Ruyi Lu

Ruyi’s approach to work at CCS is informed by a life and career that spans across Asia and the United States. Her career journey in philanthropy began at The Juilliard School, where she collaborated with leadership to cultivate international donor relationships, including support that contributed to the establishment of the Tianjin Juilliard School. Her academic and research background as a Fulbright Scholar, focused on social enterprise management and leadership in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing further shaped her global perspective. These early experiences strengthened her belief in the value of cross-cultural collaboration and inclusive philanthropic practice.

As a Senior Vice President at CCS, Ruyi brings a global, regional, and local lens to her client partnerships, helping organizations articulate their goals, build strong donor relationships, and develop strategies that reflect cultural nuance and community context. Her work emphasizes intentional design, being ahead of sector trends, and a holistic view of impact across sectors and borders.

Ruyi also contributes to CCS’s strategic direction. She co-founded CCS Elevate, the firm’s platform for advancing philanthropic thought leadership; co-founded and co-chairs the firm’s Asia-Pacific Steering Committee composed of sector experts; and serves on the Innovation Committee, a subcommittee of the CCS Board of Directors. Beyond CCS, she serves as an advisor to the Council for the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and the Schwarzman Scholars Global Industry Advisor Program.

Ruyi holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and finds joy in mentoring emerging social impact leaders and serving on advisory boards that advance regional equity and global engagement.