Upon graduating from Augsburg College with a major in French, David Norgard continued his studies at Yale Divinity School where he earned his M.Div. degree. While at Yale, he founded the Yale Gay and Lesbian Cooperative, a cross-campus student advocacy group that still flourishes. Upon graduation, he received the Dean’s Citation for Community Service. The Divinity School honored him again in 1995 when he received a Distinguished Alumni Award.

Before launching OD180, his management consulting practice serving nonprofit organizations, Norgard’s work focused on providing executive leadership to faith-based nonprofit institutions and agencies, guiding them through major financial and programmatic turnarounds. These included the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, New York’s largest charitable feeding program; The Oasis, a lesbian and gay advocacy ministry; the Church of St. John the Evangelist, an historic church in San Francisco’s Mission District; and Episcopal Community Services of Minnesota, a multi-program social service agency. In addition to his professional positions, he has served on a number of national and local boards of directors in various capacities, including chair, vice chair, secretary, and development chair.
His lifelong interest in how organizations work eventually led him to pursue advanced studies in organization development. He did so at Antioch University Los Angeles where he earned his M.A. in Organizational Management. Since launching OD180, David has broadened the scope of both his study and work. He consults to a variety of organizations, especially membership and community-based groups.

David’s enthusiasm for teaching derives from the consonance of his personal sense of mission with that of the university. His aim in every course is to equip others for effective service and advocacy so that, when the time comes, they are “not ashamed to die.”

Educational History

MDiv, Yale Divinity School
MA in Organizational Management, Antioch University Los Angeles
BA, Augsburg College

Awards

Distinguished Alumni Award, Yale Divinity School, 1995
Honorary Canon, St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego, 2012

Academic Focus

The advancement, management, and governance of nonprofit organizations; the structure and life cycles of membership, community, and faith-based organizations