Dawn is a dedicated community investment leader with deep roots in South Carolina and serves as executive director of the LISC Upstate South Carolina program office. 

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is a national nonprofit that has delivered more than $27 billion to urban and rural communities in every state, with a particular focus on narrowing racial gaps in health, wealth, and opportunity. It operates through 38 metro area offices and a national rural program that supports work in 2,200 counties.

Dawn works with residents and partners across the Upstate of South Carolina, to include Spartanburg, Greenville, and Anderson counties, to create resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity. The programmatic focus of LISC Upstate includes ambitious plans to invest in affordable housing, economic development, health, education and jobs throughout the region. 

Dawn has more than two decades of experience making high-impact investments that deliver sustainable results. Prior to her work with LISC, Dawn served as investments and grants manager at the South Carolina Community Loan Fund, where she helped drive the organization’s capitalization strategy and expanded its community development investments throughout South Carolina.

Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade at The ETV Endowment of South Carolina, first as membership manager and then as director of planned giving, helping fuel statewide public broadcasting programs. And earlier, she was a branch officer at The Palmetto Bank, overseeing personnel, managing budgets, and conducting lending activity. 

A native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Dawn diligently serves in her community and volunteers for several local non-profit organizations. She is a student mentor at local schools and colleges; a member of the Advocacy Committee of the United Way of the Piedmont; a 2015 graduate of the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute through the Spartanburg County Foundation; a 2016 graduate of Spartanburg County’s Citizens’ Academy; a graduate of the 2020 Class of Leadership Spartanburg; and a 2021 graduate of The Diversity Leaders Initiative, a program of Furman University's prestigious Riley Institute. In the past, Dawn has served as an elected member of the District Five Board of Trustees of Spartanburg County, a board member of Middle Tyger Community Center, Chapman Cultural Center Board of Trustees, and the Alumnae Association Board at Converse College. Dawn is a graduate of Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Marketing. 

Dawn resides in Upstate South Carolina, with her husband of 25 years, Avery, and she is the proud mother of two young-adult sons, Aaron and Alexander.

Devin Stewart joined LISC Upstate in 2022 to help advance comprehensive community development and safety & justice in the Upstate SC region. In his role, Devin coordinates and supports safety initiatives in select Upstate communities and helps guide the introduction of LISC’s programs in the region, such as housing, economic development, and capacity building.

A native of the city of Spartanburg, SC, Devin has a unique story of resilience and overcoming barriers. Devin comes to LISC with a diverse background and has worked in various roles in the Upstate, including mental health counselor and coordinator of community and youth development programs for the City of Spartanburg.

Devin is passionate about serving his community and assisting others in moving their lives forward. He lives by the motto “the greatest among you is the servant,” which drives his servant leadership style. He is a 2021 graduate of the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute facilitated by The Spartanburg County Foundation and a 2021 graduate of the City of Spartanburg Citizen’s Academy. Devin volunteers as a coach, mentor or committee member for the Duncan Park Community, Carver Middle School, The Highland Transformation Committee, Brothers Restoring Urban Hope, The Community Group, One Mentor Group, Connect Spartanburg, and Broken but Healed. Devin is devout in his faith, having served as youth minister and ordained minister in his local church. 

Devin holds an associate degree from Spartanburg Methodist College and a bachelor’s degree in experimental psychology from the University of South Carolina - Upstate.

Devin and his wife, Jasmine, have two children and they reside in Spartanburg County.