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NationSwell names Poppy MacDonald president to lead next growth chapter. August 27, 2026 Poppy MacDonald NationSwell has named Poppy MacDonald president, bringing in the former USAFacts and POLITICO executive to lead the social impact organization's next phase of growth across its membership community, Studio and partnership initiatives. MacDonald will work across NationSwell to expand its membership model, grow its Studio business and develop partnerships and capabilities aimed at serving its network of purpose-driven leaders. Founded in 2013, NationSwell works with executives at more than 160 companies, philanthropies and nonprofit organizations through its membership community, Studio and Collaborative initiatives. The appointment brings an executive with more than 20 years of experience spanning membership businesses, media, data, research and civic information into NationSwell's senior leadership. MacDonald's background is particularly aligned with the organization's effort to scale a model built around executive communities, specialized content and collaborative programs. "As we look toward NationSwell's next chapter, we knew we wanted an experienced operator who could help us scale what makes NationSwell special," founder and CEO Greg Behrman said. He cited MacDonald's experience building membership-driven organizations, developing teams and translating growth strategies into operating results. MacDonald most recently served as president of USAFacts, the nonpartisan civic initiative founded by Steve Ballmer to make government data more accessible and understandable. During her tenure, she helped develop USAFacts from an early-stage organization into a public data platform reaching more than one million users per month. Her responsibilities at USAFacts extended across product, engineering, marketing, research and operations, giving her experience managing both the technology and organizational infrastructure behind a data-focused information platform. Before USAFacts, MacDonald was president and chief operating officer of POLITICO, where she launched a premium B2B subscription offering. She previously served as president and publisher of National Journal and helped shift the company from a traditional media model toward a membership business serving executives and organizations navigating Washington. Earlier in her career, MacDonald held senior leadership positions at Gallup and worked at The Advisory Board Company. Her experience there bringing executives together around shared business challenges helped shape an approach to membership centered on peer networks and practical value for participating leaders. That background is strategically relevant for NationSwell as it seeks to deepen relationships with an existing community while broadening the services surrounding it. Membership organizations increasingly compete not simply on access to information, but on their ability to create useful networks, proprietary programming, partnerships and services that help executives address complex organizational challenges. MacDonald said she was deliberate in choosing her next role, pointing to NationSwell's mission, leadership community, team and growth potential as factors in the decision. "I was incredibly purposeful about finding my next chapter, and NationSwell brought together everything I was looking for: a mission I deeply believe in, an extraordinary community of leaders, a culture and team I immediately respected, and an ambitious opportunity for growth and impact," she said. Beyond her operating roles, MacDonald serves on the board of Public Media Company and advises mission-driven and technology companies on strategy, positioning, partnerships and growth. At NationSwell, her mandate combines community expansion with development of the organization's commercial and collaborative capabilities. The company works with purpose-driven leaders on strategy, connections and partnerships tied to social and economic goals, placing MacDonald's experience scaling membership and information businesses at the center of its next stage of development.

USAFacts appoints Lauren Woodman as president. March 13, 2026 Steve Ballmer's data organization taps AI and public-data executive for top role. Lauren Woodman USAFacts, the nonpartisan government-data organization founded by former Microsoft CEO and current chairman and owner of the LA Clippers, Steve Ballmer, has appointed Lauren Woodman as its next president. Ms. Woodman is a technology and data executive with more than 25 years of experience leading teams and initiatives at the intersection of technology, development, and education. As USAFacts expands its use of innovative technologies to analyze and present federal, state, and local government data, Ms. Woodman's experience will help guide the organization's next phase of growth. She becomes the second president in the organization's 10-year history. Ms. Woodman previously held leadership roles at NetHope, Microsoft and most recently served as chief executive of DataKind, a nonprofit that applies data science and AI to social challenges. Her work has focused on data modernization, digital governance, and the ethical deployment of emerging technologies. "Lauren's experience in technology and public data comes at a moment when Americans have an increasing appetite for reliable, nonpartisan source data," Mr. Ballmer said. "As artificial intelligence reshapes how information is produced and consumed, her leadership will help ensure we continue providing transparent, trustworthy government data to the public." "USAFacts has built something rare and important - an independent, nonpartisan foundation of data that helps Americans see clearly how their country is doing and provides the groundwork for shared civic infrastructure," Ms. Woodman said. "I'm excited to join at a moment when technology is rapidly changing how people access and understand information about their government. The opportunity now is to ensure that transparency, reliable data, and public understanding grow together." USAFacts was launched in 2017 by Mr. Ballmer to make government financial and performance data more accessible to the public. Ms. Woodman will report to Mr. Ballmer when she begins April 20th. About USAFacts USAFacts is a nonpartisan civic organization making government data easy for all Americans to access and understand. USAFacts provides an online resource of well-visualized data and trends in US spending, revenue, demographics to help ground public debate in facts. It produces topical content each week and produces three annual reports: State of the Union, 10-K and America in Facts: A Data-Driven Report to Congress. Follow @USAFacts on X, TikTok, Instagram and sign up for the data-driven newsletter at https://usafacts.org/signup/.