New York, NY (May 20, 2025) — Data & Society (D&S) is pleased to announce that David Melendez has joined the organization as its first chief development officer. A seasoned fundraising executive with deep experience across the public media, social policy, education, and health equity sectors, Melendez has deep expertise in building mission-aligned, high-impact development strategies. He steps into the role at a pivotal time for Data & Society, as the organization expands its public impact, strengthens its interdisciplinary research agenda, and deepens its network of funders and supporters. Melendez’s work will be instrumental in supporting the growth of D&S’s empirical research programs and policy engagement, and its vision of a future in which technology is developed and governed to serve the public interest.

Most recently, Melendez served as the chief fundraiser for AIDS United, where he led national development efforts that secured the organization’s first grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2024, along with multimillion-dollar support from Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare. Prior to that role, Melendez served as chief development officer at CLARE|MATRIX, where he led development efforts supporting public health research, treatment, and training programs in collaboration with institutions such as UCLA and USC. Earlier, he was vice president of development at Jumpstart, where he secured multimillion-dollar support for early literacy programs. His cross-sector experience also includes leadership roles at UCLA, the California State University system, Chapman University, and several national nonprofits focused on education, workforce development, and health equity.

“David’s strategic mindset, values-driven leadership, and track record of building innovative fundraising programs are exactly what Data & Society needs at this moment of expansion,” said Executive Director Janet Haven. “His experience across education and social policy will be instrumental as we scale our efforts and engage a growing community that believes in the need to shape a just and equitable digital future.”

As chief development officer, Melendez will lead and grow Data & Society’s development team, working closely with staff and the board to expand institutional capacity, strengthen donor relationships, and drive long-term fundraising strategy. His appointment reflects the organization’s ongoing investment in operational excellence and sustainable growth.

“Data & Society’s mission aligns deeply with my commitment to building philanthropic strategies that drive systemic change,” said Melendez. “I’m honored to join an organization whose research and values resonate so clearly with the urgent questions facing society today — and eager to help grow the resources that make that work possible.”

Melendez is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and has received fellowships and leadership honors from the James Irvine Foundation, UCLA Anderson School of Management, the American Express Serve Together Program, and the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford University.

About Data & Society

Data & Society is an independent nonprofit research organization, studying the social implications of data-centric technologies, automation, and AI. We recognize that the same innovative technologies that may benefit society can also be abused to invade privacy, provide new tools of discrimination, foreclose opportunity, and harm individuals and communities. We believe that technology policy must be grounded in empirical evidence and serve the public.

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