CFLeads

Press Forward Locals – Catalyzing Your Local Journalism Ecosystem.
2024-03-20 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online
CFLeads and Press Forward, a national philanthropy movement powered by The Miami Foundation, invite you to a collaborative webinar, Catalyzing Your Local Journalism Ecosystem.
Press Forward focuses their work on how foundations can strengthen community by reinvigorating local news. The work begins close to home and many place-based funders are stepping up to lead local and regional Press Forward Chapters.
In this webinar, we will explore the importance of local journalism, how community foundations can start a Press Forward chapter and how national funders can support you in your efforts. You will also hear from community foundation colleagues and private foundations about their experiences leading Press Forward Chapters.
Webinar Details
Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Time: 1 – 2 p.m. Eastern
Speakers

Dale R. Anglin, Director, Press Forward
Mary Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads
Courtney Bengston, Chief Strategy Officer, Wichita Foundation
Teresa Gorman, Associate Director, Democracy Fund
Len Bartel (moderator), Vice President for Learning and Impact (Capacity-Building), CFLeads

Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.

We hope you can join us!

Addressing Housing Supply with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
2024-03-27 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Thank you to the 160+ people who joined us and participated in the first webinar in a new series with CFLeads and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s International and Philanthropic Affairs Division!
Based on participant feedback, we’re excited to announce the next webinar in this series featuring The Role of Community Foundations in Addressing Housing Supply.
The series of webinars is designed to help strengthen communication and coordination between HUD and community foundations.
The second webinar in this three-part series will be held on Wednesday, March 27 and will feature presentations from both HUD and community foundations, who will share their unique perspectives, promising practices, and challenges faced in addressing the U.S. housing supply.
Webinar Details
Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Time: 2 – 3 p.m. Eastern
Speakers

Mary Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads
Kera Package, Chief of Staff, Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Walker Sanders, President, The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
Shandra Richardson, Program Director of Strategic Initiatives, The Chicago Community Trust
Leonard Brock (moderator), Vice President for Learning and Impact (Issues), CFLeads

Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Peer Resource Sharing: Working with Local Leaders
2024-04-18 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Menominee) | Online
Peer Resource Sharing: Working with Local Leaders

How do we identify and build trusting relationships with local leaders who are already doing the work that we could support? They may be nonprofit leaders or simply neighbors who have vision and strong social networks. Join us as we hear stories from community foundations in Brazil, Haiti and Canada. We encourage program staff to attend this session.
Date: Thursday, April 18
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m., Central
Register here
Interpretation services in English, Portuguese and Haitian Creole.

Trabalhando com líderes locais
Como identificamos e construímos laços de confiança com os líderes locais que já estão a fazer o trabalho que queremos apoiar? Podem ser líderes de organizações sem fins lucrativos ou simplesmente vizinhos que tenham forte capital social e visão. Fundações comunitárias do Brasil, Haiti e Canadá apresentarão suas experiências nesta sessão. Os responsáveis pelos programas e projetos são especialmente bem-vindos!
Fecha: Quinta-feira, 15 de fevereiro
Hora: de 12:00 a 1:30 p.m. MT, CDMX, Costa Rica / 13:00 a 14:30 CT, Colombia, Perú / 15h a 16.30h Brasil, Argentina
Registración aquí
Os serviços de interpretação estarão disponíveis em crioulo haitiano, inglês e português.

Building Stronger Communities: The Community Heart & Soul Initiative
2024-04-22 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Small towns have big assets. Their residents are leaders with the ingenuity, expertise and drive to build strong, vibrant communities. The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque has successfully implemented two community initiatives that work together to create an exciting opportunity for rural communities.
Join the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque as they discuss the Community Heart & Soul® initiative, which brings communities together to connect the dots between issues like rural quality of life, economic development and academic achievement, and to work collaboratively toward holistic solutions. Through their Small-town Dreams Initiative, participating towns can receive funds to start an endowment for the community by raising matching amounts locally. By the end of the campaign, communities will have built up an endowment that will grow in perpetuity and pay out annually for grantmaking.
In this webinar, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque will share how meaningful community engagement and local endowment building can work together with inspiring results. Please join us, and invite your staff, to learn more about this program.
Webinar Details
Date: Monday, April 22, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern
Speakers

Nancy Van Milligen, President & CEO, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Mary L. Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads
Jason Neises, Community Development Officer, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Mary Jo Jean-Francois, Vice President of Impact, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque

Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Economic Mobility Regional Convening: Pennsylvania
2024-05-16 08:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | State College, PA
CFLeads is pleased to announce the 2024 Pennsylvania Economic Mobility Regional Convening! This event comes on the heels of a generous $4.8M grant awarded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in November 2023. The CFLeads Economic Mobility team has interviewed community foundations across the country to determine how we can best assist community foundations exploring and/or employing economic mobility strategies. Our goal, ultimately, is to foster improved, sustainable economic mobility for individuals and communities across the country. This convening marks a pivotal moment in CFLeads’ vision and our collective journey towards achieving long-term economic prosperity for all.
See below for more information about the Economic Mobility Regional Convening, taking place in Pennsylvania.
About Regional Convenings
CFLeads’ Economic Mobility Regional Convenings are in-person day-long gatherings hosted around the country for community foundation staff to delve deep into core economic mobility concepts and explore ways that they can work with, inform, and equip local decision-makers, such as residents and local government, to advance economic mobility. The convening’s agenda will include networking, peer learning, tool/resource sharing, and presentations from/conversations with issue area experts.
Pennsylvania Meeting Details
Where: State College, Pennsylvania
When: May 16 from 8am – 6pm Eastern
Partner: PACFA
Target audience: Staff from community foundations committed to working on economic mobility (registrants are limited to 2 tickets per community foundation)
Attendance: 20-30 participants
Hotel: A hotel block is available from May 15-16. We will share more information in an email to registrants.
Registration
The cost to attend the Economic Mobility Regional Convening is free for Pennsylvania community foundation staff members who are interested in economic mobility. We have limited availability for this event, so register by April 24 to secure your spot!
Register today.

Peer Resource Sharing: Paths to Foundation Growth
2024-05-16 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Menominee) | Online
Peer Resource Sharing: Paths to Foundation Growth

In this Peer Resource Sharing session, we will hear from Sheridan County Community Foundation in rural Kansas and Annauma Community Foundation in the Nunavut territory of Canada about their approaches to foundation growth, followed by time to share ideas and strategies in small groups.
Date: Thursday, May 16
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m., Central
Register here
Interpretation services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Caminos hacia el crecimiento
En esta sesión, escucharemos de Sheridan County Community Foundation en la zona rural de Kansas y Annauma Community Foundation, en el territorio Nunavut de Canadá sobre sus caminos hacia el crecimiento de sus fundaciones, seguido de amplio tiempo para compartir ideas y estrategias en grupos pequeños.
Fecha: el jueves, 16 de mayo
Hora: de 12:00 a 1:30 p.m. MT, CDMX, Costa Rica / 13:00 a 14:30 CT, Colombia, Perú / 15h a 16.30h Brasil, Argentina
Registración aquí
Se ofrecerán servicios de interpretación en inglés, español y portugués.

Addressing Affordable Housing with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
2024-05-29 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Join us on Wednesday, May 29 for the final webinar in a new series with CFLeads and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s International and Philanthropic Affairs Division!
We’re excited to announce that for the final webinar, we’ll be joined by Funders Together to End Homelessness and Funders for Housing and Opportunity (FHO) to discuss The Role of Community Foundations in Addressing Affordable Housing and Homelessness. Leaders from Funders Together to End Homelessness and Funders for Housing and Opportunity will share information about their work and discuss ways in which philanthropy is working to address these issues.
This webinar series is designed to help strengthen communication and coordination between HUD and community foundations.
Webinar Details
Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Time: 2 – 3 p.m. Eastern
Speakers

Jeanne Fekade-Sellassie, Executive Director, Funders for Housing and Opportunity (FHO)
Amanda Misiko Andere, CEO, Funders Together to End Homelessness
Mary L. Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads

Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Launchpad for Hosts: Start Giving Circles at Your Institution for Community Impact
2024-06-12 13:00 - 14:15, 2024-06-26 13:00 - 14:15 (America/New_York) | Online
Collective giving is an undeniable upward trend in American philanthropy that is ushering in a new era of democratized giving and reimagining a more inclusive and vibrant sector built for and in partnership with communities. Giving circles are a fully customizable collective giving model that makes philanthropy a collaborative, social experience while pooling community resources — knowledge, skills, networks, and money.
Philanthropy Together’s Launchpad For Hosts is the only training program of its kind to help community foundations like yours start giving circles.
CFLeads is excited to partner with Philanthropy Together to facilitate two guided sessions, where we’ll examine case studies and gain tools to help you and your team determine your circle’s vision, examine how to align giving circles with your mission, and create buy-in with stakeholders.
With big philanthropy at a crossroads, there is no better time to showcase your dedication and belief in your community—as givers and receivers. Start a giving circle within your institution to engage your community, diversify members, connect with local, grassroots nonprofits, and strengthen your organization’s mission in the community.
Join us for this free 2-part workshop to begin your giving circle-hosting journey!
Workshop Details

Part 1:

Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Time: 1 – 2:15 p.m. Eastern/ 10 – 11:15 Pacific

Part 2:

Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Time: 1 – 2:15 p.m. Eastern/ 10 – 11:15 Pacific

Location
Zoom Meeting
Facilitators

Sara Lomelin, CEO, Philanthropy Together
Isis Krause, Chief Strategy Officer, Philanthropy Together
Tyeshia Wilson, Senior Director of Community, Philanthropy Together

Registration

Please use this link to register for one or both parts of this workshop.

