Lane Sugata

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Lane Sugata (they/them) is a nationally recognized arts and philanthropy leader whose work has focused on building collaborative cultural infrastructure during periods of social and economic disruption. As founding executive director of Dance/NYC, they transformed a small service program into an independent and nationally influential nonprofit advancing equitable grantmaking, affordable space access, disability inclusion, workforce development, and data transparency for the dance field.

Lane begins their tenure with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for Season 49 (2026-27) having most recently served as Senior Program Officer at Ford Foundation, where they managed national and global arts and LGBTQ portfolios. Their work emphasized collaboration across sectors and movements, linking arts with racial justice, disability justice, gender justice, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ advocacy.