David J. Obedzinski
President and CEO at Community Foundation of Greater New Britain- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Dennis Buden
I've known and worked with Dave off and on since 2013, when I first profiled him and his beautiful family for their outstanding and generous charitable work for the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. That relationship grew when Dave assumed the Presidency of this very Foundation in 2017, and he and I worked closely together on a variety of communications challenges and activities as the organization transitioned and Dave asserted his considerable leadership talents for both the Foundation and the Greater New Britain community. Dave is a consummate, talented and experienced non-profit leader and fundraising professional with skills in media and marketing that many executives in similar positions lack. I have witnessed and continue to witness first-hand his unquestioned professional standards, his dedication to mission and his effectiveness in promoting that mission through the skillful utilization and management of a variety of integrated marketing communications tactics, strategies and activities. I am proud to have Dave as a friend and valued colleague.
Melissa Bert
This is my third year serving on the Board of Directors for the USCGA Alumni Association. I've served on other boards in the past, and have yet to meet a Development Director as strategic, organized, creative, and thoughtful as Dave. He faced an uphill battle taking the position, because all of his predecessors were Academy graduates, and yet in no time, he established himself and took the Association much further than anyone anticipated. His sincerity, patience, and ease with others have enabled him to build successful relationships across a broad sector of alumni, leading to multiple major gifts and ongoing smaller campaigns, all linked to the organization's strategic plan. I would have never been able to get the Women's Leadership Initiative off the ground without his foresight and experience. One of his significant contributions that will strengthen the Association down the road has been his development and marketing of a planned giving program. In just a short time, it has yielded surprising results, and it will only grown over the years. With Board members and volunteers, Dave works hard to develop strategic plans, build a culture of philanthropy, successfully execute current fundraising efforts, and plan for future capital campaigns with the Coast Guard Academy Administration.
Dennis Buden
I've known and worked with Dave off and on since 2013, when I first profiled him and his beautiful family for their outstanding and generous charitable work for the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. That relationship grew when Dave assumed the Presidency of this very Foundation in 2017, and he and I worked closely together on a variety of communications challenges and activities as the organization transitioned and Dave asserted his considerable leadership talents for both the Foundation and the Greater New Britain community. Dave is a consummate, talented and experienced non-profit leader and fundraising professional with skills in media and marketing that many executives in similar positions lack. I have witnessed and continue to witness first-hand his unquestioned professional standards, his dedication to mission and his effectiveness in promoting that mission through the skillful utilization and management of a variety of integrated marketing communications tactics, strategies and activities. I am proud to have Dave as a friend and valued colleague.
Melissa Bert
This is my third year serving on the Board of Directors for the USCGA Alumni Association. I've served on other boards in the past, and have yet to meet a Development Director as strategic, organized, creative, and thoughtful as Dave. He faced an uphill battle taking the position, because all of his predecessors were Academy graduates, and yet in no time, he established himself and took the Association much further than anyone anticipated. His sincerity, patience, and ease with others have enabled him to build successful relationships across a broad sector of alumni, leading to multiple major gifts and ongoing smaller campaigns, all linked to the organization's strategic plan. I would have never been able to get the Women's Leadership Initiative off the ground without his foresight and experience. One of his significant contributions that will strengthen the Association down the road has been his development and marketing of a planned giving program. In just a short time, it has yielded surprising results, and it will only grown over the years. With Board members and volunteers, Dave works hard to develop strategic plans, build a culture of philanthropy, successfully execute current fundraising efforts, and plan for future capital campaigns with the Coast Guard Academy Administration.
Dennis Buden
I've known and worked with Dave off and on since 2013, when I first profiled him and his beautiful family for their outstanding and generous charitable work for the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. That relationship grew when Dave assumed the Presidency of this very Foundation in 2017, and he and I worked closely together on a variety of communications challenges and activities as the organization transitioned and Dave asserted his considerable leadership talents for both the Foundation and the Greater New Britain community. Dave is a consummate, talented and experienced non-profit leader and fundraising professional with skills in media and marketing that many executives in similar positions lack. I have witnessed and continue to witness first-hand his unquestioned professional standards, his dedication to mission and his effectiveness in promoting that mission through the skillful utilization and management of a variety of integrated marketing communications tactics, strategies and activities. I am proud to have Dave as a friend and valued colleague.
Melissa Bert
This is my third year serving on the Board of Directors for the USCGA Alumni Association. I've served on other boards in the past, and have yet to meet a Development Director as strategic, organized, creative, and thoughtful as Dave. He faced an uphill battle taking the position, because all of his predecessors were Academy graduates, and yet in no time, he established himself and took the Association much further than anyone anticipated. His sincerity, patience, and ease with others have enabled him to build successful relationships across a broad sector of alumni, leading to multiple major gifts and ongoing smaller campaigns, all linked to the organization's strategic plan. I would have never been able to get the Women's Leadership Initiative off the ground without his foresight and experience. One of his significant contributions that will strengthen the Association down the road has been his development and marketing of a planned giving program. In just a short time, it has yielded surprising results, and it will only grown over the years. With Board members and volunteers, Dave works hard to develop strategic plans, build a culture of philanthropy, successfully execute current fundraising efforts, and plan for future capital campaigns with the Coast Guard Academy Administration.
