David Valinsky, President

David Valinsky, CAP, is the founder of David Valinsky Associates. With more than 35 years of fundraising experience, he is the co-author of "The Mercifully Brief, Real World Guide to Raising Money Through Bequests."

Prior to founding the firm in 1998, he served in both national and regional senior development roles with the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation, a national Catholic health care organization with facilities in six states. One of his most meaningful experiences was serving as the lead consultant in fundraising for U.S. AID in a three year partnership with several recovering cities in Croatia.

David is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), a designation offered by The American College. He has been a member of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and the National Committee on Planned Giving (NCPG). He has earned degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the American College.

  • Dawn Hensley

    Director of Communications and Donor Management

    Dawn has been with DVA since our inception in 1999, and has provided clients with valuable assistance in all areas of the fundraising process.

    Dawn brings strong creative and problem-solving skills based on more than 25 years of experience in donor management and database administration.

    She played key roles with both the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and Mercy Foundations where she was responsible for creating individualized donor-management programs for healthcare facilities and social service agencies.

    In addition, Dawn is well-versed in charitable planned giving and annual development programs. She is currently working at Atrium Medical Center Foundation (Middletown, OH) as an onsite development associate.

  • Richard Friedman

    Senior Associate

    Richard Friedman brings a strong background in fundraising and writing to David Valinsky Associates. He has had a long and distinguished career as both a journalist and nonprofit CEO.

    His writing has appeared in national and regional publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Jewish Week, and the Los Angeles Jewish Times.

    As a reporter for the Birmingham News, he was part of a team that won two Associated Press awards for stories on the role of race in Alabama politics. Today, in addition to his work with David Valinsky Associates, he is associate editor of Southern Jewish Life and Israel InSight magazines.

    As executive director of the Birmingham Jewish Federation for 37 years, he helped raise more than $100 million from Birmingham’s small Jewish community. He also helped secure an estimated $80 million gift through a private foundation for the future of the Birmingham Jewish community.

    He has been honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews and twice by Israel Bonds.

    Richard will be playing a dual role for David Valinsky Associates. He will serve as the firm’s writer-in-residence and work with clients in the areas of fundraising and organizational development.

  • Lisa Kaufman

    Senior Associate

    Lisa has more than 20 years experience in the not for profit sector in the area of Development and Communications. Prior to joining DVA, Ms. Kaufman has held Development positions with cultural arts organizations in Santa Fe, New Mexico (Cornerstones Community Partnerships), Chicago (Chicago Humanities Festival), and a social service organization (St. Stephen’s Community House) in Columbus, Ohio serving as Development Director. She brings to DVA a wide-range of skills that include extensive experience in writing grant proposals, writing analytical reports, conducting research and creating copy for marketing/ communication materials.

    Ms. Kaufman holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from St. John's College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication from Bowling Green State University.

    Lisa currently serves as the Grant Coordinator for the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

  • Alex Valinsky

    Associate

    Alex is a marketing and advertising expert with experience in customized fundraising and event planning. She began her career in marketing strategy in 2008 in Chicago and is currently a Media Supervisor at Scale Marketing. She is enthusiastic about continuing education and recently completed the Leadership Development Program at the University of Dayton.

    In 2012 and 2017, Alex completed the Chicago Marathon on the American Cancer Society’s Team DetermiNation, raising several thousand dollars each year in honor of her mother’s ten and fifteen year anniversaries of surviving cancer. In 2005, she coordinated and directed a 5K race in her hometown of Bexley, Ohio with all proceeds going to the Smile Train, a worldwide organization helping children in third world countries with cleft palates.

    Alexandra received her Bachelor of Arts degree in French at Northwestern University with minors in Business Institutions and Integrated Marketing Communications in 2009.