David M. Beckmann

David M. Beckmann (born 1948) is an American pastor and economist. He was the president of Bread for the World from 1991 to 2020.

Early life and education

Beckmann was born in Kearney, Nebraska. He received a BA from Yale University. After graduating, he studied religion in rural Ghana. In 1974, he earned a Master of Divinity from Christ Seminary and in 1975, a Master of Science degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Career

Beckmann was an economist at the World Bank. In September 1991, Beckmann succeeded Arthur Simon as president of Bread for the World. He retired from the position in 2020.

Beckmann is currently the Coordinator of the Circle of Protection.

Awards and honors

Beckmann was awarded the 2010 World Food Prize for his work as president of Bread for the World.

Books

Eden Revival: Spiritual Churches in Ghana (1974)
The Overseas List (1979, Revised and Expanded Edition 1985)
with R. Agarwala, S. Burmester, and I. Serageldin Friday Morning Reflections at the World Bank: Essays on Values and Development (1991)
Grace at the Table: Ending Hunger in God's World (1999)
Exodus from Hunger: We Are Called to Change the Politics of Hunger (2010)
Poverty Abolitionists, Faith, Activism, and Hope for Difficult Times (2026)

References

1 2 "David M. Beckmann | Nebraska Authors". nebraskaauthors.org. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
1 2 globalreach.com, Global Reach Internet Productions, LLC-Ames, IA-. "2010: Beckmann and Luck - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World". www.worldfoodprize.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ Marshall, Katherine; Marisa Bronwyn Van Saanen (2007). Development and Faith: Where Mind, Heart, and Soul Work Together. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-8213-7173-2.
↑ Affairs, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World. "David Beckmann". berkleycenter.georgetown.edu.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ "David Beckmann" (PDF). www.aei.org. November 2021.
↑ "Can Ending Corn Subsidies Help Fight Poverty?". America Magazine. November 29, 2011.
↑ Lehmann, Harold Sterett (July 1, 1977). "Book Review: Eden Revival: Spiritual Churches in Ghana". Missiology. 5 (3): 392–394. doi:10.1177/009182967700500312 – via SAGE Journals.
↑ Roback, Judith (1975). "Reviewed work: Eden Revival: Spiritual Churches in Ghana, David M. Beckmann". Caribbean Studies. 15 (1): 175–178. JSTOR 25612685.
↑ Works, Herbert (October 1, 1989). "Book Review: The Overseas List: Opportunities for Living and Working in Developing Countries". Missiology. 17 (4): 483. doi:10.1177/009182968901700427 – via SAGE Journals.
↑ Geyer, Alan (April 1, 1993). "Book Review: Friday Morning Reflections at the World Bank: Essays on Values and Development". International Bulletin of Missionary Research. 17 (2): 80–81. doi:10.1177/239693939301700211 – via SAGE Journals.
↑ Campbell, Evvy (October 1, 2000). "Book Review: Grace at the Table: Ending Hunger in God's World". Missiology. 28 (4): 505–506. doi:10.1177/009182960002800410 – via SAGE Journals.
↑ Herlinger, Chris. "Escape from poverty is the great exodus of our time". National Catholic Reporter.
↑ Administrator (2011-06-02). "Book Reviews: Exodus from Hunger". Baptist Standard. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
↑ "A Q&A with David Beckmann, Author of Poverty Abolitionists". Porchlight. May 21, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.

External links

[:0-1] 1 2 "David M. Beckmann | Nebraska Authors". nebraskaauthors.org. Retrieved 2026-05-16.

[worldfoodprize-2] 1 2 globalreach.com, Global Reach Internet Productions, LLC-Ames, IA-. "2010: Beckmann and Luck - The World Food Prize - Improving the Quality, Quantity and Availability of Food in the World". www.worldfoodprize.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[3] Marshall, Katherine; Marisa Bronwyn Van Saanen (2007). Development and Faith: Where Mind, Heart, and Soul Work Together. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-8213-7173-2.

[4] Affairs, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World. "David Beckmann". berkleycenter.georgetown.edu.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[5] "David Beckmann" (PDF). www.aei.org. November 2021.

[6] "Can Ending Corn Subsidies Help Fight Poverty?". America Magazine. November 29, 2011.

[7] Lehmann, Harold Sterett (July 1, 1977). "Book Review: Eden Revival: Spiritual Churches in Ghana". Missiology. 5 (3): 392–394. doi:10.1177/009182967700500312 – via SAGE Journals.

[8] Roback, Judith (1975). "Reviewed work: Eden Revival: Spiritual Churches in Ghana, David M. Beckmann". Caribbean Studies. 15 (1): 175–178. JSTOR 25612685.

[9] Works, Herbert (October 1, 1989). "Book Review: The Overseas List: Opportunities for Living and Working in Developing Countries". Missiology. 17 (4): 483. doi:10.1177/009182968901700427 – via SAGE Journals.

[10] Geyer, Alan (April 1, 1993). "Book Review: Friday Morning Reflections at the World Bank: Essays on Values and Development". International Bulletin of Missionary Research. 17 (2): 80–81. doi:10.1177/239693939301700211 – via SAGE Journals.

[11] Campbell, Evvy (October 1, 2000). "Book Review: Grace at the Table: Ending Hunger in God's World". Missiology. 28 (4): 505–506. doi:10.1177/009182960002800410 – via SAGE Journals.

[12] Herlinger, Chris. "Escape from poverty is the great exodus of our time". National Catholic Reporter.

[13] Administrator (2011-06-02). "Book Reviews: Exodus from Hunger". Baptist Standard. Retrieved 2025-04-30.

[14] "A Q&A with David Beckmann, Author of Poverty Abolitionists". Porchlight. May 21, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.