David Hanson

David Hanson, J.D., MBA, Ed.D.

Chief Financial and Operating Officer

The Branson School

David Hanson is the chief financial and operating officer at The Branson School, in Marin County, California. He is also a partner with Winthrop & Associates, LLC, a financial planning consultancy. Prior to joining Branson, Hanson served as the chief operating officer for the Boston office of a global nonprofit foundation and before that as CFO and chief risk officer at Phillips Exeter. Earlier in his career, Hanson spent 15 years working for large universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University and Emory University. Hanson also spent nearly a decade in the legal field, including clerking for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia and serving as a Federal Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta. Hanson is a veteran of the U.S. Army, and graduated from the Judge Advocate General’s School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is a two-time Fulbright award recipient. Hanson holds a B.S. from University of Tampa, a J.D. from Ohio Northern University, two master’s degrees in education and business from the University of Florida and Emory University respectively, and a doctorate in education management from the University of Pennsylvania.

Online Courses

Past Webinars

  • Essential Considerations for Auxiliary Programs at Independent Schools This item is protected

    March 7, 2025
    Drawing on case studies, national trends and proven best practices, this session will address five key high-level factors to consider before investing in auxiliary programs.
  • Capital Advice on Facilities Planning: RFPs, Consulting, Opportunities This item is protected

    February 14, 2025
    A panel of school leaders will provide a behind-the-scenes look into the world of capital facilities and planning consultants, who serve independent schools in matters of planning, developing, funding and delivering capital projects.
  • Top Financial Mistakes & Control Deficiencies: Prevention and Solutions This item is protected

    February 3, 2025
    Learn the most common financial reporting mistakes and control deficiencies for independent schools. Gain insights into identifying, preventing and correcting these errors to enhance your school's financial health and operational efficiency.
  • Adapting Workforce Strategies for a Changing Landscape This item is protected

    January 17, 2025
    In a rapidly evolving work environment, independent schools face unique challenges in hiring, onboarding, and retaining top talent. Explore actionable strategies for leaders centering a culture of belonging throughout a workforce development lifecycle.
  • How to Save Your School Money with PurchasingPoint This item is protected

    December 6, 2024
    This webinar provides an overview of the PurchasingPoint program, tour of the PurchasingPoint portal and examples of vendor discounts and sign-up processes. Webinar recorded on November 7, 2024

Net Assets Articles