Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown is the Executive Director of the Trust for Civic Life, a philanthropic initiative focused on enhancing civic engagement and community collaboration across the United States. The Trust aims to support local efforts that empower residents to tackle challenges deemed critical for their communities' well-being.

Background and Career

Charlie's career has been centered around community engagement, strategy, and social impact. His personal experiences growing up in West Virginia and currently residing in Central Oregon have shaped his understanding of community dynamics. Before joining the Trust for Civic Life, he led democracy grantmaking initiatives at Alta Futures, founded a consulting firm that specialized in community-centric strategies for large philanthropies and corporations, and developed Ashoka's Changemakers challenge platform.12

Current Role

In his role at the Trust for Civic Life, Charlie oversees a new collaborative that has recently initiated an $8 million investment aimed at strengthening communities, particularly in rural areas often overlooked by national philanthropy. Under his leadership, the Trust has awarded grants to various organizations that serve as "civic hubs," helping to foster connections and problem-solving among community members.234

Personal Life

Charlie resides in Bend, Oregon, with his family, where they enjoy outdoor activities in the surrounding mountains.1

For more detailed insights into his professional journey and current initiatives, you can find him on LinkedIn under the username charlie-brown-3807971.