David E. Garamella, JD, MPA

David is an accredited fundraiser with 26 years of executive and consulting experience in philanthropy and not-for-profit management. Before forming The Giving Collaborative (TGC), David served as philanthropy counsel for the 150-affiliated hospitals of the Planetree Alliance and chief development officer for Griffin Health Services, and chief philanthropy officer for Rhode Island Hospital.

As CEO and principal of TGC, David has a proven record of developing new programs and extraordinarily successful fundraising teams for more than 200 not-for-profit organizations across the United States, Africa, and Europe. Some recent examples include The University of Miami Medical School, The World War II Foundation, and The Anti-Poaching Unit of Sweden. David began his fundraising career in Washington, D.C., as the political action director for the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Congressional Offices of Congressman Sam Gejdenson.

David is a frequent philanthropy lecturer to lay and professional fundraisers, volunteer boards, and business leaders. Volunteer activities include past chairman of The Connecticut Hospital Association Development Section, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the New England Association of Healthcare Philanthropy.

David currently serves on the MTA School Scholarship Fund and Notre Dame High School in West Haven, CT. David earned his Bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College in Easton, MA, and graduate studies at Franklin University.

An avid waterman, David lives on the Connecticut Shoreline with his wife, three children, and their faithful pug, Vegas.