David Bley, Director of the Pacific Northwest Team in the United States Program, oversees strategies focused on expanding educational opportunities, ensuring safe and stable housing and preventing family homelessness, and supporting vibrant communities in Washington State and high-quality early learning in several states.
Prior to joining the Gates Foundation in 2007, Bley benefited from diverse experience in the private, nonprofit and public sectors working to address poverty, economic opportunity, neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing. Past employers include the national nonprofit Enterprise Community Partners, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, Fannie Mae, former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, the US Congress, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Bley earned a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in public administration from Seattle University. He currently serves on the boards of Philanthropy Northwest, PACE-Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, the state-wide leadership committee for the Washington Families Fund, The Seattle Foundation, the King County Committee to End Homelessness, the sponsors group of the King County regional Road Map education campaign coordinated by the Community Center for Education Results, and the advisory committee to Seattle University’s Youth Initiative. Bley formerly served on the boards of United Way of King County and the Seattle Housing Authority.