Dan Cardinali is president and CEO of Independent Sector, the only national membership organization that brings together nonprofits, foundations, and corporations seeking to advance the common good. Known for his commitment to performance management and measurable impact, Cardinali’s work at Independent Sector is focused on empowering organizations to work collaboratively to improve life and the environment for individuals and communities around the world. Before joining IS in 2016, Dan served on the IS Board of Directors and led Communities In Schools, the nation’s largest and most effective dropout prevention organization for 12 years. Early in this career, Dan worked as a community organizer in Guadalajara, Mexico, organizing a squatter community to secure land rights, running water, and public education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a master’s degree in philosophy from Fordham University.
