John Briscoe
Vice President of Development
John Briscoe joined Common Cause in 2007 as Vice President of Development. He previously served for seven years as Director of Development at the National Council of Churches. During that period, the Council recovered its financial balance, moved from an operating deficit of $5.9 million to a surplus of $6.2 million and grew the overall budget, particularly receipts from foundations.
In a career that has included teaching, business, politics, government service, farming and consulting, John has served as a practical idealist, an entrepreneur, a problem solver and an unreconstructed early 1960's optimist.
• As a Peace Corps Volunteer in India he started and managed the Bengaluru Koli Raytaru Saharkarada Sangha. Pvt. Ltd., the largest producer of poultry feed and poultry products in South India.
• As Chief of Staff to Congressman Bob Edgar for eight years, he directed a Congressional Office that was consistently ranked among the top 10 offices and raised more that $7 million for Edgar's reelection and U.S. Senate campaigns.
•As founder and Director of PennSERVE: The Governor's Office of Citizen Service, he created the first state-wide fully integrated Community Service office in the nation, transforming a concept into a $15 million per year initiative that was one of the models for AmeriCorps.
Other jobs and projects have included teaching in Kenya, heading an alternative high school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, operating Red Mountain Agricultural Services, serving as assistant to the president of Bryn Mawr College and several stints of consulting. John is married to Kate Williams, the father of four children and grandfather of four.