Peer Resource Sharing: Storytelling to Build Community
2024-06-20 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-07-18 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Menominee) | Online
Peer Resource Sharing: Storytelling to Build Community

Join us in this 2-session workshop to explore how community foundations are using storytelling to lift up and connect voices, encourage philanthropy, and give impact a face and meaning. We welcome the marketing specialist and former CEO Becky Nurnberg of the Emporia Community Foundation in Kansas in June and co-founder of the Ayiti Community Trust in Florida, Dr. Guerda Nicolas, in July to share their strategies. You will also work on your own piece and have the chance to get feedback from your peers if you attend both sessions.
Part I
Date: Thursday, June 20
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m., Central
Register here

Part II
Date: Thursday, July 18
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m., Central
Register here

Interpretation services will be offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese – Haitian Creole will also be spoken during the July session

Contar historias para fomentar comunidad
Únase a nosotros en este taller de dos sesiones para explorar cómo las fundaciones comunitarias están utilizando la narración para elevar y conectar voces, fomentar la filantropía y darle rostro y significado al impacto. Damos la bienvenida en junio a Becky Nurnberg, especialista en marketing y CEO anterior de Emporia Community Foundation en Kansas y en julio, a Dra. Guerda Nicolas, cofundadora de Ayiti Community Trust en Florida. Cuando asistes a ambas sesiones, tendrás la oportunidad de trabajar en tu propia pieza y recibir retroalimentación de otras colegas.
Primera parte
Fecha: el jueves, 20 de junio
Hora: de 12:00 a 1:30 p.m. MT, CDMX, Costa Rica / 13:00 a 14:30 CT, Colombia, Perú / 15h a 16.30h Brasil, Argentina
Registración aquí

Segundo parte
Fecha: el jueves, 18 de julio
Hora: de 12:00 a 1:30 p.m. MT, CDMX, Costa Rica / 13:00 a 14:30 CT, Colombia, Perú / 15h a 16.30h Brasil, Argentina
Registración aquí

Se ofrecerán servicios de interpretación en inglés, español y portugués. En la sesión de julio también se hablará criollo haitiano

Practice and Purpose of Policy: A Training for Community Foundation Leaders
2024-07-30 13:00 - 17:00, 2024-08-06 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Online
We’re pleased to be partnering with the Council on Foundations again on a virtual public policy and advocacy training course for community foundations on July 30 and August 6, 2024. This training will provide community foundation leaders and staff with the knowledge and resources needed to excel in advocating for the nonprofits and communities doing the hard work of social change.
This learning opportunity is intended for CEOs and senior leadership staff from community foundations of all sizes that are committed to getting more involved in policy and advocacy work. CFLeads investors are eligible for a discounted registration rate to participate in this course.
About the Course
This training will provide community foundations with:

Increased understanding of the importance of public policy to improve outcomes
Improved policy practice
Increased advocacy action

In this training, participants will:

Understand a comprehensive picture of possible community foundation strategies to engage in effective public policy advocacy that advances the greater good
Understand the complex dynamics around foundation staff’s relationships with policy advocacy organizations and explore the optimal relationship for your foundation
Learn how to build support for advocacy among your foundation’s staff and board
Learn how to improve your foundation’s grantmaking to more effectively participate in policy advocacy

Please visit the Council on Foundation’s website to learn more and to register for this training.
Dates & Times

Tuesday, July 30, 2024: 1 – 5 pm Eastern
Tuesday, August 6, 2024: 1 – 5 pm Eastern

Location
Zoom Meeting
Speakers

Len Bartel, Vice President of Learning and Impact (Capacity-Building), CFLeads
Jen Holcomb, Vice President, Government Affairs and Legal Resources, Council on Foundations

Cost

CFLeads investor or Council on Foundations member*: $440
Investor or member pair registration, per person: $399
Nonmember: $590

*If you are a CFLeads investor, please contact Rachel Reiss at rreiss@cfleads.org for details on how to access your discount.
Please visit the Council on Foundation’s website to learn more and to register for this training.

