David Bradley

For more than 30 years, David Bradley has been one of Washington’s leading advocates on behalf of low-income programs. In 1981, David helped found the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF). As a private non-profit organization funded solely by non-governmental contributions, NCAF represents funding and policy interests of the nation’s 1000 Community Action Agencies before Congress and the Executive Branch. David currently acts as NCAF's Chief Executive Officer. In this role at NCAF, David was the primary architect of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Besides the CSBG, David’s legislative activities include the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Head Start and job training programs.

In an age in which partisan gridlock is too often the norm, David has shown an uncanny ability to make poverty issues a concern to both parties. After facing elimination in the 1995 House Republicans’ Contract with America, David was able to work with key House Republican leaders to ensure CSBG funding procured the largest percentage increase received of any domestic program in FY 1997. In his role at NCAF, David has also helped power CAPLAW, a legal resource center for the Community Action Agencies (CAA) network and CAPPAC, a Political Action Committee.

In addition, David Bradley has helped foster a unique partnership between the private sector and the CAA network. His work with Exxon-Mobil provided first hand job training to thousands of workers. His development of a graduate program in Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University has allowed numerous students the opportunity to earn a graduate degree affordably.

Prior to joining NCAF, David worked in Congressional Affairs at the Small Business Administration under President Jimmy Carter.  He has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from George Washington University. In 1987, he was a Senior Executive Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University.

He and his wife Nancy reside in Fredericksburg, Virginia. David’s passion for politics and poverty is matched by his interest in reading and baseball. David is part owner of a number of minor league baseball teams including the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies; the Bowie Baysox and the Frederick Keys, both in the Orioles System; and the Biloxi Shuckers the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A franchise.

David’s mentor, Sargent Shriver, perhaps described David’s advocacy best when he wrote “no one has done more to keep the War on Poverty fresh in the hearts and minds of individuals than David Bradley.”