Jacob A. James
Principal
Dudley & Finch, LLC
Jacob James has spent his career building the power and influence of organizations seeking to create global change. As Managing Director of the Waitt Foundation he advanced multi-lateral agreements and domestic policies to protect the ocean - doubling the expanse of global marine protected areas during his tenure. He has triangulated relationships with organizations like the Bloomberg & Clinton Foundations, National Geographic Society, The Nature Conservancy, high net worth individuals, celebrity advocates and Fortune 500 leaders to achieve his clients’ objectives. As a professional advocate he has negotiated directly with heads of state and government, The United Nations, political campaigns and myriad NGOs to advance legislative and executive action in over 25 countries around the world. Now, as a public affairs specialist in the US and abroad, he leverages the twin engines of philanthropy and political advocacy to help corporations, individuals and nonprofit organizations achieve their public policy goals. Jacob is a native San Diegan and lives in Ocean Beach where he can often be found jogging, practicing yoga, or more likely, at the beach with his Barbudan rescue dog “Hurricane José.”
Background & Experience
+ Clients:
- Senior Advisor, Moore Charitable, Moore Bahamas, & Islas Secas Foundations
- Community Resource Advisor, San Diego - Fortune 100 Technology Firm
- Strategy Consultant, Housing Policy Leadership Academy
- Strategy Consultant, Shark Conservation Fund
- Government Relations Consultant, Waitt Foundation
- Senior Finance & Political Advisor, Georgette Gómez for Congress (CA53 - San Diego)
+ In-House:
- Managing Director & Board Member, Waitt Foundation
- Senior Advisor & Board Member, Waitt Institute
- Acting Managing Director, Waitt Institute
- Senior Advisor, Barbuda Recovery & Conservation Trust
- Senior Advisor, Independent SuperPAC
- Policy Advisor, Avalon Capital Group & Waitt Foundation
- Estate Manager, Avalon Capital Group
- Event Planner, Avalon Capital Group
- Executive/Personal Assistant, Avalon Capital Group
- Writer/Scheduler, Congresswoman Susan A. Davis (CA53 - San Diego)
- Campaign Assistant, The San Diego Group
+ Education:
- MA in Government, Georgetown University
- BA in Biology, Point Loma Nazarene University
- Graduate, Public Affairs Institute (2016-2018), Public Affairs Council of America
- Certificate in Fundraising Management, Lilly School of Philanthropy: IUPUI
- Certificate in Economics, UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources
- Certificate in Leading for Organizational Impact, Center for Creative Leadership
+ Civic Engagement:
- Member, San Diego Foundation Board of Governors
- Member, Public Policy Committee, San Diego Grantmakers
- Member, United Way of San Diego County Centennial Planning Committee
- Past Board Member & Treasurer, Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust
- Past Board Member, Oceans 5
- “Metro Mover” Awardee, San Diego Metro Magazine
- Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America
