About David

David Sherman’s passion for nonprofit work was sparked early in his career when he made the life-changing decision to leave law school and pursue his true calling: supporting communities and fighting poverty. 

Over the past three decades, David has held leadership roles in national and regional organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Feeding America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters. Most notably, at Big Brothers Big Sisters, he spearheaded initiatives leading to a 20% annual growth in youth engagement and securing tens of millions of dollars in revenue from grants, events, and individual donors.  David's proven expertise in identifying and securing grant funding is rooted in his strong research abilities, persuasive writing, and strategic planning. His attention to detail, project management skills, and ability to cultivate lasting relationships with funders have been a cornerstone of his success in winning high-impact grants that advance organizational goals.

David is a recipient of the national Big Brothers Big Sisters “Skip Walsh” Executive of the Year award. He holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science from Wichita State University. David’s career spans key leadership roles where he was instrumental in driving strategic growth and innovation.

David’s professional journey is rooted in a deep commitment to making a difference. Whether he's spearheading youth engagement initiatives, orchestrating large-scale fundraising events, or fostering strategic partnerships, his focus has always been on creating lasting, meaningful change. His work is not just about raising funds or growing programs—it's about building a better future for individuals and communities, one thoughtful step at a time. David first volunteered as a Big Brother in 1994. He and his current Little Brother Daniel enjoy hiking, walking his dogs, and exploring places to eat in the Santa Fe area.

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Experience

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

CEO (2018 - Present)

The nation’s largest volunteer‐supported mentoring network.

  • Led agency serving over 1,100 mentoring relationships, demonstrating a commitment to youth development and education.

  • Oversaw significant revenue growth, exemplifying fundraising and resource development skills.

FEEDING AMERICA 

Director, Foundations (2016 - 2018)

  • Managed operations and a team of four, securing a $9.8M increase in FY17 revenue.

  • Cultivated relationships with foundations and government entities, aligning with strategic relationship building for the Why Not You Foundation.

GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA

Senior Foundation and Government Relations Advisor (2015 - 2016)

  • Spearheaded a strategy that resulted in a 200% growth in foundation revenue.

  • Demonstrated ability in developing programs focused on underserved girls.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS NETWORK

Various leadership roles (1994 - 2015)

  • Raised over $10.6M in federal, foundation, and corporate funds, showcasing fundraising prowess.

  • Implemented innovative programs like Operation Jumpstart, positively impacting over 10,000 children.

Associate Vice President, Program‐related Philanthropy, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (2013 ‐ 2015)

  • Exceeded FY 2014 fundraising target by 33%, raising over $10.6M in federal, foundation, and corporate funds.

  • Led all work with nationally focused private and corporate foundations for BBBS National Office.

Chief Development Officer, Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters (KSBBBS) (2011 ‐ 2013)

  • Directed development strategies for a major BBBS agency, achieving over 10% annual revenue growth and orchestrating a state-leading $1.8M Gala.

  • Developed robust government and grant programs, resulting in a pioneering multi-million-dollar community project for system-involved youth.


Regional Director, KSBBBS (2005 ‐ 2011)

  • Oversaw expansion, delivery, and support of mentoring services to eight offices consisting of 25 staff, 13

  • advisory boards, a $900,000 budget. Grew number of matches served to 1,000 matches annually.

  • Researched, wrote, managed and oversaw statewide grant and grant management processes.


Director of Affiliate Services, KSBBBS (2002 ‐ 2005)

  • Administered delivery of services statewide, providing support to regional centers, and community satellites of

  • the largest Big Brother Big Sisters agency in the nation.

  • Established and administered $1.3M annual fundraising campaign statewide.


Program and Human Resources Director, Sedgwick County (Wichita) BBBS (1997 ‐ 2002)

  • Implemented and managed site‐based mentoring programs including the innovative and nationally‐recognized

  • “Operation Jumpstart” school‐based mentoring program. Supervised and mentored a team of six.

  • Revised and enhanced employee interview, evaluation and training process and forms.

Key Leadership Contributions

  • Innovative Program Development: Initiated and implemented outreach programs like the Positive Pathways Program and Operation Jumpstart, directly impacting over 10,000 children.

  • Statewide Initiative Leadership: Spearheaded a statewide effort to enhance mentoring services, achieving a 20% annual growth in engagement.

  • Revenue Growth Expertise: Elevated foundation revenue for Feeding America from under $700K to over $10.5M within a year, diversifying funding sources to include major gifts and advocacy projects.

  • Major Funding Acquisition: Successfully secured over $50M from diverse funding sources, including significant contributions for STEM programs focused on underserved girls.

  • Strategic Training and Advocacy: Conducted extensive workshops on key topics like child safety and strategic planning, and recognized as a 2013 BBBS Robert Skip Walsh Award recipient and 2012 Sunflower Foundation Advocacy Fellow.

“I’ve always believed that real change starts with small, thoughtful actions—whether it’s guiding a young person toward their potential or helping a community come together for a common cause.”

— David Sherman