David Hampton

Assistant Director of Economic Development for the City of Savannah, Georgia

Dr. David Hampton is a distinguished faith leader and entrepreneur whose career spans the faith-based, nonprofit, business, and government sectors. Renowned for his versatile leadership, Dr. Hampton has consistently leveraged his broad experiences to drive meaningful change in every role he has undertaken. Dr. Hampton’s professional journey began with two decades of service as a senior pastor, both in Indianapolis and New York City, a role he held until 2019. During this period, he developed a deep commitment to community engagement and social justice.

Transitioning from ministry to municipal leadership, Dr. Hampton served as the Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Engagement for the City of Indianapolis for five years. In this capacity, he built collaborative relationships between city government and local communities.

Building on his success in city government, Dr. Hampton was appointed Executive Director of LISC Indianapolis in April 2021, a position he held until January 2025. Under his leadership, the organization achieved significant milestones, including increased program funding, expansion of economic and workforce development initiatives, and innovative lending strategies. Notably, Dr. Hampton prioritized efforts to address racial injustice, invest in resilient communities, and promote inclusive economic growth, resulting in measurable progress toward equity and opportunity for underserved neighborhoods.

Currently, Dr. Hampton serves as Assistant Director of Economic Development for the City of Savannah, Georgia. In this role, he helps entrepreneurs to start and scale businesses and strategic planning to advance the city’s economic vitality in underserved corridors.

Dr. Hampton’s academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Indianapolis, as well as Master of Theological Studies and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Christian Theological Seminary. He also holds an executive certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School. His commitment to education extends to his service as an adjunct professor, visiting lecturer, trustee, and advisor at institutions such as Christian Theological Seminary and New York Theological Seminary.

An accomplished author, preacher, and public speaker, Dr. Hampton has contributed his expertise to numerous boards, including the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Indianapolis Black Chamber of Commerce, National Action Network (NYC), Indianapolis Urban League, and Martin University. His multifaceted career reflects a steadfast dedication to building stronger, more equitable communities through leadership, service, and innovation.