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Q&A: Franks Supports College Through Work With Fisch Foundation

FranksWith strong ties to the East Texas nonprofit sector, UT Tyler alumna Dawn Franks gives back to the community in multiple ways as the owner of a consulting firm. Learn more about Franks, her partnership with the Fisch Foundation and why she stays involved.

Can you share a little bit about yourself?

I own a consulting firm called Your Philanthropy (YP), which provides back-office services for five private foundations, as well as specialized consulting for nonprofit organizations. I started YP in 2014, but I worked with private foundations and families since 2001 through the Fourth Partner Foundation. I graduated from UT Tyler in 1978 and was already volunteering for a start-up nonprofit, which eventually became the East Texas Crisis Center. I became their executive director in 1980 and served until 1995. I then went to United Way of Smith County and served as the president/CEO for five years (1996–2000). My father was in the Air Force, and so I lived many places in my primary/high school years. But, I eventually wound up in Tyler to finish college.  

What attracted you to the nonprofit sector?

I was drawn in by the opportunity to help start a rape crisis center and volunteer on the hotline while still finishing my bachelor’s degree at UT Tyler.

How did your relationship with UT Tyler and the Fisch family form?

I began working closely with Dr. Ben Fisch and his family in 2006 while still at Fourth Partner Foundation, assisting with their grant-making. The Fisch Foundation was eventually approached by UT Tyler for a significant gift, which led to the decision to be a part of funding the start-up of the College of Pharmacy.

Why help and give back?

In my early years, I was driven by the opportunities to create services that had an impact for women and children, and eventually serving those with many mental health issues over a 24-hour hotline and assisting victims of all kinds of violent crimes. None of those services existed in Tyler in the late seventies. Working as a volunteer in the very early years, I heard many stories that kept me focused on making a difference one person at a time and for many families over time.

What motivates you to stay involved?

Today, I work closely with families who have created family foundations that make grants of varying sizes to qualified nonprofit organizations. While it was always a challenge to raise funds for the nonprofit organizations I worked for, I learned over time that it is also a great challenge to do grant-making well. Knowing the organizations we give to is important in order to ensure they have an impact and the organizations are successful.

What does the Fisch Foundation and the Fisch College of Pharmacy mean to you?

We were pleased to support the start-up of the FCOP because it would increase the availability of pharmacists in East Texas. It strengthened the medical system overall and established a new college to serve as one more strong anchor for UT Tyler.

What do you hope the FCOP will achieve in the future? For East Texas? For the nation?

As the FCOP continues to grow and develop, I look forward to the kind of research that will come from faculty and the impact it will have on different diseases and pharmacology. I believe the FCOP has built a strong faculty and will continue to build on that foundation, which means the pharmacists it produces will work in East Texas and all over the country impacting modern pharmacology.

What advice do you offer for current UT Tyler students?

My opportunity to become involved with a fledgling nonprofit was a direct outcome of a suggestion from my political science professor who thought that if I attended a meeting he had heard about, I might learn something that would help with a research paper for his class. That turned out to be true and to lead me down an unexpected road not on my early career plan. I encourage students to be open to opportunities and explore the unknown since it could be the beginning of a career that could not have been imagined.

What other organizations or causes do you support?

In my work, I have the opportunity to be involved with many different organizations and learn about many causes. As a result of so many years in the nonprofit field, I am passionate about providing nonprofit executives and boards with the opportunity to improve their leadership and better plan for the future of the organization. I am a strong supporter of the East Texas Center for Nonprofits, which was started during my tenure at United Way. Whatever the cause or the nonprofit, strong leadership and strategic direction are critical.

What are your hobbies/interests?

In my free time, I like to garden, and I read a great deal.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I’m married, with two stepchildren and three grandchildren. We include Millie, a schnauzer mix, and Grady and Annie, two tabby cats in our family.

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