More About David Woodruff
I’ve spent my career in nonprofit fundraising, working alongside CEOs and other leaders who are responsible for ambitious goals, complex organizations, and deeply held missions. I served in senior leadership roles at institutions such as MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, overseeing large, multi-year campaigns and the teams that made them possible. Those experiences shaped how I understand the business of philanthropy and the human elements that make giving possible.
Today, as founder and executive coach at HOLDFAST Coaching, LLC, I am dedicated to working with nonprofit and advancement leaders at all stages, from those stepping into larger roles and navigating transition, to those carrying long-term responsibility. I also teach and mentor emerging professionals through programs with the Association of Fundraising Professionals. I’ve been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from AFP Massachusetts, recognition that reflects a career spent learning from peers, teams, and mentors across the field.
My coaching style is friendly but candid. Clients leave sessions more empowered to confront the challenges they are facing with clarity and confidence. When appropriate, I draw upon my years of experience in advancement to assist the client. Colleagues know me as a values-driven leader who takes the work seriously but not himself. I am someone who brings ethics, intuition, creativity, and a sense of humor to complex challenges, and who cares deeply about mentoring the next generation of leaders.
CLIENTS HELPED FROM NONPROFITS, SMALL AND LARGE
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David Woodruff
