Dan Estes

Program Director, Specialty Family Foundation

Dan Estes began his career as an elementary school teacher. Throughout his seven years in the classroom, Dan taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades in private and independent school systems. During this time, he also served as a director for the Specialty Family Foundation. The foundation seeks to alleviate the conditions that lead to persistent poverty. Serving as a board member filled Dan with a love for philanthropy and ultimately led him to leave the classroom and join the staff at Specialty where he currently serves as the program director of education.

Dan also serves as a director for FADICA, a Catholic philanthropic network of foundations and donors.

Mr. Estes is a double graduate of Loyola Marymount University earning a bachelor of arts in 2009 and a master of education in 2014.

Contributions

Family Staff Peer Network: Managing Your Family Foundation

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Dan Estes, Aimee Boone Cunningham

Among the many topics that family staff members grapple with, foundation operations and board management are often top of mind. Peer network members helped to identify the primary topics that they are navigating, including: Professionalizing the foundation Navigating family dynamics Staffing the foundation Pros and cons of having a family office together with a family foundation Join the discussion with… Read More

Family Staff Peer Network: Benefits and Challenges of Staffing Your Family’s Foundation

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Dan Estes, Aimee Boone Cunningham

Serving in a lead staff role at your family’s foundation comes with meaningful responsibilities and unique challenges. While each family is different, having conversations with others who are related to the donor family and also serve in a staff capacity at a family philanthropy can be rewarding and refreshing. To facilitate these conversations, NCFP is re-launching the Family Staff Peer… Read More

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