MEET THE FOUNDER & CEO
Shawndell Dawson
Shawndell Dawson brings 29 years of national experience, including 15 years as a funder and 14 years in the nonprofit sector, standing alongside survivors and the organizations that serve them.
She has lived on both sides of the funding relationship — grantees who must prove impact to sustain their funding, and funders who must demonstrate portfolio outcomes to their boards and co-investors. Both carry the burden of proof. PI ROI was built to make that burden lighter for both.
She deeply understands the importance, urgency, and moral imperative to tell stories of change and impact in ways that are inclusive and comprehensive for agencies, people, and communities.
14 in the nonprofit sector, standing alongside survivors.
15 as a federal funder and Senior Executive coordinating $1B+ across 15 agencies, supporting 2,000+ grant recipients, and reaching 2.3 million survivors annually through health, social service, and victim services programs.
She successfully justified and provided evidence for increased Congressional appropriations — documenting outcomes, impact, and data critical for evidence-based policy making
15 years leading national federal intermediary models, including supporting partnerships with community health centers and domestic violence/sexual assault programs.
Launching an intermediary model for the $49.5M ARP Culturally Specific Populations Grant Program that brought 311 first-time federal grantees into the system.
Shawndell Dawson built a federal co-learning infrastructure that worked across expansive differences in organizational capacity — from large national organizations, tribal governments, to grassroots coalitions, and small community-based organizations receiving federal funding for the first time.
PI ROI is that infrastructure, honed by over 28 years of national experience, made available to foundations and their grantee partners.