Powerof Philanthropy Summit
April 11, 2026 | 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Landerhaven
DearFriends,
Wearethrilledtowelcomeyoutothe2026PowerofPhilanthropySummit. ThisexcitingevolutionoftheformerAfricanAmericanPhilanthropySummit buildsonnearlyadecadeofmeaningfulandinspiringconveningscelebrating thelegacyandimpactofBlackgiving
Thisyear’sthemefocusesonhealthycommunitiesandhowphilanthropy canfuelaccesstoopportunity,economicinvestment,wealthbuildingand supportforholistichealth.Whetheryouarejoiningusinpersonorvirtually, yourparticipationiscriticaltotheseconversations.
WewanttothankthemembersoftheBlackPhilanthropyCenter,formerlythe AfricanAmericanPhilanthropyCommittee,withaspecialacknowledgement fortheirleadershipbothinplanningthiseventandfortheircommitmenttothe communityyear-round.Wewouldalsoliketorecognizethesummithonorary eventchairsaswellasourgeneroussponsorsfortheirsupport.
Wearesolookingforwardtotoday’spowerfulconversations boththeformal happeningsonstageandonlineaswellasthecountlessinspiring connectionsthatwilloccurinbetween Thankyouforyourattendance,your attentionandyourpartnership.
Sincerely,
LillianKuri President&CEO ClevelandFounda
McShepard hair dFoundation
Welcome!
OnbehalfoftheBlackPhilanthropyCenter,formerlytheAfricanAmerican PhilanthropyCommittee,welcome andthankyouforbeingpartofthisimportant moment.
TheevolutionoftheAAPCintotheBlackPhilanthropyCentermarksanexciting newchapterinhowwehonorthelegacyandshapethefutureofBlackgivingin Cleveland.Rootedinmorethan30yearsofleadership,generosityandvision,this workcontinuesapowerfultraditionofinvestinginBlackcommunities,advancing equityandcreatingopportunitythatlastsforgenerations.
Today’ssummitreflectsthatmissioninaction.Wearegratefultogatherwith inspiringvoices,civicleaders,executivesandchangemakerstoexplorethemany waysphilanthropycandrivemeaningfulchangeinourcommunity.Whetheryou arejustbeginningyourphilanthropicjourneyorhavelongbeenengagedinthis work,wehopetodayoffersspacetolearn,connect,celebrateandbeinspired.
Clevelandhaslongbeenacitywherepeoplecometogethertomeetchallenges withcourage,careandcommitment Thatspirithasshapedalegacyofprogress anditcontinuestoguideusaswebuildwhatcomesnext
Thankyouforjoiningus,whetherinpersonoronline,aswehonorthat legacyandfuelthefuture.
Sincerely,
BLACKPHILANTHROPYCENTER
COMMITTEEMEMBERS
RobynMinterSmyers,Chair
MontrieRuckerAdams
BisharaAddison
Dr.EllenBurts-Cooper
AliciaGraves
JustinHorton
ValissaTurnerHoward
RonaldV.Johnson,Jr.
JazminLong
AntoineMoss,Ph.D.
BelvaDenmarkTibbs
POWEROFPHILANTHROPYSUMMIT
HONORARYCHAIRS
JudgeRonaldAdrine
Dr.MichaelBaston
ValdiaBurns-Frazier
W.ByronCalhoun
CarrieCarpenter
KenieceY.Gray
MichelleD.Hereford
LillianKuri
Dr.SusanE.Stephens
AGENDA
8AM|MorningReception
Wewelcomeguestsintoamorningofconnection,cultureandcommunity.Enjoycontinental breakfastandcoffeewhileconnectingwithfellowleaders,partnersandchangemakers The Summitexperiencebeginsthemomentyouwalkin withtheGivingGallery,music,movement, andmeaningfulconversationsettingthetoneforthedayahead.
Registration&ContinentalBreakfast [Foyer]
GivingGallery:ALivingLegacyofBlackPhilanthropy [Foyer]
AnimmersiveexperiencehonoringCleveland’sBlackphilanthropichistoryandinvitinggivingin thepresent
CommunityImpactExchange [GardenRoom]
Openthroughoutthemorningreception,theCommunityImpactExchangefeaturesmissionalignedorganizationsandpartnersadvancinghealthycommunities.Guestsareinvitedtoexplore, connectanddiscovermeaningfulopportunitiesforengagementbeyondtheSummit.
