Dudley H. Hafner
Transformative Leader

Between 1980 and 1997 Dudley Hafner led the transformation of the American Heart Association, Inc. from an underperforming organization to a unified national and international leader in medical research, education and advocacy with a strong financial base.

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Dudley Hafner,
Transformative Leader

Between 1980 and 1997 Dudley Hafner led the transformation of the American Heart Association, Inc. from an underperforming organization to a unified national and international leader in medical research, education and advocacy with a strong financial base.

Management guru Peter Drucker identified the American Heart Association as one of the best managed nonprofits is existence and praised Hafner for his “unrivaled skill in solving the nonprofits’ most difficult challenges of tomorrow”. Unlike a for profit industry’s CEO, Hafner could not simply mandate changes.Instead, he had to work through his own board of directors in addition to the staff and volunteers of 300 separately incorporated nonprofit entities at the state and local levels. He worked with volunteer and staff leaders from the 50 states to build ownership for change using massive strategic planning and staff training and development.Gender and ethnic/racial diversity both staff and volunteers improved significantly.

In 1981 some of the 300 separate corporations at the state and local levels were spending 2% of income on medical research. Between 1980 and 1990 AHA had become a single entity that spent more money on medical research than in the previous 55 years, representing 40% of all income. Three AHA funded scientist had be awarded Noble Prizes. By 1997 fundraising had more than tripled it’s 1981 income. AHA globally prominent scientific sessions had increased attendance from 14,000 in 1981 to 37,000 scientist and practitioners. In partnership with other nonprofits the AHA took the leadership role in passing federal regulations of tobacco sales and advertising as well as in labeling of food products based on science.

The American Heart Association created a Coalition on Smoking or Health with the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association. The coalition efforts produced warning labels on tobacco products and anti tobacco programs in public schools. These efforts moved the Federal Drug Administration to regulate tobacco as an addictive substance. FDA was given authority over manufacturing, sales, labeling, distribution and marketing of all tobacco products. This was also the beginning of efforts seek compensation for victims of the Tobacco Industries failures to disclose it research studies showing the health hazards of smoking.

In his final year before retirement Hafner was appointed by Congress to serve on the Koop-Kessler Advisory Committee on the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement as results of the lawsuit filed by 24 state attorney generals.In 1997 Dudley announced his retirement to a Corps of 3.7 million volunteers and 3277 staff partners dedicated to the American Heart Association’s mission of building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease.

Peter Drucker profiled Dudley Hafner in two books and asked him to serve on the Peter Drucker Foundation and chair the foundation’s awards committee on innovation in the nonprofit sector. This lead to Dudley’s service on the board of directors of the Mutual Life Insurance and its foundation that would honor partnership programs in the nonprofit world. Hafner was also appointed to Case Western Reserve University’s Mandel Center Journal peer review committee on nonprofit leadership.

Following his retirement as CEO of the American Heart Association he began writing reviews for nonprofit management publications and appearing as a guest lecturer in business schools. Hafner also spent three years as an executive coach for Fortune 500 companies and large nonprofits. Dudley and his wife Beverly divide their time between travel and community outreach programs. To date travel has taken them to 40 of countries on six continents and treks on several major mountain ranges. However if you ask either one you would quickly realize their passion is working with community outreach programs that started once they had settled in their new home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their first outreach was joining with a small group of neighbors to raise funds to build a public library. This soon extended into several other outreach programs for the hungry and homeless and Beverly taking her Border Collie on visits to elder care facilities and the local hospital. Dudley has been a volunteer at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter for eight years working in the adoption program and spays and neuter clinic. He just recently began working with other volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity building homes for low income families in the Santa Fe area. For Beverly and Dudley this expresses their lifelong belief in the definition of community. Dudley has also assisted small nonprofits in Texas and Oregon to help them lay the foundation for their outreach programs.

More details of the process and outcomes of Dudley’s nonprofit career may be found in the official history  Time, Feeling and Focus: A Newly Designed Culture (2000) by Dr. Diana Christopulos

Dudley H. Hafner, a professional career that spanned 40 years contributed to raising 4.5 billion dollars for cancer and cardiovascular research, patient services and public education

Dudley H. Hafner served as the Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association, Inc. He retired from this $700 million organization at the end of 1997 after 17 years as its CEO. He was cited by Peter Drucker as one of the most effective non-profit leaders and fund raisers in America. During his service at the AHA and ACS he managed fundraising efforts exceeding 4.5 billion dollars for research, patient service and public education. During his service he walked the halls of Congress pressing for increase funds for research at NIH and legislation to control the tobacco industry’s marketing and sales and protect on non smokers’ rights to clean air in addition to accurate labeling of food products at the market place.

Dudley was internationally acclaimed and recognized as a visionary change agent able to build consensus while directing large scope multi-phase operations. During his career he provided the leadership that knit together new team patterns and relations to address innovation. Dudley has mentored scores of young staff and seasoned managers within numerous organizations both in the United States and in other countries.

Hafner spoke at international conferences in Europe, Asia and South America focusing on the issue of board governance. During his career as CEO of the American Heart Association he was a regular Guest Lecturer: University of Texas at Austin, Graduate School of Business; University of Texas at Dallas; University of Missouri at Kansas City; Springfield College, Massachusetts; Harvard Graduate School of Business.

Hafner’s leadership and insightfulness has been enhanced by the experience of being on the inside looking out of many other organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of the New York based Mutual of America Life Insurance Company from 1991 until March of 2001. He was a member of the Board Executive Committee, Investment Committee and Marketing and Products Committee.

He was a member of the Peter Drucker Foundation Advisory Board and served on its Awards Selection Committee on Innovation. For seven years Hafner chaired the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Review Committee on Community Tobacco Control Initiatives. He was a founding member of the Mutual of America Foundation Awards Committee on Community Partnerships. Hafner was a peer reviewer for the Mandel Center’s Journal on leadership in the non-profit sector for 12 years.

Dudley’s diverse interests and leadership proficiency are also represented in his community activities. As a volunteer he has chaired fund raising efforts for education, environment, public broadcasting, political campaigns and the arts.  He served as a member of the Koop/Kessler Blue Ribbon Commission appointed by members of the U.S. Congress to evaluate the State Attorney Generals’ tobacco settlement. Following retirement he was retained as an executive coach for senior officers at several large US based corporations.

Dudley and his wife Beverly traveled extensively having visited 40 countries. I had travel 67 countries before, but 27 before Beverly and I married so 40 is the number to use. Their passion for hiking has taken them to the Rockies, Alps, Himalayas and Andes. Dudley’s love for white water has resulted in his spending time on 27 white water rivers in the US and elsewhere.

Since retirement Dudley and his wife Beverly have provide leadership in creating and raising the funds to build a new community library,  served as coaches and leaders for 3rd world environmental and children aid programs and as volunteers in the Bienvenidos Outreach program that provides food and clothing for those in need. He is a member of the Texas Exec Scholarship Committee for Northern New Mexico.

Dudley is a native Texan, a father of four, grandfather of thirteen and great grandfather to 15. He graduated magna cum laude from St Edwards University with a Liberal Studies Degree and major in management. Dudley was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1962 with the rank of E-5.