He began his career as a producer in the entertainment industry. He subsequently started his own consulting business, advocating for progressive causes and advising Democratic candidates across the country. Rufus started in Democratic politics as a volunteer and then a staff member on John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign. Before that, he was an aide on Obama’s historic 2008 presidential campaign.Īn openly gay man, Rufus has been a longtime advocate for LGBT rights, and commentators have referred to him as Barack Obama's informal "ambassador to the gay community." During Obama’s first term, Rufus was the National Finance Director at the Democratic National Committee and supported passage of a number of Obama policy initiatives. His pioneering tenure as Ambassador has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, CNN, and Vice News, among many other national and international outlets, and he has spoken extensively across Europe and the United States about his efforts to break down walls and humanize the work of government.Īt home, Rufus was the National Finance Director for President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign, responsible for the record-breaking $1 billion budget.
Rufus also helped modernize the transatlantic relationship through people-to-people diplomacy, youth engagement, and a never-before-seen public diplomacy strategy, which included the award-winning documentary series “I Am the Ambassador.” He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark for his meritorious service. Ambassador to Denmark where he led efforts to address the effects of climate change, build international coalitions, and invest in clean energy. He also led a campaign fellowship program, training nearly 200 young people in community organizing.įrom 2013 to 2017, Rufus served as the U.S. His campaign focused on restoring trust between people and government and standing for something aspirational and positive, instead of solely against the Trump presidency. public diplomacy to renewable energy.įrom 2017 to 2018, Rufus was a Democratic candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ 3rd District. He is currently focused on promoting civic engagement, particularly among youth, supporting Democratic candidates across the country, and issue areas ranging from U.S. Ambassador, senior aide to President Barack Obama, civic leader, public speaker, and an advocate for Democratic causes. Gifford is a federal club member of the Human Rights Campaign and a partner in conservation for the World Wildlife Fund.Rufus Gifford is a former U.S. Together with his romantic partner of the time, Jeremy Barnard, Gifford raised almost $80 million from California for the Obama’s presidential campaign, the largest amount from any state.įrom 2008 to 2009, he was the California finance director for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, from 2009 to 2011 Gifford was finance director for the Democratic National Committee, and he was finance director for Obama for America from 2011 to 2012. Since that time, he has held a series of job titles focused on fundraising. Gifford worked as a political consultant in California from 2004 to 2008, signing on to work for Barack Obama in 2007. After Kerry won the nomination, Gifford quit Hollywood and went to work for Kerry as deputy finance director for the western region, where he supervised the raising of more than $30 million. Growing discontented with his work, in 2003 Gifford got in touch with classmate Alexandra Kerry and did some “low level” finance work for John Kerry during the 2004 presidential primaries. Doolittle 2 with Eddie Murphy, First Daughter with Katie Holmes, and Life or Something Like It with Angelina Jolie. Although some of his films were commercially successful, many were panned by critics.
Moving west to work in the movie industry, from 1998 to 2004 Gifford was creative executive for Davis Entertainment, an independent film company in Los Angeles. Paul’s alumnus, John Kerry, who at the time was the junior Senator from Massachusetts. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1992, Gifford earned a double major in American Civilization and Theater at Brown University in 1996, where he was a classmate of Alexandra Kerry, daughter of another St. If confirmed by the Senate, Gifford would succeed Laurie Fulton, who served in Copenhagen from 2009 to 2012.īorn circa 1974 in the Boston area, Gifford grew up in a wealthy home, son of banker Chad Gifford, who ran some of Boston’s biggest financial institutions, including the Bank of Boston. Rufus Gifford, who most recently served as finance chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, raised millions for Obama’s two presidential runs, especially among the gay community, where he and his former partner were dubbed “ Obama's Gay Gold Mine” in 2008. President Barack Obama has nominated one of his top fundraisers to serve as the next ambassador to Denmark.