8:30AM|VIRTUALSTREAMOPENS
OurvirtualcommunityjoinsvialivewithaDJwelcomingparticipantsfromacrossthecountryinto theSummitexperience
ENINGPLENARY:ALEGACYINTHEMAKING
penswithagroundingconversationonleadership,entrepreneurshipand asforcesforbuildinghealthycommunities Inthisarmchairconversationwith epard,WarrenAndersonreflectsonhisjourneyasabusinessleader,thevalues sapproachtogivingandthelegacyheisintentionallybuildingthroughinvestment ortunityandplace.
FEATURING: WarrenAnderson President&CEO, TheAndersonDuBoseCompany
MODERATEDBY: RandellMcShepard BoardChair,ClevelandFoundation
AGENDA
10–11:30AM |BreakoutExperiences
Thesebreakoutsessionsmeetparticipantswherevertheyareontheirphilanthropicjourney The sessionsprovidepracticalinsight,sharedlearningandclearpathwaystohelpparticipantsmove fromintentiontoinformed,confidentgiving.Participantsareencouragedtofloatandrotate throughoutthistimevisitingtheGivingGallery,connectingwithorganizationsintheCommunity ImpactExchangeandlearningmorewaystogrowtheirphilanthropicdollarstomakegenerational changeintheareastheycaredeepestabout.
GivingGallery:ALivingLegacyofBlackPhilanthropy [Foyer]
AnimmersiveexperiencehonoringCleveland’sBlackphilanthropichistoryandinvitinggivinginthe present
BreakoutSession1:CommunityImpactExchange [GardenRoom]
Thishighlyinteractivesessioncreatesspacefordirect,relationship-drivenengagementwith organizationsadvancinghealthycommunities.Participantsexploreopportunitiestocontribute time,talentandtreasure leavingwithclearpathwaysforcontinuedengagementbeyondthe Summit
[10:30AM]
BreakoutSession2:DesigningYourPhilanthropicPlan [CedarMapleRoom]
Aguidedconversationdesignedtohelpparticipantsalignvalues,wealthstrategyandgiving vehiclesintoaclearactionplan.
LetaObertacz SeniorVicePresident, Philanthropy ClevelandFoundation
NicholeCollins,CFRE PhilanthropicStrategyAdvisor ClevelandFoundation
BelvaDenmarkTibbs CivicandPhilanthropicLeader
BlackPhilanthropyCenterand BlackPhilanthropyFund CommitteeMember
RonaldV.Johnson,Jr. CommunityLeader& Philanthropist
BlackPhilanthropyCenter CommitteeMember
0–11:30AM |VirtualBreakoutExperiences
hesebreakoutsessionsaredesignedtomeetparticipantswherevertheyareontheir hilanthropicjourney Thesesessionsprovidepracticalinsight,sharedlearningandclear athwaystohelpparticipantsmovefromintentiontoinformed,confiden
MEETYOURVIRTUALHOST+MODERATOR: Dr.EllenBurts-Cooper Partner,ImproveConsultingandTrainingGroup &Member,BlackPhilanthropyCenterat theClevelandFoundation
[10:15AM]
Part1:ChartingYourPhilanthropic Voyage
Explorekeygivingtools,strategies,and decisionpointstoalignyourvalues, resources,andtiming supporting bothimmediateimpactandlong-term goals
PRESENTEDBY:
TerriBradfordEason SeniorDirector,Philanthropy Initiatives ClevelandFoundation
[10:45AM]
Part2:ConnectingYourGivingtoImpact Meetorganizationsadvancinghealthy communitiesandexploredirect opportunitiestosupportworkaligned withyourphilanthropicpriorities
FEATURING:
HelenForbesFields President&CEO YWCAofGreaterCleveland
MarcellaBrown ExecutiveDirector RaineyInstitute
NicoleMcKinney-Johnson President&CEO ClevelandRapeCrisisCenter
11:30AM |SolutionsSummitLuncheon
PRESENTEDBY:
TheSolutionsSummitLuncheonbringstheSummit’sthemesintofull focus celebratingleadership,honoringlegacyandspotlighting tangibleoutcomesofBlackphilanthropyinaction
Invocation Rev.Dr.RobinHedgeman Pastor,BethanyChristianChurch &BoardMember,Cleveland Foundation
WelcomeRemarks LillianKuri President&CEO,Cleveland Foundation
InauguralStevenA.Minter AwardPresentation
SolutionsPanelDiscussion: BuildingSolutions:Leadership, Capital&CollectiveAction
PRESENTEDBY: RobynMinterSmyers Partner,ThompsonHine&Chair, BlackPhilanthropyCenteratthe ClevelandFoundation
HONORING: RobertP.Madison Founder,RobertP Madison International,Inc.
