David Brinkman

David Brinkman, M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer & President, joined Desert AIDS Project in 2006. David has led the organization through a period of unprecedented expansion, increasing the number of clients and volunteers, diversity and volume of services, number of staff, and size of the budget by 100%. Under his leadership, Desert AIDS Project established a dental clinic, a permanent supportive housing complex, a community center, a department of Community Health, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic, and a vocational program as well as achieved Federally Qualified Health Center status.

During his tenure, Desert AIDS Project was named one of the “Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charities” by About.com, for the high percentage of funding spent on programs vs. overhead, fundraising efforts (raising $100 for every $15 spent), and financial transparency. In addition, Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, awarded Desert AIDS Project “four-star status” for five, consecutive years. This is an achievement reached by only 6% of all nonprofits they rank.

Mr. Brinkman has served the not-for-profit community for over 23 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark College and a Master of Business Administration degree, with an emphasis in Ethical Business Management, from Pepperdine University. He is also a Specialist in Planned Giving certified by the American Institute for Philanthropic Studies. In 2015 he was twice invited by the White House Office on AIDS to present on the work of Desert AIDS Project and the success of Get Tested Coachella Valley. Mr. Brinkman serves as Vice President of the Health Assessment Resource Center (HARC) Board of Directors. He also is a prominent voice for community-based organizations, the local HIV/AIDS community, and a leading advocate at State and Federal levels.