David T. Hsu is a Senior Director of Programs at Omidyar Network, the social change venture established by philanthropists Pam and Pierre Omidyar. A strategist, community builder, and political scientist with 20 years of cross-sector experience, he leads cultural and coalition-building efforts to promote wise societal governance of digital technology.

David previously worked at the Hollywood-based impact consultancy Propper Daley, community organizing tech startup NationBuilder, University of Pennsylvania, and the tech section of the US Department of Justice Antitrust Division. He wrote “Untethered: A Primer on Social Isolation” and speaks on belonging and human connection in the digital age.

David holds a Ph.D. in international political economy from Princeton University and B.A. from Duke University. He is board chair at Inclusive Action and vice chair at CoGenerate.

Expertise and Core Skills

• Philanthropic Strategist: I’m seasoned at tackling complex problems — via case-making, program design, portfolio management, network building, and a broad toolkit for social change.

• Community Builder: I’m wired to build belonging — in how I lead teams, develop leaders, practice collaboration, and gather folks.

• Political Scientist: I’m trained to explore patterns — how change happens, U.S. social fabric and social infrastructure, tech and society, emergent issues.

Recent Events and Projects

• Speaker at SoCal Grantmakers Annual Conference

• Speaker at MIT x Santa Fe Institute Workshop

• Working Group Co-Chair, Council on Foundations’ Building Together national conference

• Press Release, Trust for Civic Life

• Speaker, Brookings Institution

• Organizer, “Music in a Time of Discord” at the GRAMMY Museum

• Featured, “Most Intriguing New Program, Inside Philanthropy Awards

• Editor, “PORTALS to Beautiful Futures,” Omidyar Network x Guild of Future Architects

• Author, “Untethered: A Primer on Social Isolation”