Community News & Information
Dillard has more than 20 years of experience building brands, producing powerful experiences and leading engagement strategies rooted in culture and community.
CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Foundation announced that Heather Holmes Dillard will join the Cleveland Foundation as Vice President, Marketing and Communications, effective August 18.
Dillard is a catalyst and visionary in marketing and communications, with more than two decades of experience building brands, producing powerful experiences, and leading engagement strategies rooted in culture and community.
In this role, Dillard will lead the foundation’s Marketing and Communications team and drive efforts to elevate the foundation’s voice, grow its donor base, and further strengthen its connection with Greater Cleveland.
“Heather is a dynamic force in marketing with deep roots in our community,” said Lillian Kuri, president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. “Her extraordinary leadership will bring bold ideas to life and expand the ways we lift up the many voices and stories of our community.”
Dillard currently serves as a Principal at Raben, a national strategic communications and public affairs firm, where she leads creative services for the firm. Her work has spanned brand identity, storytelling, design, and experiential engagement—delivering high-impact campaigns and convenings for mission-driven organizations nationwide.
Before joining Raben, Dillard was the executive vice president of external affairs at the Downtown Cleveland, Inc. where she led strategic marketing and public relations, public space programming and activation, and community engagement.
Dillard is the founding creator and executive producer of Cleveland’s Juneteenth Freedom Fest and has played a central role in major civic and cultural moments including the 2016 Republican National Convention, 2021 NFL Draft, 2022 NBA All-Star Game, and the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Her work bridges strategy and soul—helping institutions tell their stories with clarity, authenticity, and purpose.
Dillard is a member of the 2022 Class of Leadership Cleveland, Open Doors Academy Board of Directors, Cleveland Institute of Art Board of Directors, Cleveland Chapter of The Links, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In 2020, Dillard was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a “40 Under 40” honoree and was named to the Women of Power “Power 50” list by the U.S. Black Chambers Inc. in 2023.
Dillard holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in interpersonal communications.
“There’s never been a more exciting time to join the Cleveland Foundation,” said Dillard. “As someone shaped by this city, I’m deeply proud to be part of a team working boldly to expand opportunity, deepen trust, and make lasting impact in the communities we serve. I’m energized by the work ahead and honored to help build on its legacy for the next 100 years.”
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