FEATURING: TiaBreakley ChiefStrategicDevelopment Officer BlueMeridianPartners
MikeyaGriffin President&CEO RondoCommunityLandTrust
LillianKuri President&CEO ClevelandFoundation
MODERATEDBY: JeffJohnson CEO JIJImpact,Inc.
1:30–3:30PM |DayPartyCelebration
FEATURINGALIVEPERFORMANCEBY: Odyssey&Company
STEVENA.MINTERAWARD PRESENTEDTO
TheClevelandFoundationisproudtopresenttheinaugural StevenA.MinterAwardtoRobertP.Madisoninrecognitionof hisextraordinaryleadershipandlastingimpactonour community.
NamedfortheClevelandFoundation’sfirstBlack presidentandCEO,theawardhonorsexceptional service,leadershipandcommitmentto community.Apioneeringarchitectand trailblazer,RobertP.Madisoncontinues toinspiregenerations.
HONOR THE LEGACY. FUEL THE FUTURE.
Your gift can create impact now and for generations to come.
BLACK PHILANTHROPY FUND
Anendowedaffinityfundatthe ClevelandFoundation,theBlack PhilanthropyFundsupportslongterm impactthroughgrantsto organizationsadvancing: OpportunityAccess EconomicInvestment&Wealth Building Physical&MentalHealth
AFRICAN AMERICAN PHILANTHROPY COMMITTEE LEGACY FUND
TheAfricanAmericanPhilanthropy CommitteeLegacyFundcreates immediateimpactbysupporting Black-ledandBlack-serving organizationstoday. Collectivegivingfromindividuals, corporations,sororitiesand fraternities,faith-basedorganizations andothermembergroupshelps strengthenthecommunityinrealtime.
TheBlackPhilanthropyCenterbuildsonthe 30-yearlegacyoftheformerAfricanAmerican PhilanthropyCommitteetoinspiregiving,elevate Blackvoicesandmobilizeresourcesforlasting communityimpact. Rootedinlegacyandfocusedonthefuture,the centeradvancesawareness,educationand engagementaroundthepowerofphilanthropy— helpingpositionClevelandasanationalmodel forBlackphilanthropicleadership. Bepartofwhatcomesnext.
TheBlackPhilanthropyFundisanendowedaffinityfundat theClevelandFoundationthatharnessesthepowerof collectivegivingtosupporthealthycommunitiesfor generationstocome.
Seededwith$3million,thefundsupportslong-termimpact throughgrantstoorganizationsadvancinginitiativesin threepriorityareas: OpportunityAccess EconomicInvestment&WealthBuilding Physical&MentalHealth
AgifttotheBlackPhilanthropyFundhelpsamplifyBlack leadership,strengthencommunitywell-beingandcreate lastingchange.
BEGINNINGAPRIL13,organizationscansubmitapplications forgrantsfromtheBlackPhilanthropyFund.Learnmoreat ClevelandFoundation.org/BPF
TheBlackPhilanthropyFundisthegivingengineoftheBlackPhilanthropyCenter bringingtogetherdonors,communityleadersandboldideastodrivelastingchangein Blackcommunities.
Throughjoyfulcollaborationandcommunity-driveninvestment,thefundishelping createhealthy,thrivingcommunitiesforgenerationstocome.
Learn More: www.ClevelandFoundation.org/BPF