Economic Mobility Regional Convening: Northwest
2024-09-19 08:00 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Seattle, WA
CFLeads is pleased to announce the 2024 Northwest Economic Mobility Regional Convening, hosted in Seattle! This event is made possible by a generous $4.8M grant awarded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in November 2023. The CFLeads Economic Mobility team has interviewed community foundations across the country to determine how we can best assist community foundations exploring and/or employing economic mobility strategies. Our goal, ultimately, is to foster improved, sustainable economic mobility for individuals and communities across the country. This convening marks a pivotal moment in CFLeads’ vision and our collective journey towards achieving long-term economic prosperity for all.
This opportunity is open to all community foundation staff located in the Northwest including Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon, and Northern California. See below for more information about the Economic Mobility Regional Convening, taking place in Seattle.
See below for more information about the Economic Mobility Regional Convening, taking place in Seattle.
About Regional Convenings
CFLeads’ Economic Mobility Regional Convenings are in-person day-long gatherings hosted around the country for community foundation staff to delve deep into core economic mobility concepts and explore various tools and resources to strengthen their local efforts. The convening’s agenda will include networking, peer learning, tool/resource sharing, and presentations from/conversations with issue area experts.
Seattle Meeting Details
Where: Seattle, Washington
When:September 19 from 8am – 4:30pm Pacific
Partner: Philanthropy Northwest
Target audience: Staff from community foundations committed to working on economic mobility (registrants are limited to 2 tickets per community foundation)
Attendance: 20-30 participants
Hotel: A hotel block is available from September 18-20. We will share more information in an email to registrants.
Registration
The cost to attend the Economic Mobility Regional Convening is free for Northwest community foundation staff members who are interested in economic mobility. We have limited availability for this event, so register by August 25 to secure your spot!
Register Today

Community Leadership 101 with CFLeads and Innovia Foundation
2024-10-03 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Join CFLeads and Innovia Foundation on October 3 for an introductory webinar about community leadership with special insights from your community foundation colleagues. Participants will learn about the importance of embracing a community leadership role when approaching economic mobility work.
Additionally, participants will discover available resources and tools including the five core competencies and Framework for Community Leadership.
Webinar Details
Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern / 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Pacific
Speakers

Shelly O’Quinn, Chief Executive Officer, Innovia Foundation
Meghan Cummings, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Impact, and Operations CFLeads
Molly Sanchez, Chief Community Investment Officer, Innovia Foundation

Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

The Gathering 2024
2024-10-20 18:00 - 2024-10-21 15:30 (America/New_York)
We are thrilled to announce an upcoming gathering designed exclusively for African American Community Foundation CEOs, taking place on
October 20-21, 2024 in Atlanta, GA.
The Gathering will be a special occasion filled with inspiration, support, and the opportunity to create a strong network for the unique challenges faced by the ever-changing philanthropic ecosystem. CFLeads is curating this gathering to provide a space for camaraderie, collaboration, and collective growth. We are excited to feature distinguished speakers who will:

Share their insights and experiences
Ignite discussions that will focus on our unique challenges and opportunities
Provide inspiration and energy to press forward through reflection and restoration.

Schedule of Events:

Evening Reception hosted by President of Spelman College, Dr. Helene Gayle (Atlanta, GA)

Sunday, October 20, 2024, 6-8 p.m. Eastern

Gathering Day at the Carter Center (Atlanta, GA)

Monday, October 21, 2024, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Distinguished hosts and speakers include:

Dr. Helene Gayle
Helene D. Gayle, M.D., MPH, began serving as the 11th president of Spelman College on July 1, 2022. Dr. Gayle previously served as president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, one of the nation’s oldest and largest Community Foundations, from October 2017 to June 2022. Under her leadership, the Trust adopted a new strategic focus on closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region. Read more about Dr. Gayle here.
We are delighted to invite you to a reception, hosted at the home of Dr. Helene Gayle. This will be a special opportunity to connect in a relaxed setting and further build upon the bonds of our community.

John Harper
John Harper is the CEO of FSG, a global nonprofit consulting firm that partners with foundations and corporations to create equitable systems change. Throughout his career, John has been a thoughtful and inclusive leader with a deep commitment to advancing equity, shifting power, and uplifting the voices of historically marginalized communities. At FSG, John has successfully led engagements with notable organizations such as W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Cleveland Foundation, Ares Charitable Foundation/Ares Management, the James S. McDonnell Foundation, and numerous multinational corporations. Prior to joining FSG, John worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade, leading strategy and development for both direct service and field-building nonprofits. As a highly sought after speaker, he regularly writes and speaks on topics of systems change, place-based philanthropy and collaborative civic infrastructure, and translating global corporate purpose into local impact.

