ROBERT C. DAWSON, PH.D., CFRE

Robert Dawson brings to his work over forty years of management experience. The last twenty have been devoted to a wide variety of fund-raising activities. His academic preparation in systems management gives him a unique insight into the intricacies of nonprofit organizations. He has chosen to devote his energies to philanthropy because of a personal philosophy, which embodies the belief that each individual should make a difference in today's society.

Prior to founding Capital Counsel, Inc., Dr. Dawson served Florida State University as the Assistant Dean for Development for the College of Medicine and the Assistant Vice President for Health and Human Services. Dr. Dawson served as vice president for development at Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico; executive director for university advancement at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania; and senior major gifts officer at Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Under the auspices of the Registry for College and University Presidents, Dr. Dawson served as Interim Vice President for University Advancement for California State University-Stanislaus, Turlock, California.

Dawson has developed a strong expertise in conducting capital campaigns. He has served as counsel to over forty nonprofit organizations. He served as Regional Director for Ghiorsi and Sorrenti, Inc. He has also been affiliated with Hospital Development Inc. as Senior Counsel. Dr. Dawson provided leadership to First Counsel, Inc. as President of its Healthcare Division.

As an experienced development officer, Dr. Dawson has created and directed programs in annual giving, prospect research, public relations, marketing, institutional awareness, major and planned gifts. He has conducted numerous successful campaigns, where he also developed the campaign materials ranging from cases for support to audio-visual presentations. Dr. Dawson is a long time member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Association of Healthcare Professionals (AHP) and the Council on the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

He is often in demand as a presenter and speaker at the regional, national and international meeting of these and other organizations. In recognition of his expertise in this field, AFP has designated him a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). In addition to being a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences, Dr. Dawson teaches fundraising at the graduate level at FSU.

He received his Ph.D. from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Dr. Dawson resides with his wife outside of Tallahassee in St. Teresa, Florida.