David Austin

Lead development, marketing, volunteer engagement, and public outreach for a regional nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to shape long-term organizational strategy, strengthen financial sustainability, and align resource development with mission goals.
• Supervise and mentor team responsible for fundraising, volunteer engagement, and public outreach.
• Increased overall private giving by 24% through targeted individual, corporate and foundation donor engagement.
• Directed successful rebranding initiative, gaining community buy-in and enhancing organizational visibility.
• Build and steward high-impact relationships with donors, business leaders, civic groups, and policymakers to secure funding and advocate for inclusive policies.
• Oversee content strategy and brand presence across social media, email, and traditional media platforms to drive awareness, participation, and support.
• Advocate at the local and state level for disability-related funding and legislation.
• Lead special events and public campaigns to strengthen community engagement and highlight participant success stories.

Managed multi-site development and communications teams and budgets across seven regional service centers, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor expectations for statewide agency with a mission of building healthy families.

• Played a key role in agency-wide strategic planning and compliance reporting related to fundraising, grant management, and public communications.
• Secured major lead gifts for annual giving program.
• Increased financial support 19.5% via strategic engagements, grant writing and sponsorships.
• Grew community volunteer councils, by 34% in 7 cities.
• Orchestrated awareness and outreach campaigns including tours, meetings, speakers' bureau, public presentations, newsletters, media relations, social media, branding and testimonials.
• Created and continually updated crisis communication plan.

Directed fundraising efforts, donor communications and event marketing for historic theatre

• Promoted and grew annual giving program
• Managed budgets for performances, building operations and negotiated vendor contracts
• Negotiated traditional marketing contracts leading to a record number of sell-out shows

Oversaw marketing, public education and public relations for the second largest employer of people who are blind or low vision in the United States and its annual national conferences

• Created and produced agency's regional awareness advertising campaigns with celebrities increasing clinic appointments 52%
• Conducted statewide research and authored 65-page elementary school curriculum
• Received local, regional and national placements
• Secured venues in several states for national conferences
• Directed events including anniversary concert, golf tournaments, employee banquets and galas