Dr. Robin Hindsman Stacia
Event co-architect & facilitator
Advancing impactful executive leadership, effective governance, and achieving equitable outcomes matter most to Dr. Stacia. As Principal of Sage Consulting Network, Robin partners with executives and boards to achieve mission success through elevating leadership insights, implementing bold strategies, and creating leadership processes that address inequities. Dr. Stacia’s consulting is rooted in her background as a clinical psychologist, Director of Consulting for the Maryland Association of Nonprofits, and BoardSource Senior Governance Consultant. Robin earned a PsyD (Doctorate of Psychology) from Wright State University, Dayton, OH, a Certificate of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Solutions from UNC Kenan-Flagler Entrepreneur Program; she is a BoardSource Certified Governance Consultant and Licensed Consultant Standards for Excellence in Nonprofit Management. Read more about Dr. Stacia here.

Natosha Reid Rice
Event co-architect & facilitator
Natosha Reid Rice is Habitat for Humanity International’s first Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and is leading the development and the execution of Habitat’s global strategy for diversity, equity and inclusion. In her previous role at Habitat as Associate General Counsel, Natosha initiated and managed financing programs and strategies to generate sources of capital to enable Habitat affiliates to build affordable housing with families throughout the U.S.
In addition to her work at Habitat, Natosha served as an Associate Pastor at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA for 11 years before joining All Saints’ Episcopal Church as Minister for Public Life.
Natosha is passionate about providing a voice to the voiceless and opportunities to communities that have been historically disadvantaged and serves on the boards of the global Harvard Alumni Association Executive Committee, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Goodwill of North Georgia, The Redress Movement (Board Co-Chair), Westminster Schools and Out of Hand Theater (Advisory). She has also been actively involved in efforts to pass legislation and policies to protect victims of human sex trafficking in Georgia, such as the passage of the Safe Harbor/Rachel’s Law in 2015.
Additionally, she is a highly regarded keynote speaker, presider and workshop facilitator for organizations such as Delta Airlines, the Junior League of Atlanta, LEAD Atlanta, The Atlanta Hawks, Leadership Atlanta, National Charitable Gift Planner’s Association, TD Jakes Global Faith & Family Conference, churches and other global civic and community organizations. Natosha has presided over the annual National Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Commemorative Service for the past 8 years and delivered her TEDx talk – “If We Are More Alike Than Unalike, Then…” for TEDx Centennial Park Women.
Natosha has received recognition and awards for her work and leadership including: the Atlanta Business Chronicles’ Top Diversity and Inclusion Officers, the Atlanta Tribune’s 50 Women of Excellence, one of Atlanta’s 100 Most Influential Women by the Atlanta Business League for multiple consecutive years, the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers, the Circle of Friends Pearl Award and the Church Women United’s Outstanding Young Woman. Natosha is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and an Associate Mother in the Lake Spivey Chapter of Jack and Jill, Inc. She was also a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2014 and was a fellow in the 2017-2018 International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation Fellows Program with 35 women from 14 nations.
Natosha received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her B.A. in Government with honors from Harvard/Radcliffe College. Natosha is married to Corey Rice and they are the proud parents of Kayla, Malachi and Caleb.
Stay tuned for more speaker announcements!
Registration
Please register here for this event.
Contact Danka Klein at dklein@cfleads.org for more information about hotel accommodations.

Limited financial assistance is available to select attendees. Please inquire by emailing dklein@cfleads.org.

Transforming Data into Action: Unlocking Potential with Opportunity Insights
2024-10-23 13:30 - 14:45 (America/New_York) | Online
Join CFLeads on October 23 for a conversation with Opportunity Insights and Leading on Opportunity, an entity of Foundation For The Carolinas. In this introductory webinar to Opportunity Insights’ Opportunity Atlas, participants will learn how community foundations can utilize this resource to support economic mobility.
Additionally, participants will hear from Leading on Opportunity on their use of strategy, policy, and local data to drive outcomes.
Webinar Details
Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Eastern / 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. Pacific
Speakers

David Forte, Director of Research Translation and Strategic Initiatives, Opportunity Insights
Emily Leff, Research and Data Communications Associate, Opportunity Insights
Sherri Chisholm, Executive Director, Leading on Opportunity, Foundation For The Carolinas
AJ Calhoun, Director, Research + Impact, Leading on Opportunity,
Foundation For The Carolinas
Mary L. Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads
Dr. Leonard Brock, Vice President for Learning and Impact, CFLeads

Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2025 Community Foundation Cohort – Information Session
2024-10-31 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online
ABFE and CFLeads are joining forces to offer a free new cohort program in 2025 for community foundations to collaboratively engage with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advance their racial equity agenda. Combining expertise and peer learning among and within participating organizations, the 2025 SDG Cohort will help community foundations mobilize stakeholders, advance their missions, and increase impact and accountability.
For community foundations, using the SDG framework helps create a platform for collective leadership and impact. Through this SDG Cohort, ABFE and CFLeads will combine their respective areas of expertise and longstanding relationships with funders across the country to offer a comprehensive program for community foundation staff, board members, and donors.
To learn more about this exciting opportunity, download the program overview here.

