Roslyn Dawson Thompson

CEO Texas Women’s Foundation

Roslyn joined Texas Women’s Foundation as president and CEO in July 2011. A lifelong advocate for women and girls, she moved from a 25-year career as owner of a national marketing communications firm to leading the organization she had supported since its inception.

Under Roslyn’s leadership, the Foundation has undertaken ambitious strategic initiatives to impact women’s economic security and women’s leadership. During her tenure, the Foundation has increased its assets by more than 70% to $44 million, and its grants and programs benefiting women and girls have grown by 140% to $6.3 million annually. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is now an acknowledged leader in the gender lens investing movement and has deployed 100% of its assets in a gendered impact portfolio that yields both financial returns and social benefits to women and girls.

Roslyn is a strong advocate and frequent speaker on women’s leadership, women’s philanthropy, gender equity and the impact of gender lens investing on women’s empowerment. She is on the board of Tides, an international public charity; the Women’s Funding Network, the global association of women’s foundations; and the National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women’s Initiatives. She also serves on several nonprofit boards in Texas, including the Dallas Regional Chamber, Dallas Medical Resource, SMU Tate Lecture Series and Circle Ten Boy Scouts, as well as on the advisory councils of the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Woman’s University Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership. She has earned numerous honors for her work in inspiring social change and fostering equity and inclusion for all women and girls.