David Brinkman has dedicated more than 30 years to serving the nonprofit sector, with a focus on advancing community health, equity, and innovation. Since becoming CEO of DAP Health in 2006, he has led the organization through unprecedented growth and transformation, guiding it from a grassroots HIV service provider to one of the most comprehensive and respected health care organizations in Southern California.

Under his visionary leadership, DAP Health has:

• Increased its patient population from 2,000 to 88,000 a year.
• Built two affordable housing complexes.
• Opened three sexual wellness clinics to eliminate access barriers in the Coachella Valley.
• Spearheaded the nationally recognized Get Tested Coachella Valley initiative.
• Integrated the Borrego Health system, expanding to 24 additional sites and reaching 70,000 new patients.

David’s commitment to fiscal transparency and community impact has earned DAP Health national recognition. Under his tenure, the organization was named one of About.com’s “Top 20 HIV/AIDS Charities” and awarded 10 consecutive four-star ratings by Charity Navigator — an honor achieved by less than 5% of ranked nonprofits.

He has twice been invited by the White House Office on AIDS to present on DAP Health’s pioneering work, and is a widely respected advocate for health equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and community-based care at the state and federal levels.

David holds a bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark College and an MBA from Pepperdine University, with a specialization in ethical business management. He is also certified in planned giving by the American Institute for Philanthropic Studies.

In addition to his executive role, he serves on the boards of the UCR School of Medicine and the University of California HIV/AIDS Research Program. He is also a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.