Donor Relations Staff

Caprice Bragg leads a development team that helps donors realize their philanthropic dreams. Previously, she served as director of planned giving and as a gift planning officer for the Cleveland Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation, Caprice practiced law in-house at KeyCorp and at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP. She also was an employee benefits and human resources consultant with Ernst & Young LLP.

Caprice serves on the State of Ohio’s Commission on Cultural Facilities; the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law Section Committee;  and Lake Ridge Academy’s board of directors. She is also active with the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland (past president), In Counsel with Women, and AdNet, a professional organization for development professionals in community foundations. Caprice is also a board member for the Black Professional Association’s Charitable Foundation and has served on a national committee for the Council on Foundations.

Her honors include an “Unsung Hero” Award in 1999, Kaleidoscope Magazine’s “40 under 40,”  the National Conference of Community and Justice Young Professional of the Year Award, YWCA’s Woman of Professional Excellence and Woman of Achievement awards, and the University of Akron's Women Trailblazer award, and recognition as a Kaleidoscope Magazine Woman of Achievement and a Northern Ohio Live Rainmaker. 

Caprice is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Cleveland. The Akron native graduated with honors from Oberlin College with a bachelor’s degree in government, and earned her juris doctor from the New York University School of Law.

Administrative assistant: Donna Johnson (216-615-7168)

Send an email to Caprice Bragg.

Ginger Mlakar manages the foundation’s donor stewardship program.  In this role, she connects donors to their charitable interests. She came to the Cleveland Foundation in July 2009 after 16 years practicing law in the area of estate and charitable gift planning and administration. Her previous positions include partner in the personal succession and planning practice group at Thompson Hine LLP and of counsel in the estate planning and probate practice group at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP. She is also a certified public accountant.

Ginger has served on the boards of several area organizations, including the Girl Scouts of Lake Erie Council, the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland, and as treasurer for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation. She is a member of advisory groups for University Hospitals, the Cleveland Orchestra, and Case Western Reserve University.  Additionally, she is an active fellow of the American College of Estate and Trust Council.

Ginger has been named among the “Best Lawyers in America” each year since 2006 and the “Top 50 Female Ohio Super Lawyers List” by Law and Politics magazine from 2005 to 2009. She graduated summa cum laude from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration and earned her juris doctorate from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Administrative assistant: Michelle Blackford (216-615-7145)

Send an email to Ginger Mlakar.

Judy Salm helps donors achieve their philanthropic goals by serving as the primary contact for a range of individual donors and organizations. She brings to the foundation more than 12 years of experience managing and building client accounts in the financial services industry. Most recently she was vice president for Citi Global Markets in Boston. Prior to that, she was an associate vice president at McDonald Investments.

Judy has worked in a variety of roles in the nonprofit sector, including time spent in the development and communications department of The Aspen Institute’s Council of Women World Leaders in Washington.

She has a bachelor of arts degree in communications from John Carroll University.

Administrative assistant: Michelle Blackford (216-615-7145)

Send an email to Judy Salm.

Karen Sayre helps donors achieve their philanthropic goals by serving as the primary contact at the foundation for many individual donors and supporting organizations. She joined the foundation’s gift planning and donor relations department in June 2004. In prior positions, Karen served as program director for children and families at United Way of Greater Cleveland, director of resource development for the Center for Families and Children, and program officer for the Nordson Corp. Foundation in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. She holds a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in communications from Cleveland State University.

Administrative assistant: Michelle Blackford (216-615-7145)

Send an email to Karen Sayre.

Marvelous Baker implements and manages the foundation’s scholarship program. She also works with selected donors as a researcher, facilitator, and liaison, hoping to enhance their philanthropic experiences. Prior to joining the foundation, Marvelous held positions with Doan Center and University Circle Inc. Marvelous holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Baldwin-Wallace College and an associate’s degree from Cuyahoga Community College. She is a graduate of Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland. Marvelous volunteers at Fatima Family Center.

Administrative assistant: Maureen Forrest (216-685-2002)

Send an email to Marvelous Baker.