Jay Huffstatler serves as Director of Development for CrescentCare, leading the organization’s fundraising efforts. Before joining CrescentCare, Jay was Chief Advancement Officer for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. In this senior leadership role, Jay directed the affiliate’s fundraising, marketing, public relations, advocacy, and volunteer programs. Prior to serving as CAO for Habitat, Jay was Senior Development Officer for Tulane University Law School, where he raised funds to support initiatives within the Law School. Jay also served the American Red Cross in many roles. Those roles included Chief Development Officer for Louisiana, Chief Development Officer for Mississippi and South Mississippi Chapter Executive, and seven years as a local board member – totaling nearly 13 years with the organization. In addition, Jay served as a member of the Red Cross National Advanced Public Affairs Team, graduated from the National Red Cross Leadership and Educational Development Program, and was a facilitator for the National Red Cross Managing an Inclusive Workforce training course. Before serving with the Red Cross, Huffstatler was part of the BP Gulf Coast Restoration Organization’s Community Relations team with James Lee Witt Associates as their Chief of Staff across the 5 Gulf States and Government Claims Lead in Mississippi and Florida following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Before working with James Lee Witt Associates, Jay was Director of Programs for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. He directed the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund projects following Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav and the Coming Home Collaborative. While at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Jay served a two-year term as President of Mississippi Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and chaired the 2008 Mississippi VOAD Annual Conference. Before working with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Jay was employed by FEMA as a Voluntary Agency Liaison. He facilitated the creation of Long-Term Recovery Committees throughout Mississippi to assist those Mississippi residents with unmet needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to serving as board president for the Gulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, Jay also serves on the boards of Forum for Equality Louisiana and the New Orleans Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where he serves on the National Philanthropy Day planning committee. Jay is also a graduate of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (NORLI) Class of 2022.
Huffstatler has been named a 2012 Top 10 Outstanding Community Leader and a 2009 Top 10 Business Leader under 40 by The Sun Herald and The Journal for South Mississippi Business, a 2002 Top 40 Under 40 Business Leader by The Mississippi Business Journal, and 2009 Coast Young Professionals Member of the Year. He received the 2008 Individual Award of Excellence for Disaster Preparation and VOAD Enhancement by National VOAD for his work with Mississippi VOAD, one of two individual awards given nationally annually. He is a member of the 2010 Coast Chamber Leadership Gulf Coast Class and the 2011 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Alumni Hall of Fame.
Huffstatler has served as Treasurer of CLIMB Community Development Corporation Board of Directors, Program Co-Chair for Leadership Gulf Coast, District Chairman of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Alumni Association, and has been a Board Member for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Foundation, Biloxi Little Theatre, Gulfport Chamber of Commerce and Coast Young Professionals. Huffstatler is a native of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and resides in New Orleans, Louisiana. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and an Associate of Arts Degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
