LIFT JAX completes national search and hires first leader

LIFT JAX is pleased to announce the hiring of David Garfunkel as President of the organization beginning May 1, 2020.  David came on early in the poverty coalition movement in Jacksonville (formerly #nopovertyjax) as a volunteer while he remained employed remotely by social impact consulting firm FSG out of Boston. With his wife having roots in Florida and their desire to settle near family, David was quickly drawn to this enormous social impact initiative that naturally fit his skill set, career, and personal goals. It didn’t take long for the leaders of LIFT JAX to recognize the unique talents that David offered and unanimously agreed to hire him as a consultant. In year two of his consulting contract, as progress and momentum were in high gear for LIFT JAX, it was time to hire a leader. With a commitment to due diligence and good governance, a search committee for LIFT JAX conducted a full national search for the best candidate. 

At the conclusion of the search process, David was selected with a unanimous vote of the Steering Committee for LIFT JAX. In his former employment with FSG, David had multiple experiences consulting to the leaders of large scale social impact initiatives. His passion and dream is to apply his skills and heart toward an important and transformational initiative that he can see through and realize in his own home community. For LIFT JAX to have the benefit of David’s consulting expertise, skills, track record of success, and passion for this work is the perfect fit for both.  

David holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s Degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in Spanish and International Management. David lives in Jacksonville with his spouse, Stephanie, and their two daughters, Lucia and Eliza.