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 via email 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 — The Conversation Continues with Eddie and Sylvia Brown”
The Cleveland Foundation African American Philanthropy Committee welcomed Baltimore philanthropists Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown virtually Nov. 10, 2020, to continue the conversation on “Disrupting the Cultural Landscape Through Philanthropy” that began at this summer’s first-ever all-virtual African American Philanthropy Summit.

“2020 Vision: Disrupting the Cultural Landscape Through Philanthropy”
The Cleveland Foundation African American Philanthropy Summit took place via Zoom on May 30, 2020, featuring a conversation between Featured Speaker Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Business Leader and Co-Founder and CEO of WEEN-Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network, and moderator Jeff Johnson, AAPC Committee Member and Chief Curator for Men Thrive.

Special Thanks to Our 2020 Sponsors:

CLE Consulting Firm		Dr. Doris Evans
Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC	Joyce N. Shinn, Shinn Charitable Family Fund	Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Sherwin-Williams Company	Bracy E. Lewis

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.

Give to the AAPC Legacy Fund

News and Information

Cleveland Foundation sets virtual version of African American Philanthropy Summit for May 30 via Crain’s Cleveland Business

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.