Podcast Name: Practicing the Art of Faithful PresenceEpisode 22: Dawn Brown – Philanthropist at the Intersection of Generosity and Systemic Poverty

In this episode, podcast host Dr. David Wright speaks with Dawn Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation of Grant County, Indiana. 

To begin, Dawn shares the story of how she found her first job after graduating from Ball State University with a degree in education. She researched the best school district in the country and learned it was located in Plano,TX.  Wanting to start her career in the best district, she drove to TX (in a car without air conditioning) and tried to apply for a teaching job.  She was immediately met with reality when she learned that everybody wanted to work at the best school district in the country and their district was not taking applications.  Dawn explains how God intervened in a miraculous way to provide a job within that district.  

After years of teaching, Dawn transitioned to leadership, and eventually to a thriving career in philanthropy in 2005 when she joined the Community Foundation.  Dawn explains her back story.  She grew up in a clean and orderly home with two siblings and a single mother who worked 2nd shift in a factory.  Her family was poverty stricken and living in a ‘not thriving’ neighborhood.  Dawn describes a childhood where many people poured into her and continually fed her inborn ray of hope.  She became a believer because of a friend who invited her to church and also church camp.  She was the first to go to college in her family--even going on to obtain a master’s degree was truly remarkable considering the circumstances of her childhood.

Dawn describes her work at the Community Foundation.  Her explanation of the formation of the foundation is fascinating and her passion for the work is evident.  She further explores the #1 problem of Grant County—systemic poverty.  Dawn describes the work the foundation is doing to try to solve poverty issues in Grant County and includes valuable lessons learned in the years she has been involved in philanthropy.

While the work is challenging and change comes about slowly, Dawn’s faith provides fuel and reminds her that God has her in this role for a specific reason.  She is faithfully using the gifts that God has given her ‘each and every day’ to try to make the world a better place.

Follow Community Foundation of Grand County on all social media platforms @givetograntLearn more about Community Foundation of Grant County Indiana, Inc.Learn more about Practicing the Art of Faithful Presence.Learn more about host David Wright.