Bio

Tom Sheridan President

A social worker by training and an advocate by trade, Tom brings a unique perspective to his work as a public policy strategist in Washington, DC, where The Hill newspaper has called him “A powerbroker for those without a voice.”

Tom began his career at the National Association of Social Workers and the Child Welfare League before joining the AIDS Action Council in the late 1980s, quickly becoming the influential leader in establishing the nation’s first AIDS lobby, which eventually would involve more than 140 national organizations. He was the chief architect and strategist on the enactment of landmark legislation for the HIV/AIDS community, including the Ryan White CARE Act, as well as the chair of the lobby effort on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In 1991, Tom founded The Sheridan Group where he and his team work to craft effective strategies for socially responsible public policy initiatives. Over the years, The Sheridan Group has become the go-to firm in the nation’s capital for grassroots advocacy and coalition-building for non-profits, social entrepreneurs and other agents of change.

A veteran of the Mondale-Ferraro presidential campaign, Tom is a seasoned political and policy expert who uses his knowledge of the legislative process to help organizations achieve positive social change on a global scale. From AIDS in Africa to human trafficking in Asia, Tom has created a unique approach to advocacy that makes him a sought-after ally of organizations determined to challenge the status quo.

Most recently, Tom was the lead political strategist for the America Forward campaign, a 2-year bipartisan campaign to engage the 2008 Presidential candidates in adopting policy proposals to increase innovation, strategic investment, and accountability in public problem solving. President-elect Obama committed to creating the Social Innovation Fund in December of 2007. The Fund was authorized as part of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2008 and is implemented by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Community Engagement

Tom is a founding Board Member of AIDSPAC and the Matthew 25 Project and has served on the Advisory Council for WAMU National Public Radio in Washington, DC. Tom is a sought after and frequent speaker on how to use the levers of politics and policy to affect social change. He has been a volunteer for and benefactor of numerous community charities and boasts of participating in seven AIDS Life Cycles, pedaling more than 3,000 miles. The Sheridan Group was the lead sponsor for the Jelleff Boys and Girls Club Pee Wee Basketball Team champions in 2010.