David Bruns was named vice president and executive director of The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital in May 2025. In this role, he provides the leadership, vision, and overall strategic and operational direction for the Foundation, one of the largest in the region by impact.
Prior to this role, Bruns served as vice chancellor for advancement for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With a career in philanthropy spanning decades, Bruns has also held several key professional roles in St. Louis, including with WashU Medicine and Maryville University. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.