Daphne Layton

Daphne Layton is senior vice president at JFF. In this role, she helps execute an aligned and cohesive program strategy to advance JFF’s mission, vision, and impact.

To ensure internal strategic alignment, Daphne fosters interteam communication, collaboration, and knowledge transfer. She also leads fundraising and development activities and helps forge new relationships to build JFF’s visibility, impact, and financial resources.

A strategic leader, Daphne has had success in change management, program development, and institutional advancement. She has experience in public and private higher education, and in the nonprofit sector.

Before coming to JFF, Daphne held leadership roles at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) for more than 15 years. As senior associate dean for development and alumni relations during HGSE’s capital campaign, she spearheaded efforts to build philanthropic support for the school’s students, programs, research, and strategic initiatives. Before becoming HGSE’s chief development officer, Daphne served as the school’s senior associate dean for academic affairs, a role in which she provided broad leadership for the school’s academic administration.

Before that, Daphne served for 11 years as associate vice president for academic affairs and in other roles in the University of Massachusetts system. At UMass, she developed, implemented, and oversaw systemwide academic policies in areas such as post-tenure review, academic program review, and new program approval. She also coordinated institutional research in support of decision-making, policy development, and external accountability.

Daphne was drawn to JFF because its work transforms lives at a scope that transcends individual communities and creates systemic impact. “I’m thrilled to be pursuing this mission with an amazing team of colleagues, partners, and supporters,” she says.

When she is not working or with her family, Daphne says, “You might find me at rehearsals of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, in which I’ve played the violin for almost 30 years.”