Welcoming Kellie Brownlow, CEO of Gideon’s Promise
Gideon’s Promise is excited to welcome Kellie Brownlow as our new Chief Executive Officer.
Kellie brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, with a career focused on building strong organizations, developing partnerships, and expanding opportunities for communities facing systemic barriers.
Most recently, Kellie served as Chief Mission Officer at First Step Staffing, where she helped guide organizational strategy, develop programs supporting individuals returning from incarceration, and steward more than $5 million annually in public and philanthropic funding.
Earlier in her career, Kellie served as Executive Director of the Georgia Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and held leadership roles in regional planning, economic development, and local government, including positions with the Cobb County Chairman’s Office, Partnership Gwinnett, and the Atlanta Regional Commission.
As a child, she spent many weekends visiting her father in prison, where he was serving time for bank and convenience store robberies. Her family had limited resources, and her father was represented by a public defender. This personal experience, coupled with her professional journey, has had a profound impact on how she understands justice, fairness, and the importance of advocacy.
In her early months as CEO, Kellie will focus on listening and learning from the Gideon’s Promise community while working closely with the board, faculty, and leadership team to develop a three-year strategic plan that reflects the organization’s vision for growth and long-term impact.