Dennis Buden
I've known and worked with Dave off and on since 2013, when I first profiled him and his beautiful family for their outstanding and generous charitable work for the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. That relationship grew when Dave assumed the Presidency of this very Foundation in 2017, and he and I worked closely together on a variety of communications challenges and activities as the organization transitioned and Dave asserted his considerable leadership talents for both the Foundation and the Greater New Britain community. Dave is a consummate, talented and experienced non-profit leader and fundraising professional with skills in media and marketing that many executives in similar positions lack. I have witnessed and continue to witness first-hand his unquestioned professional standards, his dedication to mission and his effectiveness in promoting that mission through the skillful utilization and management of a variety of integrated marketing communications tactics, strategies and activities. I am proud to have Dave as a friend and valued colleague.
Melissa Bert
This is my third year serving on the Board of Directors for the USCGA Alumni Association. I've served on other boards in the past, and have yet to meet a Development Director as strategic, organized, creative, and thoughtful as Dave. He faced an uphill battle taking the position, because all of his predecessors were Academy graduates, and yet in no time, he established himself and took the Association much further than anyone anticipated. His sincerity, patience, and ease with others have enabled him to build successful relationships across a broad sector of alumni, leading to multiple major gifts and ongoing smaller campaigns, all linked to the organization's strategic plan. I would have never been able to get the Women's Leadership Initiative off the ground without his foresight and experience. One of his significant contributions that will strengthen the Association down the road has been his development and marketing of a planned giving program. In just a short time, it has yielded surprising results, and it will only grown over the years. With Board members and volunteers, Dave works hard to develop strategic plans, build a culture of philanthropy, successfully execute current fundraising efforts, and plan for future capital campaigns with the Coast Guard Academy Administration.
Experience
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Community Foundation of Greater New Britain
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United States
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Non-profit Organization Management
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1 - 100 Employee
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President and CEO
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Aug 2017 - Present
Leading a community foundation, founded more than 82 years ago, that manages an endowment approaching $60M, provides several million dollars annually in grants, scholarships, initiatives, event sponsorship,s and other resources to support the four-town service area of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville, Southington Connecticut, and beyond. Individual, corporate, and organization donors have established more than 250 funds with us and we work every day to be visible, relevant, and impactful in the communities we serve.
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US Coast Guard Academy
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United States
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Armed Forces
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300 - 400 Employee
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Vice President of Philanthropy
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Jan 2011 - Jul 2017
Led the development program within the Alumni Association located at the Academy Base dedicated to supporting the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT and the future officers of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Development program included fundraising through annual fund drives, parent programs, reunions, class funds, major gift initiatives, endowment growth, planning and executing capital campaigns, grant writing, board training, grant program management, and a full range of planned giving elements along with ongoing stewardship activities. Worked closely with Coast Guard Academy administration, with strong class structures, parent associations and the Coast Guard Foundation we steadily increased contributions toward Academy programs in support of the Corps of Cadets. Annual support to the Academy from all sources and a compact fundraising program reached an all-time high at the end of 2011 with $3.1 million while endowments, restricted funds and the amount of planned gifts received continued to grow. In 2013 we concluded a successful $8 million single project capital campaign at the Academy, its second such campaign, and on January 1, 2014 we began the lead-gift phase of the Academy and Association's first-ever comprehensive capital campaign, where I served as Campaign Director, to raise a minimum $30,000,000 over five years. We had achieved 83% of that goal upon my departure in July of 2017. During my 6 1/2 years we had secured gifts and pledges in annual and major gifts of just under $25 million and successfully established the new USCGA Sponsored Programs and Research, Inc. nonprofit to secure and manage grants for the Academy.
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Baystate Health
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United States
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Hospitals and Health Care
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700 & Above Employee
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Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving and Director of Capital Campaign Operations
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Mar 2009 - Sep 2010
Supervised and directed a new major gift and planned giving program and a team of major gift officers to achieve the goals of the Baystate Health Foundation. Additionally, took on the role of director of capital campaign operations for a $20 million campaign and in the first year the team secured more than $13 million toward that goal. Personally solicited and secured major gifts of five figures and up for the campaign. Supervised and directed a new major gift and planned giving program and a team of major gift officers to achieve the goals of the Baystate Health Foundation. Additionally, took on the role of director of capital campaign operations for a $20 million campaign and in the first year the team secured more than $13 million toward that goal. Personally solicited and secured major gifts of five figures and up for the campaign.
