David Weitnauer

Principal, Giving Related | NCFP Distinguished Fellow (2023–2025)

David Weitnauer launched the Giving Related research project in 2025 through a fellowship sponsored by the National Center for Family Philanthropy. The project was inspired by his belief in the importance of relationships in every context and especially family philanthropy.

He has been working with families since graduating seminary in 1986. He served in a variety of settings during his formal pastoral career including institutional chaplaincy, congregational ministry, and an ecumenical counseling center.

David’s experience with family philanthropy began in 1996 when he was asked to serve as a community trustee for a new family foundation. Following a period of board service, David became the part-time director in 1998. Two years later, he became the full-time Executive Director of Rockdale Foundation and for the next seven years worked to advance its founders’ divergent interests. David worked locally on public education reform. Internationally, he worked cross-culturally in 6 countries of a then-developing Arab microfinance industry. During this same period, he partnered with an ecumenical Seminary in Cuba to strengthen community services delivered by local churches in the absence of a non-profit sector.

In 2007, David became President of the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation. He was charged with cultivating governance practices and operations in accordance with best practices, facilitation of an intergenerational board succession process (G2 to G3), and developing a focused approach to grantmaking that included proactive engagement. By 2023, five third-generation trustees were leading the Board in partnership with four community trustees. Priorities developed by trustees guided programmatic investments within three legacy areas. David facilitated the Foundation’s next gen program for 17 of its 23-year history. Most recently, he worked with the board on a two-year succession process prior to his retirement at the end of 2024.

While with Rockdale and Dobbs, he worked with partners to launch two non-profits that continue to thrive today, Sanabel Microfinance Network and One Hundred Miles, respectively. In partnership with the Southeastern Council of Foundations (now, Philanthropy Southeast), David teamed with colleagues to launch a state association of grantmakers, serving as its founding chair. He also contributed to the launch of the Georgia Social Impact Collaborative and co-led development of Stewards of the Georgia Coast, a donor affinity group that advances conservation philanthropy on behalf of Georgia’s internationally significant coast.

Board service includes One Hundred Miles and the Rockdale Foundation; David served previously on the boards of the National Center for Family Philanthropy, John H. and Wilhemina Harland Charitable Foundation, Georgia Social Impact Collaborative, Georgia Grantmakers Alliance, Philanthropy Southeast, Sanabel Microfinance Network, Agnes Scott College, and Columbia Theological Seminary. A 1982 graduate of Davidson College, David received his Master of Divinity in 1986 and his Doctor of Theology in 1997 from Columbia Theological Seminary.

He and his wife, Nancy, have two adult children and live in Decatur, Georgia.

Contributions

21st-Century Governance Part One: Participatory and Collaborative Operations and Strategies

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Joshua J. Knowles, Courtney Knoblock, Hannibal B. Johnson, David Weitnauer

Family philanthropies are increasingly recognizing the power of inclusive and collaborative approaches to maximize their operations and impact—and to ensure that their philanthropy will bring more value to family members, grantees, community members, and others. During this session we will hear from Hannibal B. Johnson, Courtney Knoblock, and Joshua J. Knowles about the development of The Commemoration Fund, a fund… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

Fostering Connection for More Effective Philanthropy

Posted on October 2, 2023 by David Weitnauer

Colleagues collaborating and laughing around a table
NCFP Distinguished Fellow David Weitnauer notes the importance of personal connection among family, board, and staff members in the context of their philanthropy and introduces his research on the concept of giving related. In the drive to improve our philanthropy practices and contribute to greater impact, we often overlook the very characteristic that sets our field apart: family ties. Cultivating… Read More
Effective Family Philanthropy in Action

An Easy Step to Improve Transparency and Access in Philanthropy

Posted on March 7, 2023 by David Weitnauer, Rachel Sprecher

Tip of an iceberg
Grantmakers can have a reputation for having opaque guidelines and limited access to information. David Weitnauer and his colleague, Rachel Sprecher, explain how The Dobbs Foundation took another step towards transparency and accessibility with their Open Information Sessions. Black Box. Enigma. Total mystery. No, these are not a reference to Thursday’s Wordle or how ChatGPT works. They’re regrettable tropes we’ve… Read More

Engaging Youth Peer Network: Youth and Next-gen COVID-19 Giving

Posted on April 22, 2020 by Eesha Vettical, Allison Hale, Rebecca Riccio, David Weitnauer

Attendees at a Youth Philanthropy Connect event
Youth and next-gen givers are an integral part of our foundation’s futures, and many are interested in helping during the current crisis. COVID-19 provides a unique, albeit unfortunate, opportunity to engage youth in decisions around crisis response funds. Learn how peers are engaging youth in these decisions and values conversations, broaching delicate topics, and nurturing empathy… Read More

Consensus and Complexity: A Retreat for New Family Foundation CEOs

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Alexa Cortes Culwell, Nicholas A. Tedesco, Virginia M. Esposito, Ambassador James A. Joseph, Stephen Treat, June L. Wilson, David Weitnauer, Jim Parsons

SOLD OUT! Contact NCFP at (202) 293-3424 to add your name to the wait list. Serving in the leadership staffing role for a family foundation can be one of the best jobs you’ll ever have, but it is not without challenges and complications. This first-of-its-kind NCFP peer retreat provides a unique opportunity for new family foundation CEOs to reflect on… Read More

Family Stories and Interviewing Elders

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Bill Leighty, Debbie Brodsky, Kelly Medinger, David Weitnauer

Capturing and sharing your family’s history is critical to understanding and appreciating your philanthropy, providing a window into the rich heritage of your extended family. Elders in your family often have particularly interesting stories to tell, and can help family members of all ages feel more connected with the generations preceding them, and gain an even greater appreciation of their… Read More