ASCO Welcomes David O’Donnell, its New Director of Development

ASCO Welcomes David O’Donnell, its New Director of Development 

ASCO announces the hiring of David O’Donnell. Mr. O’Donnell is ASCO’s Director of Development. He began his tenure May 2.

“I, along with the rest of ASCO’s employees and our Board of Directors, welcome David to ASCO,” says Dawn Mancuso, ASCO’s Executive Vice President/CEO. “Throughout his 20-year professional career, David has excelled as an entrepreneurial leader who has utilized his unique ability to connect with donors and boards to secure over $100,000,000 for non-profit organizations and campaigns across the country.”

“The Director of Development position is vital to ASCO’s success,” continues Ms. Mancuso. “The generous support from our corporate contributors funds vital programs and initiatives for our faculty and administrators and helps promote the profession of optometry to future applicants. The success of this position directly correlates with the success of ASCO, and I’m confident that David’s skillset and experience will allow him to excel.”  

Recently, Mr. O’Donnell has led the fundraising efforts to rebuild Baltimore, Maryland’s, historic Lexington Market and other public markets in the city. For the past 13 years, Mr. O’Donnell has served as the principal fundraiser for several non-profit organizations. He has also been responsible for creating funding mechanisms for new programs and projects within these organizations – including the Teacher Performance Assessment Consortium – a student-centered multiple measure assessment of teaching designed to be predictive of effective teaching and student learning. Before his non-profit work, Mr. O’Donnell worked on political campaigns in 14 states on local, state, and federal races.

“I am thrilled to be part of the ASCO team,” says Mr. O’Donnell. “My entire career has been spent in the fundraising realm, and I look forward to continuing building relationships with our industry partners as well as making new connections with companies that may not know all that ASCO offers. I also look forward to getting to know the Board of Directors and other volunteers who work so tirelessly to educate future Doctors of Optometry.”

A native of western Pennsylvania, Mr. O’Donnell grew up in DuBois, Pennsylvania, and attended Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Recently, he completed a certificate in Non-profit and Philanthropic Management at Northwestern University. Mr. O’Donnell currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Market Center Merchants Association, Baltimore National Heritage Area grant review committee, and as head coach of the Anne Arundel Community College golf team.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, reside in Baltimore with their dog, Rooney.