Innovative founder leading the charge in the nonprofit sector.

By Joycelyne Fadojutimi

Like so many others, Dawn Franks and husband Eddy met on a blind date. However, in this rendezvous, her hubby-to-be spent most of the time behind a steering wheel as he drove in a drag race. A friend of his had set it up even though Eddy had doubts he would have time to entertain a young lady while he was absorbed in such an event. They only had seconds to shake hands before the race, but their match made in heaven was laid out on that drag strip. They married fourteen months later.

She now treasures her two stepchildren, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Like most who grow up in military families, Dawn lived in many locales and attended several schools. Whenever her father was stationed somewhere his wife and children could not accompany him, they would live in her mother’s hometown of Tyler. Dawn attended Ramey Elementary, Boulter Junior High and John Tyler High schools while her parents attended college as often as possible and Dawn had a great time at her grandparents’ horse-riding appaloosas. She also noted her mother and father were prime examples on how to use education to assure success.

“My mother drove home a clear message, which was that I was to go to college and was not allowed to marry until after,” she says. “Wherever I lived as a young adult I attended a nearby college.”

An important aspect of her parents’ message is to remain productive as long as possible. To this day her ninety-three-year-old father shops at Goodwill for furniture he can renovate and resell to the residents of the retirement facility where he resides. Her mother, meanwhile, pulled down her college degree at age seventy-two. Her upbringing was a clinic in how to profitably adjust to change and circumstances.

“My parents taught me to land on my feet and get up quickly,” she says. “Because we moved so often, I was always starting, leading to my lifelong history of starting things.”

Dawn’s early years were complex, eventful and an ongoing educational experience. Family was an absolutely important aspect of her life. In addition, her Christian faith was key. She attended various churches, experiencing various denominations (often alone), stayed in touch with her father through letter writing and learned the fundamental value of hard work and education. After graduating from high school, she attended Lubbock Christian College, North Texas University, and several Dallas-based community colleges. Despite earning a scholarship, tuition was a heavy burden, but her family always came through. She eventually pulled down a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration from Texas Eastern University, now the University of Texas at Tyler.

“My parents taught me to land on my feet and get up quickly. Because we moved so often, I was always starting, leading to my lifelong history of starting things.”

Dawn Franks – Founder of Dawn Franks Strategic Solutions, a consulting firm with a focus on philanthropy, major donors, private foundations, and nonprofit executive leaders.

Furthermore, late in her college career she hooked up with a group of women dedicated to addressing the problem of sexual assaults in Smith County. According to Dawn, her early appeal to the topic was related to a term paper. Nonetheless, it ignited her interest, and she stayed involved with the women. They eventually formed the Smith County Citizens Against Rape, which evolved into the current East Texas Crisis Center (ETCC.) Dawn served as its first board treasurer and second executive director a year later; spent fifteen years leading ETCC. This venture into  non-profit  sector turned into a career.

“I became the first woman president and CEO of the United Way of Smith County for five years,” she says. “The next stop on my journey was a small nonprofit, the Fourth Partner Foundation, where I learned grant-making.”

Following thirteen years in this position, she founded Your Philanthropy to provide back-office services to private family foundations. For more than ten years, she worked closely with family foundations in the area and other parts of the nation. In due time, she had the opportunity to work directly with the East Texas Medical Center Foundation board, which is a private foundation set up following the sale of the East Texas Regional Medical Center Regional Hospital System. It is important to note that Dawn served as the executive director of the ETMC Foundation for several years. Her collaboration with the foundation was pivotal in securing the initial grant to establish the School of Medicine at the University of Texas at Tyler.

Dawn is not done yet. She never stops. She just keeps moving ahead.

“I sold Your Philanthropy to Margie Boyd in early 2024 and began Dawn Franks Strategic Solutions, a consulting firm focused on philanthropists, major donors, private foundations and non-profit executive leaders,” she says. “I provide executive coaching and strategic planning services.”

Equally important, her penchant for creating  nonprofit organizations manifested itself through her co-founding the Children’s Advocacy Center with two other executive directors while she was still busy working with the ETCC.

But wait, that is not all.

After this, she collaborated with the United Way in starting the Nonprofit Development Center, currently known as the East Texas Center for Nonprofits.

While owning and operating Your Philanthropy she even found time to author two books. The first is an e-book: Giving Fingerprints: Maximize Your Impact on the Causes Closest to Your Heart. The second is: The Gift of Giving: Explore Your Stories and Write Your Legacy. Both are available at: https://dawnfranks.com/resources/#DFBooks

“Always be aware of unexpected doors that open along the way. Do not fear failure because failing is the quickest way to learn toward the future.”

Dawn Franks – Founder of Dawn Franks Strategic Solutions, a consulting firm with a focus on philanthropy, major donors, private foundations, and nonprofit executive leaders.

She is a prolific writer.

“I have written a twice-monthly blog, Your Philanthropy Journal, for the past thirteen years,” she says. “I have contributed to the Give Well column for the Tyler Morning Telegraph for more than eleven years.”

In the light of her thriving career, Dawn said it best.

“In a full circle moment, my journey went from research for a UTT term paper many years ago that led me to  an unexpected career in the nonprofit and philanthropy field to the opportunity to serve as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Tyler, where I teach two graduate classes, a nonprofit overview and strategic planning for nonprofits.”

Equally important, she recently co-founded Philanthropy in Action, (PIA).

“This organization serves as a fiscal sponsor for nonprofits in start-up or incubation stages, and a home for community groups doing important work, but with no intention to incorporate or seek tax-free status,” she said. “I am currently board president and part-time CEO.”

In fact, Dawn did not envision her remarkably successful forty-five-year career in the non-profit and philanthropy sector. “I did not imagine this journey, nor did I plan for it in anyway. My plan was law school,” she said. She speaks of how  “doors opened unexpectedly, offering opportunities to learn and find answers to my many questions.”

As a result, she spends her days ceaselessly working with philanthropists, funders, and nonprofits. Their combined impact on their objectives always have great, positive impact as she serves as a guide to success both for herself and her collaborators. Every workday is a whirlwind of email communiques`, writing and meetings with individuals and groups.

Dawn is passionate about training, teaching, strategy, and planning that is “relevant and immediately useful.” She is a natural coach because, she believes “the best place to start is right where you are and that each path is unique but exactly right for the moment.”

 Furthermore, her work includes serving as a member of the Tyler Executive Women’s Network and working with Leadership Tyler alum activities.

Despite her endlessly busy lifestyle, Dawn somehow makes time for personal pursuits. She loves gardening and reading. A big fan of Tom Clancy, she makes it a habit to read at least “one great, big, fat novel” every year as she savors her love of historical fiction and mysteries. She also is careful to pass on her unerring advice to those wishing to follow in her unselfish, industrious footsteps. Courageously taking advantage of opportunity is key.

“Always be aware of unexpected doors that open along the way,” she says. “Do not fear failure because failing is the quickest way to learn toward the future.”

Although she worships her Lord and Savior as a member of Colonial Hills Baptist Church, she considers herself more of a faithful follower of Jesus Christ than a staunch Baptist and sees the hand of the Almighty in her life when she said, “I have made all kinds of plans for myself over the years, but my journey has undoubtedly been God-led.” She sums up her magnificent life journey thus:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

“I have made all kinds of plans for myself over the years, but my journey has undoubtedly been God-led.”

Dawn Franks – Founder of Dawn Franks Strategic Solutions, a consulting firm with a focus on philanthropy, major donors, private foundations, and nonprofit executive leaders.