Cohort Details

Who: Community foundation staff, board members, and donors.
When:

Information session – October 31, 2024
Application deadline – November 22, 2024
Participants announced – December 8, 2024
Cohort A sessions – February 12, March 12, April 9, 2025
Cohort A consulting, TA, and coaching – May-July, 2025

Where: All cohort sessions and consulting sessions will take place virtually.
Cost: Free!

Information Session
Interested in learning more about the cohort? Join our information session on October 31 at 1 p.m. Eastern to hear further details about the program content and format, followed by a Q&A.
Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The session will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Building Meaningful Partnerships with Our Latine Communities
2024-11-14 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Join Connecting Communities in the Americas and Hispanics in Philanthropy on November 14 for an insightful conversation with the co-authors of “Building Meaningful Partnerships with Our Latine Communities” and special guest speakers from Latine-led community foundations who were interviewed for the guide. They’ll discuss some of the strategies and recommendations outlined in the guide and highlight real-life examples from the Latine professionals shaping community philanthropy today.
Webinar Details

Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024
Time: 1 – 2 p.m. Eastern

Speakers

Carlos Martínez, Latino Community Foundation Colorado
Cindy Milian, Berks County Community Foundation
Óscar Chávez, Community Foundation Sonoma County
Carla Molina, Community Chair of the Hispanic Impact Fund at the Austin Community Foundation
Mary Thomas, CEO, CFLeads
Ana Marie Argilagos, President & CEO, Hispanics in Philanthropy
Lisa Schalla (moderator), Program Director, Connecting Communities in the Americas (CCA), a CFLeads initiative
Inarú Meléndez Vázquez (moderator), Senior Communications Manager, Hispanics in Philanthropy

Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Heir's Property Partnerships: Promising Practices from the Southeast
2024-12-10 13:30 - 14:45 (America/New_York) | Online
Join CFLeads on December 10 for a conversation with strategic partner, Results for America, along with perspectives from the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and LISC Jacksonville. Participants will learn about the Results for America’s Economic Mobility Catalog and view how to utilize this resource and case studies to support economic mobility.
You’ll also hear about promising practices from the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and LISC Jacksonville on how their partnership drives Heirs’ Property programming and policy to support homeowners in Northeast Florida.
Webinar Details
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. Eastern / 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. Pacific
Speakers

Ross Tilchin, Director, Economic Mobility Catalog, Results for America
Kristopher Smith, Community Development Officer, LISC Jacksonville
James Coggin, Senior Director for Grantmaking and Impact Investing, Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Leslie Grueber, Associate Director of the Economic Mobility Catalog, Results for America

Registration
Please register for this webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) for VPs Information Session
2024-12-12 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Information Session
Join Meghan Cummings, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Impact, and Operations at CFLeads to learn more about the Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) for VPs. In this information session, you’ll hear about program structure, content, and application process, followed by a Q&A.

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. Eastern

Register Today
About ELI for VPs
If you’re a community foundation VP, Chief of Staff, Chief Impact Officer, or CFO interested in advancing your foundation’s community leadership practices and deepening your foundation’s impact, then this opportunity is for you!
Meeting Details

Meeting 1: April 23 – 24, 2025, In-Person, Location TBD
Meeting 2: August 6 – 7, 2025, In-Person, Location TBD
Meeting 3: November 5 – 6, 2025, In-Person, Location TBD

How to Apply
To apply for this unique learning opportunity, please visit the link below and submit your application by Monday, January 13, 2025.
*A limited number of scholarships are available for the 2025 ELI for VPs cohort. Please refer to the instructions on the application for more information.
Apply Today

CFLeads Fellowship Program – Information Session
2025-02-19 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Information Session
Are you a graduate student looking for a paid, remote opportunity to engage in the philanthropic sector? Join this 60-minute information session to learn more about CFLeads and the 2025-2026 Fellowship program. Students, academic advisors, and community foundation staff are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and share this opportunity with graduate students seeking early career experience in philanthropy.

Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. Eastern

Register Today
About the Fellowship Program
Through this program, two graduate-level students with a passion for community leadership will have the opportunity to:

Grow awareness and appreciation for community foundations by providing expertise while working on pertinent projects and sharing new perspectives
Gain valuable experience and networking opportunities while practicing meaningful skills to be successful in their early career paths
Deepen skills in project strategy and implementation, strategic communications, and network engagement

The Fellowship Program is a paid opportunity to work with a fully remote organization that connects with partners nationwide. Stipends of $25,000 will cover a Fellow’s salary for up to 20 hours per week for three semesters.
Learn More
How to Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter with a clear declaration of university affiliation, program degree, and expected completion date to careers@cfleads.org. Submissions will be accepted until March 7, 2025.
Applications will be reviewed, and interviews will begin in March with decisions by May 2025.
Apply Today

