Shaun Donovan has dedicated his life to public service focused on building opportunity and fighting for people and communities too often left behind.

In August 2022, Donovan joined the Ford Foundation as a Senior Fellow where he is working with the Biden Administration and partners across the country to build community capacity to ensure the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law reaches its transformative potential, especially in historically disadvantaged communities. Donovan also joined the World Resources Institute as a Senior Fellow where he is working with international humanitarian organizations to incorporate climate resilience into their work.

In December of 2020, Donovan launched an ideas-driven campaign for Mayor of New York, his hometown. During that time, he also worked with residents and community organizations in New York City to deliver restaurant meals to families affected by COVID, to revitalize public housing, and to make sure every New Yorker was counted in the 2020 Census.

From July 2014 to January 2017, Donovan served as the 40th Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Obama. At OMB, Donovan increased investment in key domestic and national security priorities that grew the economy, protected our country and increased opportunity. And he oversaw regulations that increased innovation, protected health, improved education, and fought climate change.

From January 2009 to July 2014, Donovan was the 15th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he led the fight against the nation’s unprecedented foreclosure crisis. Under his leadership, HUD helped families rent or buy affordable homes, revitalized distressed communities, fought discrimination, and dramatically reduced homelessness. Donovan also served as Chair of the President’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, leaving a stronger, more resilient region than before the storm hit.

Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Donovan served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. He also served in the Clinton administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing at HUD and as acting FHA Commissioner during the Clinton/Bush presidential transition.

Donovan sits on the Board of Trustees at the Urban Institute, the Advisory Board of Opportunity Insights, the Board of Directors for Regional Plan Association, the Board of Directors for Rethink Food, and the Boards of Directors of Greater New York and the National Public Housing Museum.

Donovan holds a B.A. and Masters degrees in Public Administration and Architecture from Harvard University. Shaun is married to Liza Gilbert, a Landscape Architect who has designed and restored parks in New York City and across the country. Shaun and Liza live in Brooklyn, where they raised their sons Milo and Lucas.