Board Member Spotlight
Courtney Brown currently serves as a Director of Development at Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS). Courtney received her B.A. in Global Studies from UCLA and her M.Sc. in Sociology of Crime, Control, and Globalization from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is passionate about advancing women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigrants’ rights. Courtney previously worked for Tahirih Justice Center and Casa Cornelia Law Center, where she served as Director of Philanthropy. Courtney has been a member of Women Give San Diego (WGSD) for over 10 years, during which she took on various volunteer leadership roles including the position of Co-President from 2017-2019. Courtney is originally from Houston, Texas and now lives in Poway with her husband Zac, their son Isaiah, their daughter Blair, and their dog Farrah.
This will be the beginning of Courtney’s journey with WE, and she is excited for the opportunity to do great things with WE! And we are so pleased to welcome her to the Board. Thank you, Landen, for your service!
1. How did you first find WE or get introduced to WE?
I was introduced to WE through Win Cox. Win is a supporter of Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS)’s immigration work – especially the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) Migrant Shelter – so this is how I met her. She joined us for a tour of the Shelter and we later met for coffee. We really hit it off given our shared interests and Win told me all about WE. I was excited to learn more about getting involved! I was also excited to see that Amina Sheikh Mohamed is on the board, as I met Amina years ago through Women Give San Diego and really admire her work as well.
2. What sparked your interest in joining the Board?
Though I am a professional fundraiser, I have always felt I could only fundraise for organizations that I deeply personally support. I feel the same way about joining the Board of WE. I really like that WE provides loans and other poverty alleviation grants not just locally but internationally. The Board members and staff have impressed me in their willingness to learn from the Partner organizations and have real collaborative and trusting relationships with them, not just top-down/funder-grantee relationships. I can’t wait to learn more as I begin my Board service.
3. What are you most excited to contribute to the Board and WE’s governance?
I’ve spent my career on the staff side of non-profits, and I’ve been working closely with non-profit Board members for a long time. I am hopeful that my background at various organizations (large and small) serving immigrants and refugees, coupled with my understanding of how non-profit Board members can successfully support a growing organization, will allow me to contribute in meaningful ways. Of course, I look forward to contributing fundraising ideas as well!
4. How do you spend your time when not volunteering with WE?
My day job is Director of Development on the Individual Giving Team at Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS). JFS’s social services are very expansive, and I specialize in our Welcome the Stranger work, which includes refugee resettlement, immigration legal services, and SDRRN Migrant Shelter. I work with donors and my team to help bring supporters closer to the humanitarian work being done and help to realize our donors’ philanthropic goals as well. Outside of JFS and WE, my 3.5 year old, Isaiah, and 1.5 year old, Blair, keep me quite busy! They are both hilarious little bundles of energy. I feel fortunate that one of my biggest stress relievers – cooking – also benefits my family (a real win-win). One of our favorite family activities is going to the Safari Park in Escondido.
5. What’s one of your favorite inspirational/motivational quotes?
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” John Augustus Shedd
6. What was the last good book you read or what’s next on your reading list? (Or movie or show…)
I just finished reading “The Guest” by Emma Cline, which I thought was a great summer read. My husband and I are currently watching the new season of Black Mirror, a very scary but thought-provoking show on Netflix. I also unapologetically love many reality shows, particularly on Bravo, though I am woefully behind on several of them. One of the best (scripted) shows I’ve seen in recent years is Fleabag, especially Season 2; I highly recommend it.