David Heiser is the co-founder and executive director of the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational equity through chess. He co-founded the organization in 2005 with his wife, Sheila Heiser, with the shared vision of using chess to empower underserved youth and bridge opportunity gaps across Chicago.

Under their leadership, Renaissance Knights has become a nationally recognized leader in scholastic chess, serving more than 60,000 students from diverse backgrounds. In partnership with Chicago Public Schools, David helped build the CPS Academic Chess Program into the largest district-run chess initiative in the United States, supporting over 125 after-school clubs and organizing citywide tournaments.

He is also the co-creator of the Cops & Kids Chess Initiative, a pioneering program that brings together youth and police officers through chess to promote positive engagement and non-violence in communities throughout Chicago.

With a background in law enforcement and over two decades of nonprofit leadership, David brings a unique perspective on the role of chess in youth development, public-sector collaboration, and social change. His contributions have been recognized with the 2020 US Chess Scholastic Service Award, the 2023 US Chess Organizer of the Year, and the 2025 Andy Lerner Award for Excellence in Chess Education.

David continues to champion chess as a transformative tool for critical thinking, resilience, and leadership—helping young people make confident moves on the board and in life.