CFLeads

???Celebrating staff milestones! ? CFLeads is?excited?to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and amazing contributions of four team members who are marking their?one year?anniversaries with us! We would like to thank Meghan Cummings, Danka Klein, Amanda Hartigan, and Kellie Alexander, MA, CFRM for the energy, innovation, and passion that you bring to the team and community foundation field each and every day. Learn more about our incredible staff members below ?? ?? Meghan Cummings is our Senior Vice President of Strategy and Impact. She comes to CFLeads with 13 years of experience at her local community foundation and believes that we can make meaningful progress on the most difficult issues when the power and potential of community foundations are unleashed. ?? Danka Klein is CFLeads' Director of Development and Marketing. She has 12 years of experience leading a community foundation and understands that community foundations are well positioned and poised to catalyze and facilitate local positive change. ?? Amanda Hartigan is our Project Director for CFLeads' Economic Mobility work.?Amanda comes to us with 8 years of community foundation experience.??She?has seen the impact community foundations can have when they collaborate, share resources, and learn together and believes that the pursuit of racial justice and economic mobility for all are two of the most important challenges communities face today. ?? Kellie Alexander, MA, CFRM is the Network Engagement Manager for CFLeads' Economic Mobility work. Kellie focuses on building relationships that foster collaboration and believes that community foundations are uniquely positioned to be fundamental partners in promoting an engaged culture of philanthropy.

This week, CFLeads President & CEO, Mary L. Thomas, had the honor of attending and presenting at the Mott Foundation board meeting in Flint, Michigan. Thank you to the Mott Foundation for being a steadfast champion for community philanthropy and believing in the power of community foundations. At CFLeads, we believe that community foundations are vital partners in building communities where all residents are prosperous, healthy and secure, and funders like the Mott Foundation help ensure that we can continue supporting community foundations. To learn more about CFLeads' mission, vision, and values, click the link below ?? https://lnkd.in/eC7Sy5pW

At CFLeads, we're witnessing firsthand how community foundations are driving real, systemic change throughout the nation. Our inaugural?CFLeads 2024 Economic Mobility Report: Pathways to Progress,?dives into community foundations' impact on advancing economic mobility and racial equity across the country. Inside the report, you'll discover: ??Bold action and?innovative partnerships?that are reshaping communities. ??How?local data, racial equity, and?collaboration?are producing transformative outcomes.? ??The critical role of community foundations as?trusted conveners and catalysts?for change. As we reflect on the strides the community foundation field has made and look to 2025 and beyond, we invite you to explore this report, celebrate our collective milestones, and join us in the ongoing movement to create equitable, prosperous communities for all. ?? Explore the report today: https://lnkd.in/eWpA3Zv5 Leonard Brock, Ed.D., MPA, Amanda Hartigan, Kellie Alexander, MA, CFRM, Enida Jeteric, Mary L. Thomas

?? Join us TOMORROW at 2 p.m. Eastern for Part 1 of our new Learning Series: Leading with Our Values in Uncertain Times! Participants will hear from John Simpkins, President & CEO, MDC and Simeon Banister, President & CEO, Rochester Area Community Foundation about the unique opportunity community foundations have to use their values as a guide for?their leadership roles moving forward. Sign up below ?? https://lnkd.in/e7Y3YD3n

The 2025 CFLeads Forum agenda is here! ?? Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind peer learning and networking opportunity for community foundation leaders. Join us from April 1 – 3 in Indianapolis, IN for a transformative experience filled with: ? Plenary Speakers: Hear from inspiring leaders like Heather C. McGhee, Rais Bhuiyan, Sarina Beges-Thysen, John Harper, and more as they share their latest insights. ?? Engaging Sessions: With sessions ranging from exploring courageous leadership with Darrin Goss Sr., Javier Alberto Soto, and Gerry Roll to discussing the impacts of economic mobility in community with Sherri Chisholm and Laura Yates Clark, there’s something for everyone! ?? Networking Opportunities: Meet & connect with your community foundation peers, experts, and innovators during our networking events. ??Registration closes this Friday, March 7. Don’t miss out—explore the agenda and register today! Agenda: https://lnkd.in/esVQpJMd | Registration: https://lnkd.in/e5VFawbx

?? The CFLeads Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) for VPs Class of 2024-25 met in Jacksonville, FL for their final meeting! Thank you to Isaiah Oliver, President of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida for generously hosting us this week. The cohort shared progress on their community leadership goals, engaged in peer coaching, and made lasting connections with their peers in the community foundation field. Please join us in congratulating the ELI for VPs Class of 2024-25. We wish you well on your community leadership journey! Iris Bieri, Rochester Area Community Foundation ? Melen Hagos, Greater Washington Community Foundation ? Dominic P. Papatola, CommunityGiving ? Abby Aldrich, Greater Toledo Community Foundation ? Wanda Willis, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida ? Emily Wyckoff, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo ? Julia Wood, Community Foundation of Central Georgia ? Ellie Moore, Community Foundation of Johnson County ? Kenyatta Sinclair, MSM, Greater Milwaukee Foundation ? ?? A special thank you to CFLeads staff, special advisors, and speakers for making all of this possible! Kyumon Murrell, Meghan Cummings, Makenna Brandt, Frank Ridzi, Laura Seaman #communityleadership #communityfoundations

?? Join us for our new Learning Series: Leading with Our Values in Uncertain Times! 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. ?? Interested in learning more and registering for the Learning Series? Click the link below to sign up ?? https://lnkd.in/eG6n9-49

In Appalachian Kentucky, we support each other and care for our neighbors. We are in the process of determining the best way to support our communities after the February 15-16 flood. In the meantime, we will be posting updates on our website (https://lnkd.in/e2btgV8N) and on our social media platforms. For a list of contacts and resources, visit https://lnkd.in/eU686hDB. To support recovery efforts, visit www.bit.ly/AppCrisisAid.

The 2024-25 Gun Violence Prevention Network (GVPN) Cohort met for their third meeting in Oakland, CA this week, generously hosted by Brandi Howard, President & CEO of the East Bay Community Foundation. CFLeads' Gun Violence Prevention Network brings community foundation teams together to build a base of knowledge in effective gun violence prevention practice and advance these practices in the communities they serve. ?? Each community foundation team in the 2024-25 GVPN Cohort brought deep insights, valuable solutions and challenges, and intentional reflections on how they can best serve their communities. Thank you to the following community foundations for your willingness to share your work thus far and your action plans for the future: Philadelphia Foundation Greater Washington Community Foundation Rose Community Foundation The Indianapolis Foundation A huge shoutout to our facilitators, partners, and staff members who made this GVPN Cohort possible: Reggie Moore, Meghan Cummings, Jen Young Heymoss, Makenna Brandt, Arnitta R. Holliman, MS, LPC, CPC. Interested in learning more about our Gun Violence Prevention Network? Click the link below ?? https://lnkd.in/eq6qbQb4

Interested in learning more about our 2025-26 Fellowship Program? Sign up for next week's information session below ?? ?? Wednesday, February 19 ? 1 p.m. Eastern ? Register here: https://lnkd.in/eDZH7xiv ?? Learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/efdr5jnu