Chief Philanthropy Officer David Gillig, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
As the chief philanthropy officer at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, David Gillig’s career as an executive leader in philanthropy and marketing spans more than four decades.
David began his fundraising and marketing career in 1981 at the Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara – an acute rehabilitation hospital for the physically disabled. He then became vice president for development at Scripps Health in La Jolla, California. In 1993, David began a nearly 20 year tenure as senior vice president and executive director, foundation at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. In 2013, David joined Marts & Lundy, an international consulting firm where he served as senior consultant and principal and health sciences practice leader. In 2020, David became the Zoo’s chief philanthropy officer.
David has been an active leader and teacher in his profession, presenting at numerous conferences and serving for 21 years as dean of fundraising management for the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy Madison Institute at the University of Wisconsin. He has served on the national boards of directors for the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Woodmark Group (a consortium of leading U.S. and Canadian children’s hospitals) and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
David has received several professional awards, including Development Executive of the Year from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, San Diego Chapter; and the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy Harold “Sy” Seymour Award, the association’s most prestigious honor recognizing professional achievement and leadership.
