Director, College Success, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund
Ria Sengupta Bhatt Founder and Principal Consultant, Mandala Strategies

by Monica Martinez, Ria Sengupta BhattLauren Chan | Apr 23, 2026

As California lawmakers were assembling the most recent state budget, a coalition of nonprofits played a leading role in securing emergency aid for undocumented students facing unexpected costs that could derail their journey to a...