Lance Bitner-Laird is an award-winning data strategist and civic technologist building evidence and infrastructure for modern philanthropy. He currently serves as the inaugural Associate Director of Research & Evaluation at Third Plateau.

His work has brought him to the White House and earned two Anthem Awards for Best Use of Data. He has partnered with over four dozen philanthropies, nonprofits, corporations, and governments — including the Gates Foundation, Democracy Fund, New Pluralists, Fast Forward, Liquid IV, and U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Health & Human Services.

His research has spanned democracy, civic technology, AI, social cohesion, international development, arts, public health, education, and evidence practice — with more than a dozen publications and presentations at national conferences including the National Conference on Citizenship.

He holds a B.S. in Sociology with High Distinction from the University of Michigan and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.