Leading with Our Values in Uncertain Times: A Peer-to-Peer Learning Series for Community Foundations
2025-03-06 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-03-13 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-04-17 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Are you a community foundation leader hoping to support residents, nonprofits, and donors as your community navigates this moment of legal and cultural uncertainty? We invite you to join CFLeads for three virtual conversations among community foundation leaders who are helping their communities lean into their shared values to find common ground, focus on solutions, and galvanize action towards a collective community vision. Each session features:

Real-world examples of how community foundations are taking the initiative to lead with values in this current moment
Opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and exchange in small group discussions
Tools to help your community foundation put its organizational values into practice to build stronger, more vibrant communities.

This three-part series is free of charge and open to CEOs and staff of community foundations. Active participation is highly encouraged through small group discussions and peer exchange. Space is limited.

Learning Series Details
Part 1: Our Values as Our Guide

Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025
Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Featured Speakers:

Simeon Banister, President & CEO, Rochester Area Community Foundation
John L. S. Simpkins, President & CEO, MDC

John L. S. Simpkins, President & CEO of MDC, introduces our three-part series by highlighting the opportunity that community foundations have to lead with our values in this cultural moment. Simeon Banister, President and CEO of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, follows with a discussion on how the Rochester Area Community Foundation centers its organizational values to bring clarity to its work in an eighty-county region in New York, especially as community members experience current policy changes, political shifts, and uncertainty.
In this session, you’ll have the opportunity to consider how your community foundation’s organizational values can be a guide for your leadership role moving forward. You’ll also hear about an interactive tool that the Rochester Area Community Foundation uses with its board and staff as an organizational pulse check, and you’ll explore that tool in small group discussions with peers from other community foundations.

Part 2: Standing Our Ground: Making the Case for Thriving Communities

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2025
Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Featured Speaker: Dr. Tiffany Manuel, President & CEO, TheCaseMade
Community foundations are uniquely positioned to help make the case for thriving, resilient communities. This session will focus on how we can use our community position effectively and intentionally, especially in this difficult and challenging climate.
In this session, we’ll share strategies for navigating the complex communications landscape, avoiding common pitfalls that can lead to backfires, and circumventing misinformation that can undermine community trust. We will also delve into the bridge-building work that is necessary to foster collaboration, strengthen relationships, and reinforce shared values.
We’ll end this session by discussing how to empower community partners to enhance their own casemaking, ensuring that our collective efforts remain effective, credible, and deeply impactful. Join us for this essential conversation on standing firm while moving forward together.

Part 3: Lessons from the Field: The Moment Ahead

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time: 2 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Featured Speakers:

Tracy Edgerton, President & CEO, Lincoln Community Foundation
Karen Dubois-Walton, President & CEO, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Erica Snow, President & CEO, Aspen Community Foundation

Our final session features perspectives from community foundation leaders who represent the diversity of places, priorities, endowments, and geographic areas that makes each community unique.
These leaders will help us make sense of key themes and take-aways from previous sessions in the series. They’ll also share how their community foundations are adapting to the post-election environment and charting next steps. We will conclude the session by providing a space for you to reflect on the ways in which you can help your community foundation embrace its organizational values and provide leadership irrespective of what lies ahead.

Registration
Please register for the learning series by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Applying Behavioral Science to Unlock Donor Generosity
2025-07-30 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Join CFLeads for an insightful webinar with Ideas42, a leader in behavioral science innovation, as we explore how behavioral insights can help unlock greater generosity from donors. In this session, we’ll dive into practical strategies rooted in behavioral science that can boost engagement, build trust, and drive more impactful giving.Don’t miss this opportunity to reimagine donor engagement through a behavioral lens.

Speakers

Tony Bowen, Executive Director, Fidelity Charitable® Catalyst Fund
Eleni Fischer, Associate Managing Director, Ideas42
Julia Ritz Toffoli, Associate Managing Director, Ideas42
Mary L. Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads

Webinar Details

Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern

Registration
Please register for the webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Foundations for Community Safety Guidebook Launch
2025-08-18 11:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Join us for the final webinar in the Foundations for Community Safety Series, where participants will get an exclusive preview of the Foundations for Community Safety Case Statement and Guidebook. This session offers a first look at the Guidebook, designed to empower community foundations with actionable strategies to enhance safety and well-being in their regions. Participants will hear directly from the creators about the development journey, the structure of the Guidebook, and the essential content that will guide community leaders in their safety efforts.
In addition to exploring the Guidebook, we’ll share effective strategies for its dissemination, ensuring that community foundations have the tools they need to spread its impact far and wide. You’ll also learn more about the upcoming Milwaukee Regional Convening in September – an exciting opportunity to connect with other foundations and leaders committed to advancing community safety. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of the movement and contribute to building stronger, safer communities.

