David Laird
Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer
803-779-5121 ext. 116
dlaird@able-sc.org
Columbia Office
David serves as Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer at Able South Carolina, where he leads the organization’s advancement and strategic initiatives to accelerate impact, sustainability, and visibility. He oversees fundraising strategy, major donor relations, grants, brand positioning, and external engagement—while also guiding organization-wide performance through strategic planning, impact measurement, and knowledge management.
David brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership across national, state, and local sectors. Prior to Able SC, he served as Director of Strategic Initiatives at Able SC, along as Director of Operations at Serve & Connect, managing grants, strategy, and daily operations. He also led community investment at Central Carolina Community Foundation, directing $1.5 million in annual discretionary grants. Earlier in his career, he shaped child and family policy as Director of Government Affairs at Voices for America’s Children and at the Children’s Trust of South Carolina—helping to secure landmark federal legislation supporting vulnerable populations.
At Able SC, David advances a multi-faceted development approach aligned with the organization’s strategic goals. He oversees all advancement systems, donor stewardship, and performance tracking, ensuring inclusive, ethical, and data-driven fundraising. As a visible ambassador, he builds strategic partnerships with community leaders, funders, and policymakers to position Able SC as the disability thought leader.
David holds an MSW from the University of Alabama and a BSW from the University of Mississippi, as well as a Program Management Professional certification from the University of South Carolina. A former Board President of both Able SC and Columbia Opportunity Resource, he is also a South Carolina Education Policy Fellow and a graduate of the Clemson at the Falls Leadership Institute. Laird was one of four individuals chosen as a 2024 Experience Columbia Ambassador.
As an individual with a disability, David is grounded by a deep commitment to equity, access, and building inclusive systems that create lasting change for people with disabilities.