David Schmidt is founder and president of J. David Schmidt & Associates—a management consulting firm serving the nonprofit sector for the past 42 years.  He has focused on strategy design, strategic thinking, large scale innovation initiatives, and organizational leadership and development.

Numerous organizations have benefited from David’s experience and expertise including various Divisions and Territories in The Salvation Army, The National Leadership team of the YMCA of the USA, various national YMCA initiatives and local YMCA’s, Christian Leadership Alliance, The Maclellan Foundation, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Wheaton College, Samaritans Purse, SIL/Wycliffe, Biola University, Evangelical Christian Credit Union, American Bible Society, Willow Creek Community Church, the Willow Creek Association (Global Leadership Network), numerous churches and other faith-based organizations.

David holds a Master of Arts degree in International (cross cultural) Marketing and Communications from Wheaton College.  He has written seven books including co-authoring a book about faith-based organizations entitled The Prospering Parachurch, (Published by Jossey-Bass Publishers, it documented the results of a national Lilly Endowment study he oversaw).  In addition, he is a recognized presenter and has published material in several publications related to nonprofit leadership and management.  He has served on several boards and most recently served on the board of Honey Rock, the Outdoor Center for Leadership Development of Wheaton College.

David has been a longtime friend to Slingshot Group and is currently partnering with us to coach Nonprofit leaders and boards as they rethink everything in light of the recent health, financial and social disruptions.

David and his wife Melinda have two adult children, Kelly and Kevin, and make their home in Wheaton, Illinois.