Chad Griffin, founding partner of political and communications strategy firm Griffin|Schake, has spent his career taking on the toughest fights against the most entrenched, well-financed interests like Big Tobacco, Big Oil and the right wing to shape the policy debate around some of the nation's most important issues, including equal rights, clean energy, universal health care, global climate change, stem cell research and early childhood education. A veteran of the Clinton White House communications team, Griffin was the youngest staffer ever to serve in the West Wing.

From his experiences in the White House and leading a series of successful ballot measures and change campaigns, Griffin has developed a campaign-style approach to communications that has become his professional trademark. Harnessing the hard-nosed, fast-paced style of the political world, the passion of the philanthropic community, and the creativity and celebrity of the Hollywood entertainment circles, Griffin has helped to advance the causes of a powerful roster of changemaking clients such as philanthropist Steve Bing, actor/director Rob Reiner, entertainment executive Chris Albrecht, filmmakers Janet & Jerry Zucker and Doug Wick & Lucy Fisher, CuresNow, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, The California Endowment and Al Gore's Live Earth global concert series.

• Griffin is on the leading edge of the green building movement, counting as his clients the U.S. Green Building Council, Shangri-La Construction, Brad Pitt's Make it Right sustainable housing development in New Orleans, and sustainability engineer John Picard. Griffin's experience in traditional construction includes advising CH2M HILL on crisis communications.
• In 2006, Griffin served as campaign manager for the largest ballot initiative ever recorded: Proposition 87 – California's Clean Alternative Energy Initiative. Despite assembling the broadest coalition in history for any one single environmental issue, ranging from the NRDC and Bill Clinton to Brad Pitt and Al Gore, Big Oil companies spent over $100 million, outspending the Yes campaign by a 2 to 1 margin.
• In 2004, Griffin led a national public awareness and advocacy campaign around the issue of embryonic stem cell research. One of this campaign's outcomes was Proposition 71 – California's Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, the groundbreaking and successful measure that not only guaranteed billions of dollars in funding for research into lifesaving therapies and disease cures, but also elevated the issue of stem cell research to new heights.
• In 2002, Griffin served on the Board of Directors with Rob Reiner, Chris Albrecht and Martin Sheen as Vice Chair and Campaign Manager of the successful Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, the high-profile Southern California environmental preservation campaign to stop Washington Mutual's proposed development in the Santa Monica Mountains. The campaign ended successfully with the State of California purchasing the 3,000-acre Ahmanson Ranch, ending a decade-long battle to preserve the land by establishing a state park.
• Griffin worked with Rob Reiner to transform his passionate interest in pre-kindergarten education and services into a victorious national advocacy and awareness campaign for federal and state legislation on early childhood programs. Griffin served as campaign manager for two successful California ballot initiatives against Big Tobacco – Yes on Proposition 10 and No on Proposition 28 – that led to the establishment and protection of a state department that spends almost $600 million annually on early childhood education in California.
• In October 2008, Chad was called in by California’s No on Proposition 8 to help turn around the campaign. In just three weeks, he developed new messaging and produced a series of highly-praised ads that challenged the Yes campaigns most effective messages and sharply narrowed the polling gap. He raised more than $5 million for the No campaign through fundraisers in New York and Los Angeles that drew support from Brad Pitt, Rob Reiner, Steve Bing, Ron Burkle, Mary J. Blige, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and New York Governor David Patterson.

Griffin's experience and expertise have made him a go-to resource for reporters on the intersections of Hollywood and politics, and he is regularly quoted by the media. Griffin recently joined Al Gore, Keith Olbermann and Congressman Barney Frank as one of The Advocate magazine's 2008 People of the Year. On the national political scene, Griffin has been a prolific fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and numerous candidates and causes, and he was one of the top fundraisers for Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Griffin is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He is an executive producer of the recently released Kirby Dick film "Outrage."

Chad Griffin is Board President of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, an organization dedicated to protecting and advancing equal rights for every American through legal and policy advocacy.