Introducing 2010 Inspire Fellow: David DeVaughn
David DeVaughn
Hometown: Newton, MA
Organization: Family Health International
Previous Employer: Cambridge Associates
What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
I had reached the point in my career where I knew I could add value to non-profits, and wanted to transfer my passion into action, joining those I admire. While I continued to value working toward preserving and growing endowment values as a Consulting Associate at Cambridge Associates, I wanted to get closer to my enthusiasm for non-profit work. Nick Takamine’s comment in the online Inspire Fellow video that he was “pushed to take ownership of [his] work and of [his] projects in a way that [he] wasn’t used to as a young professional in financial services” is exactly the type of transformation I wanted to experience.
What is your current position, and a typical day like?
I am currently a Business Planning & Strategy Analyst with Family Health International (FHI). A typical day involves working on specific aspects of the strategic initiative I have been assigned to for the fiscal year, including partnering with staff throughout FHI. The initiative I’m assigned to has many players, so I’m able to get great cross-functional exposure to FHI.
What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
Before working for FHI, I worked at Cambridge Associates, a consulting firm to non-profits and foundations, where I advised various arts, educational, and other non-profit institutions on their endowments. Through this work, I’m experienced in comparative analysis and have in-depth knowledge of institutional investment funds.
What are you involved in outside of work?
I am not yet involved with any organizations in DC, but have volunteered at a number of public health non-profit organizations and initiatives, including a summer fellowship with the Fitness Forward Foundation in Boston, so I do have some previous non-profit sector exposure.
Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
While at Cambridge Associates I was able to work at the same level with many of the consultants I reported to, allowing me to take on an informal leadership role with the client team and in many cases, become the clients’ first point of contact with my firm. This has aided my understanding of the dynamics of projects with multiple players and will hopefully help me with my work at FHI.
What blogs or websites do you read on a daily basis?
I check out CNN, NYTimes, and The Guardian daily.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy has reported that 82% of nonprofit CEOs are white. What does this mean to you and other people of color who aspire to leadership roles in the future?
Statistics like this cause me to pause. One would assume that the demographics of those being served by the non-profit sector are not 82% white, so there needs to be a concerted effort to support young professionals of color in the sector striving for leadership roles.
If your friends and enemies had to describe you in three words, what would they be?
Friends: Goofy, Genial, Giver; Enemies: No Comment
What book are you reading right now or what is your favorite book?
Right now: The Bottom Billion by Paul Collier