Robyn Y. Davis’ professional journey spans the legal field, retail management, ministry, and, most recently, the nonprofit sector. As the president and chief executive officer of the Brown County United Way, Davis’s social entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in a deep commitment to ensuring that all members of the community can thrive and flourish.
Brown County United Way (BCUW) unites people, ideas and resources to co-create community solutions that strengthen every person and every community in Brown County.
Under Davis’ leadership, BCUW received two of the largest grants in its history: a $1 million bipartisan federal appropriation and a nearly $1million grant from the State of Wisconsin. In 2023, in collaboration with community organizations, the nonprofit launched the HubCAP (Community Access Partnership) initiative which utilizes a fleet of vehicles to deploy resources, programming and services throughout Brown County where people live, work and gather.
With Davis at the helm, in 2024, BCUW moved into its new home, the City East Center, which forms the cornerstone of a Thriving Neighborhood Initiative. BCUW is proud to be the nonprofit partner of a public-private partnership with the City of Green Bay, real estate developers, and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, which combines affordable housing with a vibrant community hub that serves the residents of a diverse yet under-resourced neighborhood in Green Bay.
“Robyn’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by her commitment to empowering others and fostering community engagement,” said her staff. “She understands that sustainable change comes from within the community, and she has worked tirelessly to build strong, collaborative relationships with local organizations, businesses and residents.”
Her professional achievements have been widely recognized. In 2018, Davis was named one of Wisconsin’s 42 most influential African Americans by Madison365. She is a past board member of Management Women Inc. and was the 2017 recipient of the organization’s Nancy A. Felhofer leadership award. In 2019, she was honored with the ATHENA leadership award from the Greater Green Bay Chamber for her outstanding leadership and dedication to mentoring women.
Connecting with others is how Davis said she reignites her passion. “I embrace opportunities to connect with people outside of my organization – this allows me to educate individuals or groups on community issues and share the importance of our work or the work of other organizations,” she said. “It also helps me understand the issues that are important or of concern to others.”