Dana Vilardi is the Chief Development Officer of the Center for Nonprofit Management. She began her career on the East Coast in direct service, working in youth development, workforce initiatives, and a family violence shelter before moving into management and launching a nonprofit capacity building center at United Way in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After relocating to Dallas, Dana joined United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, where she founded the volunteer engagement department and later led corporate and donor engagement across North Texas. In that role, she worked closely with Fortune 500 companies, cultivated relationships across all donor levels, and oversaw large scale events designed to deepen community investment and philanthropic impact.

Dana went on to serve as Executive Director of Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities, where she led celebrity and corporate engagement strategies, expanded youth mentorship programs, strengthened partnerships with Dallas ISD, and launched the organization’s inaugural annual bike race.

She later provided strategic consulting to multiple organizations, including fundraising strategy for the Sabiha Al Khemir Foundation. She also led customer experience across global sports and philanthropic events and served as head of operations for The Rock Teen Youth Foundation, an initiative focused on increasing high school graduation rates through the African American art of step dance.

Outside of work, Dana enjoys nature and travel. She remains devoted to strengthening the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors she has served for more than three decades and actively volunteers in support of women and girls.