Webinar Details

Date: Monday, August 18, 2025
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Eastern

Registration
Please register for the webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Power in Partnership: Advancing Economic Mobility Through Local-National Funder Collaboration
2025-08-19 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Join CFLeads for an insightful conversation as we bring together national philanthropic leaders from the Gates Foundation and the Mott Foundation to explore how funders can work together to accelerate place-based change.
This session – open to community foundations and national funders – will highlight the strategic roles each partner plays in collaborative efforts to advance economic mobility. Learn about promising partnership practices, evolving strategic priorities, and how national and local funders can complement each other to drive more effective and equitable outcomes in communities.
Join us for this valuable opportunity to strengthen your role in impactful, place-based philanthropy.

Speakers

Kevin Howard, Program Officer, Economic Mobility and Opportunity, Gates Foundation
Nick Deychakiwsky, Senior Program Officer, Civil Society, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Mary L. Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads
Leonard Brock, Senior Vice President for Systems Change, CFLeads

Webinar Details

Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Time: 1 – 2 p.m. Eastern

Registration
Please register for the webinar by using this link. The webinar will take place on Zoom.
We hope you can join us!

Foundations for Community Safety Convening
2025-09-22 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Greater Milwakee Foundation, 2153 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr Suite 4000, Milwaukee, 53212, United States
Foundations for Community Safety Convening | Milwaukee, WI
We are pleased to share the successful launch of CFLeads’ Foundations for Community Safety (formerly Gun Violence Prevention Network) program of events this year, focused on how community foundations can advance community safety and well-being by leveraging the Community Leadership Framework.
As part of this initiative, we would like to invite you to join us for an in-person convening in Milwaukee, WI on Monday, September 22, 2025.
This event is open to community foundation staff and their community partners who are engaged or interested in this important work. Whether your organization is just beginning to explore community safety or is already leading efforts in this space, we welcome your participation.
We will share the journey, structure, and content of the Foundations for Community Safety Guidebook and strategies for dissemination. Additionally, we will develop an action plan for beginning or building upon this work in your community.
Who Should Attend?
This is a free opportunity open to community foundation staff and their community partners who are engaged or interested in this important work. Whether your organization is just beginning to explore community safety or is already leading efforts in this space, we welcome your participation.
Registration closes on September 8.
Register now.

Community Foundations for Civic Health: Live in Chicago!
2025-09-30 08:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Summit Chicago, 205 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60601
Community Foundations for Civic Health: Live in Chicago!
We invite you to the Community Foundations for Civic Health: Live in Chicago! event on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central. We will host a networking cocktail reception the evening prior, Monday, September 29th. The registration deadline is Friday, September 12, 2025 and space is limited.
Who
We are welcoming community foundation CEOs and/or one other senior member of your staff who is leading civic health work (or who is likely to be part of future work). The convening is closed-door, private, and will follow Chatham House rules.
Speakers

David Brooks, New York Times columnist, commentator for PBS NewsHour and NPR, and founder of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute
Simeon Banister, President & CEO, The Rochester Area Community Foundation
Ian B. Bautista, Senior Director of Civic Engagement, Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Martin Carcasson, Founder and Director, CSU Center for Public Deliberation
Jonathan Collins, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
Stuart Comstock-Gay, President and CEO, Delaware Community Foundation
Shannon Green, President & CEO, PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement)
Joseph K. Hoereth, Director, Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement, University of Illinois Chicago
Melissa Newman, Strategy Advisor, Press Forward Bluegrass
Isaiah Oliver, President and CEO, Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Jodie Riesenberger, Vice President, Community Impact, NoCoFoundation
Daniel Stid, Executive Director, Lyceum Labs
Nancy Van Milligen, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Jillian Youngblood, Executive Director, Civic Genius
Richard Young, Executive Director, CivicLex

Registration Details
Please register by clicking the button below and reach out to Enida Jeteric at ejeteric@cfleads.org with any questions.
Register now.
Background
Community Foundations for Civic Health, an initiative of CFLeads, the Rhode Island Foundation, the National Civic League, and other partners, is aimed at increasing the number of community foundations confidently engaging in strengthening civic health in their communities. Civic health matters. Strong, ongoing connections between residents, robust relationships between people and public institutions, and positive attachments between citizens and the places they live are highly correlated with a range of positive outcomes, from better physical health to higher employment rates to better resilience in the face of natural disasters.
Civic health is based on the quality of civic opportunities and the strength of civic infrastructure. When these supports are weak, people of different backgrounds and political perspectives are less likely to communicate or work together, which exacerbates partisan polarization.
We look forward to partnering with you on this critical work.
