Cleveland Foundation

"I’ve made more than a few lifelong friends in this Fellowship and even asked one of the fellows in my cohort to officiate my wedding last September!" Carter Van Fossen and Abby Henry were Public Service Fellows placed at City of Cleveland - City Hall in 2022-2023. Carter shares, "Aside from more tangible takeaways like lifelong friends and a post-fellowship full time job offer, my biggest takeaway from the Fellowship program is that there isn’t just one right or best way to make a difference. The 17 other people in my cohort were all doing vastly different work from me, yet all of that work was necessary and important in our shared mission to better our community." Carter and Abby's time as fellows provided them with engaging and educational experiences with leaders in City Hall, the Cleveland Foundation and several nonprofit organizations in Cleveland. Carter says, "I truly believe that I still have yet to see the full extent of how the connections I’ve made through the Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship will positively impact my life." Applications for our 2025-2026 Public Service Fellowships close on March 4. Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gv-UfA_g

We know philanthropy is good for the community, but did you know it can be good for your health too? Studies found that giving translates to lower cortisol levels, less stress and thus a healthier heart. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eMJ2r3fg Happy Valentine's Day from the Cleveland Foundation!

"Giving has always been a part of the way the Black community has survived, and so I think, Black philanthropy, the reason why it’s unique is that it’s part of our DNA, and we just may not have used that vocabulary to talk about what it means to give back, or to give black. " Bishara Addison, Director of Workforce Innovation at the Fund for Our Economic Future, shares how Black philanthropy has been a part of her life from an early age. She shares that her father instilled in her, "When you are blessed, you have to share that blessing with someone else." As a member of the African American Philanthropy Committee, Bishara works closely with her peers, friends, and mentors to provide financial support for a variety of organizations within the African American community of Greater Cleveland. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e3Emjtbk

Our 2024-2025 Public Service Fellowship cohort recently spent the day with First Tee – Cleveland, engaging in facilitated activities and discussions around leadership. Are you interested in being a Public Service Fellow? Learn more about the professional development, career experience, and networking opportunities afforded to our Fellows and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gv-UfA_g

Love it, hate it, or fear it, artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. Join Cleveland Foundation Chief of Digital Innovation & CIO Leon A. Wilson this Wednesday at noon to learn how AI can help you best leverage the technology to work more effectively and efficiently, as well as understand the considerations leaders should take into account when using AI. https://lnkd.in/ehat3pE9

"Even before I knew the word philanthropy, I was a philanthropist." Valissa Turner Howard, Chief People Officer and General Counsel for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and African American Philanthropy Committee member, shares that philanthropy is deeper than your pockets. As a passionate philanthropist and member of several nonprofit organizations, Valissa feels that community is our superpower. "The Black community has to come together more often to be more effective. By pooling our resources, we get things done. Philanthropy is not just for those with million dollar endowments, but for everyone."

We are excited to welcome Josh Stewart to the Cleveland Foundation team! Josh will serve as our Business Analyst & Salesforce Administrator. He has a strong background in analyzing business requirements and configuring Salesforce to optimize processes and drive efficiency. In his role, Josh will work closely with team members to implement solutions that improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and enhance user adoption. Join us in welcoming Josh to the team!

We are honored to share that Randy McShepard has been elected as the new chairperson for the Cleveland Foundation board of directors and Richard Stovsky has been elected as vice chair, effective April 1. As board members Randy and Rich have been vital partners in carrying out our work to improve the lives of residents in Greater Cleveland, and we are excited to see how they continue this work as board chairperson and vice chair. Thank you to our outgoing chairperson, Constance Hill-Johnson, who served as board chair during a pivotal time in the foundation’s history, overseeing a historic CEO transition and the foundation’s move to its new MidTown headquarters in 2023. Connie will remain on the board of directors. Learn more about these appointments here: https://lnkd.in/ep4ug2qv

This year Black History Month celebrates the impact of Black leaders in building community in churches, social clubs, and organizations. Cleveland Foundation board member, Reverend Dr. Robin Hedgeman, first understood the impact of Black Philanthropy while attending church as a child and community-centered philanthropy remains a large part of her life. Reverend Hedgeman says that community-centered philanthropy, and specifically Black Philanthropy, have a remarkable and often immeasurable impact on those they serve. She explains, "There are a number of organizations, often churches, that have no way of measuring the impact of their giving and the lives being touched because they consider it their day to day work and not 'philanthropy.' Often the large organizations get their names on the billboard and get the credit for their work, and that’s a great thing, but what about the small organizations that have been maintaining a steady impact over the years? They gave in ways we may never have known. Making sure bills get paid, providing books to college students, or purchasing uniforms for children going to school." Since 1997, Reverend Hedgeman has led the congregation of Bethany Christian Church. She shares that her ministry focuses time on both "in-reach" to those in her congregation and "out-reach" to those in the community and those in need across the country. She developed a summer enrichment program for youth that provides participants with reading and math skills, sports activities, field trips, and more. Bethany Christian Church, under her leadership, has strengthened its outreach through their Reach Out and Touch Ministry which has assisted persons displaced and in transition. As we celebrate Black History month and the impact of Black Philanthropy in our community, Reverend Hedgeman shares, "There is a legacy of Black Philanthropy and we don’t have to look far to find it. It exists on college campuses, in black churches, in cities across America. Past philanthropists have left their footprints and there are many who still leave their footprints. And folks like me would like to say thank you for the footprints that have been left for us to follow.”

Tomorrow, Feb. 4, is the last day to submit applications for our 2025 Summer Internship Program. You do not want to miss out on the opportunity to get firsthand experience working with some impactful nonprofit and public sector organizations this summer. Learn more about our Summer Internship Program and submit your application here: https://lnkd.in/dUEee62D