My Experience
David helps schools explore and understand the intersection between fundraising/advancement, governance, and DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging). He has organized and directed annual and capital campaigns for independent schools and other non-profit organizations, with direct experience soliciting and closing major gifts and developing strategies for successful donor stewardship. With 16 years of fundraising experience, David led the development / advancement operations in schools that collectively raised over $100 million.
David Smith is a fundraising consultant with years of experience leading in the areas of major gifts, capital campaigns, and DEIB in advancement. From 2017-2023, he served as the Director of Advancement at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, leading an initiative to double the school's endowment for financial aid. Prior to Saint Ann’s, he was the Director of Development at the Calhoun School and then at The Allen-Stevenson School, where he led a $50 million capital campaign to expand the campus.
David has presented sessions and workshops on major gifts, capital campaigns, and diversity, equity and inclusion in advancement at many conferences, including the NAIS Annual Conference and the NAIS People of Color Conference. He was a keynote speaker at the 2024 CASE/NAIS Conference, and he currently serves on the faculty of the CASE School Advancement Institute and the CASE Fundraising for Heads of School program. David also serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals-NYC Board of Directors.
Select Clients
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Far Brook School
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Episcopal High School
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Oliver Scholars
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Saint Ann's School
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Wingra School
PRESENTATIONS
New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
2021 NJAIS Advancement Officers Workshop – “DEIB Throughout Your Advancement Office”
NY State Association of Independent Schools
2023 Institutional Advancement Conference - “The Board and Advancement”
2022 Institutional Advancement Conference - “Independent School Financial Model & Socioeconomic Diversity”
2020 Institutional Advancement Conference – “Listen, Learn, Act: Advancement Professionals Engaging with Race and Anti-Racism”
2019 Institutional Advancement Conference- “Better Together: Collaboration Between Admissions, Development, Alumni and Communications Offices”
2018 Institutional Advancement Conference – Diversity and Inclusion in Development
2017 Institutional Advancement Conference- “Insuring Success in Your Capital Campaign”
2015 Institutional Advancement Conference- Trustees and Development Directors Together
CASE/NAIS National Conference
2019 – “Attracting Diverse Talent”
NAIS National Conference
2016 – Diversity and Inclusion in Development
NAIS People of Color Conference
2014 – Diversity and Inclusion in Development
Association of Fundraising Professionals
2023-Fundraising Day in New York-Panelist
2023-Not So Scary Fundraising: Afternoon Fall Symposium
Pollyanna
2023-Mind the Gap: The Bridge Between DEIB and Advancement
2023-Aligning Your School’s DEIB and Advancement Goals
Let’s Chat.
CONTACT ME FOR A FREE CONSULTATION.