David Feinman

I joined Conservation Lands Foundation as Government Affairs Director in 2017, where I lead a grassroots-focused government affairs program that empowers local communities to advocate for the protection of the National Conservation Lands, America’s newest collection of protected public lands and waters that hold our nation’s rich and diverse cultural and natural heritage. I do this by fostering and maintaining strong relationships with decision-makers in Congress and in the administration, and supporting grassroots advocates to help them provide authentic testimony through meaningful advocacy engagement, all in service of ensuring well-informed legislation and policy that respects, protects, and provides access to the National Conservation Lands.

Prior to joining CLF, I served as the first Washington Representative for both the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) and World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) from 2014-2017, establishing a public policy presence for both organizations by engaging with the U.S. Congress, the administration and foreign governments on behalf of Holocaust victims in 47 countries.

I have also previously served as Senior Legislative Associate and Project Director for The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) from 2010-2014, as Legislative Assistant for former Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida from 2007-2010, and as Staff Assistant for former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley of Nevada in 2006.

I am also an adjunct professor in the Department of Government, School of Public Affairs at American University, where I teach courses on Congress and Legislative Behavior and a Dialogue Skills Practicum on Grassroots Advocacy and Coalition Building.

I am an alum of the University of Florida, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a focus on International Relations, and of the University of Central Florida, where I earned a Master of Arts degree in Political Analysis and Public Policy. My Master’s thesis was titled: Divided Government and Congressional Foreign Policy: A Case Study of the Post-World War II Era in American Government.

To learn more about me and my work, please visit the links below.