David Novak Appointed Vice President of Advancement for LSSI

David Novak, 53, has been appointed Vice President of Advancement for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), a nonprofit, statewide social services organization based in Des Plaines. In addition, Novak will serve as Executive Director of the Cornerstone Foundation, which oversees and administers estate and planned charitable gifts made to LSSI.

Novak has more than 25 years of professional fundraising experience. Most recently, he was Director of Gift Planning at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind., where he oversaw the university's gift planning and deferred gift programs. Novak brings added expertise as a member of the Illinois Bar with specialization in estate planning, trusts, and wills.

"We are pleased to welcome an accomplished fundraising leader like David Novak," said Mark Stutrud, LSSI Chief Executive Officer. "He is no stranger to LSSI and our mission, having worked here from 1999 to 2004 leading our Planned Giving and Resource Development efforts. He has extensive experience in the Lutheran community as well, serving in senior leadership roles with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Foundation."

As the largest statewide provider of social services in Illinois, LSSI served 97,000 people last year through 190 programs at 85 sites across Illinois. More than 80 percent of LSSI's clients report an annual household income under $15,000. LSSI provides critical programs for the state's most vulnerable residents, including foster care, adoption, mental health services, alcohol and drug treatment, home care services for seniors, affordable senior housing, residential programs for people with developmental disabilities, and programs that help formerly incarcerated individuals integrate back into society. Founded in 1867, LSSI is a nonprofit social service agency of the three Illinois synods of the ELCA.

"I was drawn to once again work for LSSI because of its strong mission to bring healing, justice, and wholeness to people and communities," Novak said. "LSSI has a 148-year history of serving people in need throughout Illinois. As Vice President for Advancement, I look forward to encouraging the generosity of our donors to support our many services across the state."

Novak serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Lutheran Development Executives (ALDE). He has an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law. Novak lives in Lisle with his wife and two children.

For more information, visit LSSI.org and LSSI's Facebook page.