Dick Dadey

Dick Dadey is the Executive Director of the Citizens Union and Citizens Union Foundation, both interrelated organizations working in pursuit of good government and political reform in New York since 1897.

Dadey has an extensive background as a leader on and an advocate for civic-related issues. He has a long and varied history of being an issues advocate, lobbyist, political strategist, community organizer, and fundraiser, having spent twenty years of his professional life working for and with not-for-profit advocacy organizations. He understands the unique needs such organizations have operating in the public sector and has particular experience in managing issue-based advocacy campaigns and organizations.

Dadey served from 2002-2004 as the first Executive Director of City Parks Alliance, a national organization that works to strengthen city parks throughout the country. He also has served as the Executive Director of two other issue based advocacy organization, New Yorkers for Parks, formerly the Parks Council, and the Empire State Pride Agenda, New York’s statewide gay and lesbian political organization which he helped to found and built into one of the most powerful and effective organizations in New York’s political landscape. Dadey also directed government relations and client services for the New York City office of M&R Strategic Services, a national government affairs and public relations firm serving a diverse group of not-for-profit organizations.