Our Team
William D. Gibson, D.Min.
President and Chief Executive Officer
William D. Gibson is the President & CEO of Helping Education, where he champions educational equity through targeted learning interventions and community partnerships. As a first-generation college graduate, Gibson views education as a crucial pathway to growth and economic mobility. With over 25 years of experience in both nonprofit and private sectors, he excels in innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaborative strategies. Before joining Helping Education, Gibson was the Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Partner at Sustineri Group, Inc., a Seattle-based consulting firm focused on social entrepreneurship and positive change. His prior role as an executive director involved leading a diverse team in the Pacific Northwest for nearly eight years. During his 21-year career with The United Methodist Church, he developed and managed a $42.7M grant fund and spearheaded innovation projects across Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and parts of Canada, supporting initiatives in social enterprise, community development, affordable housing, and education support of schools in disadvantaged communities. Gibson’s private sector experience includes over 16 years in business startup and marketing, with a focus on strategy development, corporate communications, and product innovation. He has led and contributed to various startups, including a national restaurant chain, a clothing line, a technology-driven interactive trading card, and a patented promotional tool, backed by over $5M in VC and angel funding. He holds a doctorate from George Fox University in semiotics, future studies, and technological advancement, and a master’s degree with a focus in social entrepreneurship from Duke University. Additionally, Gibson completed an executive certificate program in entrepreneurship and innovation at Harvard Business School. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Tombolo Institute’s Customer Experience Program at Bellevue College and the Women-Sew Global Foundation, which supports economic development through women’s sewing collectives.