Announcing the 2025 David Bradt Nonprofit Leadership Award Winners
As nonprofit leaders in Greater Washington, Trey Davis and Paula C. Thompson are invested in improving and advancing their organizations—and themselves. This year, we’re excited to announce them as our sixth annual David Bradt Nonprofit Leadership Awardees. Trey, Executive Director of Community Forklift and Paula C. Thompson, President & CEO of Voices for a Second Chance (VSC) will each receive up to $15,000 to attend an intensive executive training program of their choice.
Launched in 2017 as a salute to former trustee David Bradt and his many years of service to our community, the David Bradt Nonprofit Education Fund supports senior level nonprofit leaders in advancing their careers and leadership skills. Local business leader Alex Orfinger and Diane Tipton, David’s wife, established the Fund to surprise and honor David.
Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, extends her congratulations to this year’s class:
“Congratulations to the 2025 awardees! We are thankful for all you have done and will continue to do to strengthen our community. The Community Foundation is so pleased to support investments in exceptional nonprofit leaders and support the Fund’s impact in our region. Our thanks to David for the inspiration, and to Diane and Alex for creating such a wonderful way in which to honor him.”
Read on to meet these inspiring local leaders.
Trey Davis is the Executive Director of Community Forklift, the DC region’s nonprofit reuse center that diverts salvaged and surplus building materials and home goods from landfills and returns their value to the community by making home repair more affordable and accessible, creating jobs, and promoting reuse.
Since 2023, he has led a mission-driven team to modernize operations, expand impact, and secure new funding while laying the groundwork for a capital campaign. He previously served as a vice president at the Urban Land Institute and as an urban planner in James City County, Virginia.
Trey is passionate about sustainability, preservation, and the built environment. He holds an MBA from Georgetown and a BA from Duke. A South Carolina native and 20-year Washingtonian, he plans to use the award to attend Leadership Greater Washington’s Signature Program (Class of 2026) and Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management.
Paula C. Thompson, President & CEO of Voices for a Second Chance (VSC), brings over 20 years of experience in reentry services, advocacy, and community mobilization. At VSC, she leads efforts to provide trauma-informed support, counseling, and family reunification for justice-involved individuals, broadening the organization’s mission and deepening its impact.
Paula is also the Founder and Co-Chair of the DC Reentry Action Network, a coalition of 30+ community-based providers, where she has influenced local and national policy while building strategic partnerships that expand opportunities for returning citizens. A recognized leader, she has held senior roles in national nonprofits, served on multiple commissions and boards, and mentored nonprofit leaders nationwide. Her leadership has been honored with Georgetown University’s 2025 John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award and the Washington Commanders’ 2024 Inspire Change Changemaker Award. Paula plans to use the Bradt Award to attend Harvard Business School’s Women’s Leadership Forum.