He served as Geelong's delegate on the Victorian Football League board from 1902 until 1922, and in that capacity as the VFL's vice-president and delegate to the Australasian Football Council from 1911 until 1916, and as chairman of the permit and umpires committee from 1911 until 1922.

[1] He became president of the Australasian Football Council in 1919,[2] and served in that position until his death.

[3] Brownlow married Matilda Jane Barber, and they had four children: Daisy, Ruby, Elsie, and Charles Junior.

He primarily earned his living as a watchmaker, operating a store in Geelong.

In 1997, Brownlow was inducted as an administrator into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.