David Laird
Director of Strategic Initiatives
803-779-5121 ext. 116
dlaird@able-sc.org
Columbia Office
Pronouns: He/Him/His
As Director of Strategic Initiatives, David focuses on accelerating Able South Carolina’s performance through cohesive strategy planning and execution, knowledge management, and the implementation of an organizational dashboard for impact and organizational effectiveness. In addition, David is responsible for developing short and long-term milestones, goals, and new business initiatives to develop sustainable growth.
David brings nearly 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience at the national, state, and local levels into the role. Most recently, David served as Director of Operations for Serve & Connect overseeing all daily administrative activities including grant resource and management as well as strategic planning for the organization.
Previously, David served as Director of Community Impact for Central Carolina Community Foundation overseeing and discretionary grant operations including criteria design, organizational outreach, fiscal management, application review and determination, and evaluation, for 10 competitive grant cycles and 200 grantees with $1.5 million in annual distribution.
David has served as the Director of Policy and Government Affairs for the Children's Trust of South Carolina; as Director of Government Affairs and Policy of Washington D.C. based Voices for America's Children where he led national children’s advocacy organizations for the passage of the Fostering Connections and Increasing Adoptions Act and the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, and in direct practice settings for children and families in Mississippi and Alabama.
David has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Mississippi with minors in English and History, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama with a concentration in Program and Agency Administration. Additionally, Laird has received a Program Management Professional certification from the University of South Carolina.
Previously, David served as the Board President of Able SC and Columbia Opportunity Resource with additional board service on multiple state and national organizations.
He is a 2010-11 South Carolina Education Police Fellow and a 2011 graduate of Clemson at the Falls Leadership Institute.