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The Hospital of Central Connecticut
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United States
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Hospitals and Health Care
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700 & Above Employee
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Chief Development Officer & Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
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Jun 2002 - Mar 2009
Chief Development Officer responsible for the fund raising program at the hospital and it's two campuses in Southington and New Britain, Connecticut. Program includes annual fund initiatives, capital campaigns, planned giving, event planning, major gifts, grants and working with our hospital Auxiliary programs. In the role of Capital Campaign Director planned and directed a successful five year $7.5 million capital campaign for the hospital, the largest the hospital had ever attempted, to support four specific capital projects at the New Britain General campus. The campaign raised $7.8 million six months earlier than expected. In 2007, the program received two Awards of Excellence from the New England Society for Healthcare Communications for its production and distribution of a DVD to hospital Corporators as part of a very successful fundraising drive and for the production and distribution of the George Bray Cancer Center fundraising brochure as part of the fall direct mail appeal. Working with our parent organization, the Central Connecticut Health Alliance, I also provide fundraising advice and counsel to our CCHA affiliates.
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Southern Connecticut State University
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Director of Development
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Oct 1997 - Jun 2002
Created a new development program that raised funds for the University through its Foundation and worked with major gift prospects to raise funds that were to be matched by the state of Connecticut. Established a new athletic fundraising program, supervised the direct mail and telephone annual fund efforts, acknowledgements and reports in advancement services, and the Moves Management program. Supervised the establishment of the prospect research area. Fundraising for SCSU increased from $300,000 to $1.4 million annually in three years. In June of 2003, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education recognized the SCSU fundraising program with the CASE/Wealth ID Award for Educational Fundraising, which honors superior fundraising programs across the country. Southern was named to the Circle of Excellence for overall improvement in fundraising based on data submitted over a three-year period. Also served as Director of Alumni Affairs from October 1997 –March 2000.
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The Easter Seal Society of Connecticut
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Hebron, Connecticut
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Vice President of Development and Public Affairs
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Jan 1996 - Oct 1997
Planned, implemented, and supervised all development and public affairs operations for the organization’s state society and Easter Seals Camp Hemlocks, managing a staff of five. Worked with the senior management team, board of directors, and National Easter Seal Society to develop fund raising initiatives involving close to 10,000 donors and volunteers. Program included direct mail campaigns, special events, major gift solicitation and planned giving. Actively solicited individual donors, corporations and foundations for contributions, grants and in-kind support. Secured a total of $228,000 in grants from 15 foundations and corporations-largest one year total for the organization as of that year. Produced annual telethon in partnership with WTNH – News Channel 8. Directed public affairs program to inform people with disabilities and educate the general public about the organization’s services. An extremely event driven fundraising program that required statewide supervision.
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University of Hartford
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Director of Development
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Feb 1995 - Jan 1996
Directed the fundraising efforts for major and planned gifts from alumni on behalf of the College of Engineering and the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford. Worked closely with the deans of both schools as well as the Development Office staff to develop and implement appropriate strategies based on current and future needs of each school. Directed the fundraising efforts for major and planned gifts from alumni on behalf of the College of Engineering and the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford. Worked closely with the deans of both schools as well as the Development Office staff to develop and implement appropriate strategies based on current and future needs of each school.
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Director of Alumni Relations & Director of Special Events for Development
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1990 - 1995
Managed the Alumni Relations office, coordinating programs for 80,000 alumni worldwide. Planned and directed more than fifty major fund raising and recognition events including scholarship balls, benefits, golf and tennis tournaments, dedication ceremonies, donor recognition dinners and receptions. Responsible for personal donor solicitations, corporate contributions, and creation of new fund raising programs to support the university's $30 million capital campaign 1987–1992. Managed the Alumni Relations office, coordinating programs for 80,000 alumni worldwide. Planned and directed more than fifty major fund raising and recognition events including scholarship balls, benefits, golf and tennis tournaments, dedication ceremonies, donor recognition dinners and receptions. Responsible for personal donor solicitations, corporate contributions, and creation of new fund raising programs to support the university's $30 million capital campaign 1987–1992.
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WPOP 1410 AM News Radio - Merv Griffin Radio
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Newington, CT
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Producer
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Jun 1979 - May 1981
Part-time late night producer monitoring machinery, pulling stories and audio off of teletype and national feeds for announcers, preparing audio recordings and written copy for broadcast, and responding to off-air phone calls to the station. Part-time late night producer monitoring machinery, pulling stories and audio off of teletype and national feeds for announcers, preparing audio recordings and written copy for broadcast, and responding to off-air phone calls to the station.
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Education
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1988 - 1989
Hofstra University
MA, Health Administration -
1981 - 1985
Hofstra University
BA, Sociology, Physical Education
Community
