Cleveland Foundation strengthens nonprofit partners through capacity-building partnership with Resilia

 The initiative will partner with a cohort of nonprofit organizations through the Cleveland Black Futures Fund, which supports Black-led and Black-serving social change organizations

 New Orleans, La. - Resilia, a social enterprise with offices in New Orleans and New York City, and Cleveland Foundation, the world’s first community foundation, have come together to strengthen the capacity of its nonprofit partners in a two-year partnership. 

Founded in 1914, Cleveland Foundation serves the Greater Cleveland region, including Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. The Cleveland Foundation is made up of more than 1,300 funds representing individuals, families, organizations and corporations, dedicated to enhancing the lives of all residents of Greater Cleveland, by working together to build community endowments and address needs through grantmaking, and provide leadership on key community issues. The Cleveland Foundation’s partnership with Resilia supports organizations through its Cleveland Black Futures Fund, which invests in and strengths Black-led and serving nonprofits. 

In Resilia and the Cleveland Foundation’s collaboration, invited nonprofit partners will be able to access Resilia’s multi-faceted capacity-building program as they work towards organizational sustainability. The Resilia program helps change makers build mission-facing and back-office capacity while helping elevate stories to drive advocacy and fundraising efforts. This is enabled through a combination of an online platform, unlimited 1:1 nonprofit coaching and peer-to-peer learning models, thereby enabling multiple entry points into capacity building and meeting nonprofits where they are.

“The Cleveland Foundation is proud to continue in the role of critical friend and thought partner by supporting this diverse pool of nonprofits in strengthening their capacity and deepening the narrative of their astounding work,” said Keisha M. González, Program Director, Economic and Community Development & Social Impact Investing

“The Cleveland Foundation’s commitment to strengthening the long-term impact of its nonprofit partners and empowering them to focus on their capacity-building needs is a perfect match for us,” says Resilia CEO and Founder Sevetri Wilson. “Our Funder Program meets nonprofits and leaders where they are, and supports their growth and impact journey. We’re delighted to work with the Cleveland Foundation and applaud their strategic vision.” 

Through the partnership, The Cleveland Foundation has also joined Resilia’s flagship ELEVATE initiative, a first-of-its-kind national funders Learning & Action Network comprising more than twenty grantmakers and aimed at elevating the capacity and voices of BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving grassroots organizations throughout the country.

 More information about Resilia’s Funder Program can be found here. 

About Resilia
Founded in 2016, Resilia is a Black-led organization that leverages a combination of technology & human touch to help nonprofits and change-makers build capacity and elevate stories. Resilia’s Funder Program enables grantors (foundations, corporations, and cities) to empower their nonprofit partners with on-demand technical assistance and capacity support that meets them where they are. More information on Resilia’s Funder Program can be found here.

About Cleveland Foundation
Established in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation is the world's first community foundation and one of the largest today. The Cleveland Foundation’s mission is to enhance the lives of all residents of Greater Cleveland, now and for generations to come, by working together with our donors to build community endowment, address needs through grantmaking, and provide leadership on key community issues.

To learn more about the program, please reach out to Todd Smith, Senior Director of Institutional Partnerships, at todd.smith@resilia.com