David Colwell, CFRE

David Colwell, CFRE, is Advancement Operations Officer for Loma Linda University Health, a position he has held since 2016. For 25 years prior to that, he worked in Philanthropy at Loma Linda: 10 years as Executive Director of Philanthropy Services and 15 years as Director of Development for the Medical Center. In his current position, David has the privilege to work with a team of more than 100 philanthropy and communications professionals and is responsible for Advancement budgets, ROI, reports, policies, HR issues, as well as communication with major donors and leadership groups.
 
David began his career in philanthropy in 1982, after graduating from Pacific Union College with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and journalism, with a minor in business. For the next eight-and-a-half years he worked with Milton Murray at Philanthropic Service for Institutions at the Seventh-day Adventist Church headquarters in Maryland. David’s roles ranged from editor of PSI publications to managing challenge grant programs to associate director with responsibilities for healthcare clients. He also worked with Milton and Sheree Parris Nudd to initiate the annual “Giving is Caring” page-a-day calendar in 1985.
 
David helped to establish the Milton Murray Fund for Philanthropy in 1987, and has served as its Vice President for Finance ever since. He is also active in volunteering at his church as a television producer and treasurer for a mentoring program. He was inspired by Milton to serve as class agent for his alma mater and did so for some 20 years.
 
David has been involved in his local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals – serving on the board for a number of years, including as president in 1998. During his term as communication chair, the chapter won the Abel Hanson Award for excellence in chapter communications for an unprecedented three consecutive years.

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