Preserving Wealth, Honoring Legacies & Raising Awareness
The Cleveland Foundation’s African American Philanthropy 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 a fund to help support a variety of organizations within the African American community of Greater Cleveland.
Collectively, members of the African American Philanthropy Committee also support the mission of the Cleveland Foundation, which includes building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking, and providing leadership on key community issues. Contact the African American Philanthropy Committee and follow @CleveFoundation #GivingHasNoColor.
African American Philanthropy Summit
The committee convenes a Philanthropy Summit once every two years to raise the visibility of African American philanthropy in the region and to honor local African American philanthropists who are making a lasting and significant impact.
2020 Vision: Disrupting the Cultural Landscape Through Philanthropy
Strategic Giving as a Compass for Transformational Change
New Date TBD
UPDATE: Out of an abundance of caution over the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, the African American Philanthropy Summit originally scheduled for Saturday, April 25, has been postponed. We are securing a new date for 2020 Vision: Disrupting the Cultural Landscape Through Philanthropy, and updates will be forthcoming.
Special Thanks to Our Lead Sponsors:
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Hoover Milstein
Explore highlights from the 2018 African American Philanthropy Summit
First row: Justin Horton, Connie Hill-Johnson, Robyn Minter Smyers, Dr. Ellen Burts-Cooper, Wes Moore, Terri Eason, Ron Johnson, Bishara Addison, Ann Marie Ogletree Second row: Jeff Johnson, Dr. Antoine Moss, Steve Sanders
Dr. Ellen Burts-Cooper
Jeff Johnson and representatives from Presidents Council and United Black Fund – third place Philanthropy Matchmaker winners
Jeff Johnson and representatives from The Kids of 216 and Urban League of Greater Cleveland – second place Philanthropy Matchmaker winners
Jeff Johnson and representatives from the Urban Barber Association and American Heart Association – first place Philanthropy Matchmaker winners
Rev. Steven Rowan, Ronn Richard, Christal Jackson, Wes Moore
African American Philanthropy Committee Legacy Fund
The African American Philanthropy Committee Legacy Fund supports a variety of organizations within the African American community of Greater Cleveland. This fund is bolstered by individuals of all ages, businesses, sororities and fraternities, faith-based organizations, and multiple member organizations.
News and Information
Cleveland Foundation sets African American Philanthropy Summit for April 25 via Crain’s Cleveland Business
Cleveland Heights couple Justin and Andrean Horton share what motivates them to give back and why they’re excited about the 2020 African American Philanthropy Summit via the Cleveland Foundation
Celebrating African American Philanthropy
Belva Denmark Tibbs and Imani Denmark Tibbs describe how philanthropy became an important part of their mother-daughter relationship.
Clevelanders Valdia Burns, Barbara Harris and Ann-Marie Ogletree explain the events and people that inspired their philanthropic giving.
Consultant and entrepreneur Ellen Burts-Cooper, Ph.D., and architect Bob Madison share how their education and professional backgrounds help inform their philanthropic passions.
African American Philanthropy Committee Members
Ellen Burts-Cooper, Ph.D., Co-Chair
Senior Managing Partner, Improve Consulting and Training
Ronald V. Johnson, Jr., Co-Chair
Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel, Law Group, KeyBank National Association
Montrie Rucker Adams
President, Visibility Marketing, Inc.
Bishara Addison
Senior Manager, Policy & Strategic Initiatives, Towards Employment
Justin Horton
Wealth Advisor, Stratos Wealth Partners
Jeff I. Johnson
Principal, JIJ Communications
Bracy E. Lewis
Jazmin Long
VP Fund Development, Birthing Beautiful Communities
Kevin McDaniel
Executive Director, Neighborhood Leadership Institute
Antoine Moss, Ph.D.
Logistics Management Specialist, Logistics & Technical Information, NASA Glenn Research Center
Ann-Marie Ogletree
Executive Director, Fundamentals Early Childhood Development Academy
Melvin G. Pye, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer, Fairfax Place
Steve Sanders
Metro Cleveland Director, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Robyn Minter Smyers
Partner, Executive Committee, Thompson Hine LLP
Belva Denmark Tibbs
2020 African American Philanthropy Summit Honorary Co-Chairs
Lonnie Coleman, President, Coleman Spohn Corporation
Don Graves, Jr., Head of Corporate Responsibility & Community Relations, KeyBank
Constance Hill-Johnson, Owner and Managing Director of Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services, and Member, Cleveland Foundation Board of Directors
Alex Johnson, Ph.D., President, Cuyahoga Community College
Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, M.D., Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals
Ronald B. Richard, President and CEO, Cleveland Foundation