Dawnn Leary

Dawnn Leary joined The Community Foundation in February 2015. Dawnn works to support The Community Foundation’s Economic Opportunity portfolio, including The Community Foundation’s education and workforce development investments and activities. She comes to The Community Foundation from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) a national community development finance institution where she managed the grant portfolio for the DC local office and coordinated DC’s Sustainable Communities Initiative in Neighborhoods East of the River. Prior to LISC, Dawnn held senior management positions at the HSC Foundation and East of the River Community Development Corporation.

Her passion and experience are in addressing various issues on the community development continuum such as affordable housing, business development, workforce development, adult education, and resident engagement. She holds her Bachelors of Human Development & Psychoeducational Studies from Howard University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park. Currently, she also serves as Chair of the Board of the Washington Area Community Investment Fund and Vice Chair of the Prince George’s County Workforce Development Board.