Retirement Reimagined: A Former Executive’s Journey to Nonprofit Leadership

Dawn Hawley, a Greater Houston Community Foundation (Foundation) fundholder since 2006, found herself in the heart of Houston’s nonprofit sector during “retirement” after climbing the corporate ladder at AIM Management Group. Hawley approached retirement with the same strategic foresight and due diligence she used throughout her career preparing for corporate board meetings; she knew she wanted to fill this next chapter with meaningful contributions to the Houston community.
One of the initial steps Hawley took in her retirement was establishing a donor advised fund with her husband, Robert, at the Foundation. A partnership with the Foundation has been a powerful tool for their high-impact philanthropy. Hawley shared, “We started our donor advised fund at the Foundation because our friend, colleague, and tax advisor, Carol Warley, told us this would be the best way to give back with the fewest administrative burdens. The ease of entry, use, tracking of year-to-year giving trends, understanding of tax rules, and deep knowledge of the Foundation continue to set them apart from other donor advised fund providers. We still have so much to learn, and each event is incredible for networking, learning about various causes and needs throughout the Houston area, or re-engaging with old friends.”
Another way Hawley plugged into the Houston nonprofit sector early in her retirement was by doing just the opposite of “retiring”—she went back to work part-time at The Menil Collection (Menil) from 2007-2011. Hawley joined the Business Office to help monitor its investment portfolio and prepare the annual operating budget. Through this experience, she learned how nonprofits work, the ins and outs of partnering with nonprofit board committees, and some of the specific regulatory requirements of non-profits vs. for-profit organizations. Her time at the Menil gave her a front-row seat to the incredible generosity of the Houston community. Engaging in the nonprofit sector during retirement was incredibly rewarding during a season of life where some struggle to find ways to remain fulfilled.
Hawley continued to find different pathways to connecting with the community, volunteering at Texas Children’s Hospital as a Dog Docent and holding babies in the NICU. However, it was during her time volunteering at Sharpstown High School that Hawley’s philanthropy took a different turn.
In 2011, Hawley’s daughter, Lauren, took a gap year working as a math fellow at Sharpstown High School and recruited Hawley to become a volunteer math assistant, specifically in geometry, algebra, and SAT preparation. Through this volunteer experience, she met two passionate teachers who eventually became college and career counselors, Victoria Chen and Victoria Doan, whom Hawley calls “the Victorias.” Engaging with the students helped Hawley see that students from under-resourced communities could not access or know the many networks available that could expose them to meaningful employment after high school.
So naturally, in 2016, when “the Victorias” approached Hawley to be involved in a nonprofit they were establishing called BridgeYear, which would connect underserved youth to careers and educational pathways that provide economic stability and independence, Hawley felt compelled to roll up her sleeves and dive in.
“Dawn’s passion, commitment, and generosity were paramount in getting BridgeYear to where we are today. We asked Dawn because we knew she cared deeply about the students we wanted to reach. She was one of Sharpstown High School’s most committed volunteers, consistently showing up for students and teachers. Also, we knew about her wealth of experience in the for-profit and non-profit sectors, which paid off tremendously. Dawn ensured we had a solid corporate governance structure and systems from the start, insisting we think thoroughly about our by-laws, obtain Directors & Officers Liability Insurance, accounting controls, and file our 501(c)3 paperwork.”
– Victoria Chen, Co-Founder and Executive Director, BridgeYear
Hawley’s passion for empowering young people to achieve their full potential led her to take on the role of Founding Board President at BridgeYear from 2016 to 2023. With a deep understanding that a nonprofit’s success is built on the strength of its team, Hawley made it her mission to ensure that the staff at BridgeYear felt valued and supported. Her unique blend of experience equipped her with the insights needed to lay the groundwork for BridgeYear’s early success. Hawley helped build a strong foundation for the organization, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and dedication to the students they served.
Hawley shared, “BridgeYear helps students who don’t know what they’ll do after high school, when a four-year college degree isn’t an option. BridgeYear helps students explore careers they never knew existed or were possibilities. Seeing the students at Sharpstown High School—how fun, smart, and how difficult many of their situations were, really resonated with me. Many of these kids work jobs late at night, and I know if they can commit to long days, sometimes working through the night, and still show up to school in the morning at such a young age, there are great career opportunities for them.”

Advice From Dawn
Here are a few things to consider before joining a nonprofit board:
Be Passionate: Make sure to choose an area that is very important to you—something you can share your enthusiasm about. Also, you should really like the people, both management and the board.
Understand Management: Your role will be to support the organization’s leadership, so you must ensure you are comfortable engaging in complex conversations.
Leverage Expertise: Understand your expertise and those of other board members to see how you can capitalize on each other’s strengths and skills to offer guidance.
Establish Framework: Ensure proper controls are in place, learn how the board is structured, and understand how decisions are made and executed. Faith and trust in management is essential.
Transformative Impact
Fast forward to today, BridgeYear has achieved remarkable success since its founding in 2016, far surpassing its initial goals. Serving over 12,000 students each year across the greater Houston area, BridgeYear’s impact has been profound. Not only have they empowered individual students to achieve their full potential, but they have strengthened our community. BridgeYear has fueled the local economy by connecting underserved youth to high-demand careers. This is a testament to the power of its programs and the dedicated team.
Hawley’s retirement is a perfect example of leveraging this stage of life as an opportunity to make a lasting impact. By applying the same meticulous planning and commitment to philanthropy that she did throughout her career, Hawley is making significant contributions to our Houston community.
Your Philanthropic Partner
Whether you’re looking to set up a donor advised fund to simplify your donations, partnering with us and your advisors to craft a lasting legacy, or arranging visits with beloved charities to engage family and friends, we are committed to enriching your giving experience. Together, we can significantly impact the causes you care about most.
Your contributions are important, and we’re here to help them reach their highest potential! For more information, feel free to contact Kevin Pickett.
More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation:
- 30 Years of Amplified Giving: Insights from the CEO
- The Growing Influence of Women in Philanthropy
- How Do Community Foundations Work? Leveraging the Community for Smart Giving
- What is a Donor Advised Fund? The Complete Guide
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