African American Philanthropists Set Stage for Cleveland Summit on April 30

African American philanthropists in Greater Cleveland are inviting others to join their change-making movement, which is having a positive impact in local communities and raising the profile of those who give back. The 2022 African American Philanthropy Summit presented by the Cleveland Foundation will be held April 30 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as a hybrid event with in-person activations at Corporate College East and virtual tracks for attendees on Zoom. This year’s summit, Philanthropic Equity: Making an Impact, will focus on timely topics in the field of philanthropy – equity, inclusion, sustainability, engagement, transformation and more – with featured speakers and breakout sessions throughout the day.

Michele Ghee

Michele Thornton Ghee, CEO of EBONY & JET, will deliver the luncheon keynote address on the topic of transformation in philanthropy: Are we on the path to transformation? Are we predicting trends, generational impacts, family involvement and personal choice in giving?

Kevin Clayton

As featured morning speaker, Kevin Clayton, vice president of diversity, inclusion & engagement for the Cleveland Cavaliers, will speak on the topic of inclusion in philanthropy: Are the right people at the table AND do they have a voice in decision-making?

Summit breakout sessions will focus on topics including:

Multi-level engagement in philanthropy: Are we ready to engage at the individual, organization and community levels?
Financial equity in philanthropy: Are we positioned to give? Has it been equitable?
The growth of environmental, social and governance (ESG) in philanthropy: Are we setting investment standards as a driver for corporate giving? Are we considering the sustainability and social impact of our investments?

In addition to the featured speakers and breakout sessions, the event will also include a brief video appearance by Mellody Hobson, co-CEO & president of Ariel Investments, vice chair of Starbucks and a director at JPMorgan Chase.

The African American Philanthropy Summit is the signature biennial event of the Cleveland Foundation’s African American Philanthropy Committee. The committee was created in 1993 to promote awareness and education about the benefits of wealth and community preservation through philanthropy. Awareness led to stewardship in 2010, when the committee established the African American Philanthropy Committee Legacy Fund to support a variety of organizations within the African American community of Greater Cleveland. Today, the committee continues to make an impact and drive conversations around the importance of philanthropy as a tool to preserve legacies and build a brighter future.

The African American Philanthropy Summit is open to the public, but tickets are required. To register, visit www.ClevelandFoundation.org/AAPC. We invite you to join the conversation on social media by following #GivingHasNoColor.