Dawn Abel

Dawn Abel joined the Society for Science as Chief Advancement Officer in 2023, bringing over two decades of expertise in transformative resource development. A visionary nonprofit executive, Dawn specializes in building diversified fundraising engines that bridge the gap between individual donors, foundations, and corporate philanthropy. Her leadership has consistently resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in support for mission-critical science initiatives.

Before joining the Society, Dawn was the Deputy Director of Advancement for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where she catalyzed the $150 million Our Shared Future campaign. Her previous leadership roles include Director of Development for the National Academy of Medicine and Director of Community Relations and Foundations for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, where she transitioned grant-making programs into strategic, impact-focused powerhouses.

Dawn’s unique perspective is rooted in an early career in engineering, which informs her disciplined, data-driven approach to nonprofit leadership. She holds an M.A. in Management from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.