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Grantmaking
Helen W. Williams, Ph.D.Grantmaking
Vice President, Strategy
Helen Williams oversees the foundation’s grantmaking in all areas of education. She has more than 25 years of experience in executive management and consulting in nonprofit, public, and corporate organizations, specializing in strategic planning and leadership development. Helen is the former associate director of the Cleveland Initiative for Education. Under former Ohio Gov. Richard F. Celeste, Helen directed the State of Ohio’s regional office in Cleveland.
She holds a doctorate in organizational behavior from Case Western Reserve University.
Karen Bartrum JansenGrantmaking
Senior Grants Coordinator
216.615.7178 |
Karen Bartrum Jansen joined the Cleveland Foundation more than 10 years ago. She currently works in Grants Management, helping donors and grantees through the foundation’s systems and processes. Prior to joining the foundation, Karen worked in various sales and office management roles for a metal broker, a small computer company, and an international plastics manufacturer.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business with a minor in computer information systems from Ohio State University.
Joseph BlackGrantmaking
Program Manager, Racial Equity & Racial Justice Initiatives
216.340.7608 |
Joseph Black is a results-oriented community organizer and philanthropy professional with over a decade of experience leveraging public and private resources. As of February 2023, Joseph assumed the role of the Manager of Racial Equity and Racial Justice (RERJ) Initiatives for the Cleveland Foundation. In this role, Joseph will oversee the Foundation’s grantmaking strategies related to RERJ, which includes the Cleveland Black Futures Fund and other innovative initiatives.
Joseph intends to continue his commitment and connection to the community through his service on the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and the Refresh Collective Board of Directors. Joseph is a proud member of the Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (Cohort VIII), National Urban Fellows (2017), and Cleveland Bridge Builders (2023). Joseph also maintains a leadership role, coordinating the "Reverse Ride Along," a community engagement training program for over 500 law enforcement and medical professionals, designed to improve community/police relations and public safety.
Jermaine BrownGrantmaking
Grants Coordinator
216.685.4005 |
Jermaine Brown joined the Cleveland Foundation in August 2024 as a Grants Management Coordinator. In this role, he supports grant applicants and nonprofit partners in establishing and maintaining their grants profile, as well as addressing inquiries related to the grant application, review and award processes. Additionally, Jermaine assists with the administrative functions of grantmaking and scholarship programs, often collaborating with various internal teams across the Cleveland Foundation.
Prior to joining the foundation, Jermaine spent seven years in business sales at Apple, Inc. as an account manager helping businesses and nonprofits in Greater Cleveland with technology planning. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Promotional Communication from Cleveland State University.
Jermaine grew up in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood of Cleveland, where his social and academic involvement fostered a deep appreciation for cultural diversity through community engagement and volunteerism. These principles continue to drive his commitment to his work every day.
Annabel BryanGrantmaking
Senior Executive Coordinator
216.615.7177 |
Annabel Bryan joined the foundation in 2004 as a program assistant and supported board-directed and special initiatives for two program directors in Arts and Urban Design and Community Development. She now serves as executive assistant to the Senior Vice President of Program. In this capacity, she provides project and meeting management support to internal and external partners including Board members and senior management. Annabel also coordinates the local nomination and selection process for the American Marshall Memorial Fellows program in partnership with the German Marshall Fund in DC. Her previous experience includes working as an executive assistant at Hyatt Legal Plans and as a research assistant at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
Annabel received her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Boston University. She currently volunteers in Cleveland schools.
Mary Clare DonnellyGrantmaking
Executive Assistant/Program Assistant Coordinator
216.685.4000 | Email Mary Clare
Mary Clare Donnelly joined the Cleveland Foundation in 2004 as a program assistant and now serves as the executive assistant to the vice president, strategic grantmaking, arts & urban design initiatives. She provides advanced administrative support, and included among her duties are coordination and communication with senior management and board members, extensive calendar maintenance, management of various in-house processes, and collaborative work across all departments.
Her prior experience includes various executive administrative positions at IMG, a global sports, fashion, and media business, and in the legal department at Key Bank.
Keisha GonzálezGrantmaking
Senior Director, Social Impact Investing and Economic & Community Development
Administrative Assistant: Ciba Jones 216.615.7184
Keisha González joined the Cleveland Foundation in June 2018 as the Program Officer for Community Revitalization and Engagement. In her current role, Keisha is responsible for supporting the foundation's Social Impact Investing initiatives through the management of both current and future investment opportunities that will lead to equitable economic growth. She works in collaboration with colleagues to position the foundation’s strategy for community development innovation, supporting efforts to strengthen the sector’s capacity and appetite for innovative risk.
Prior to joining the foundation, Keisha served as the Managing Director for Metro West Community Development Organization. In this capacity, she implemented the organization’s strategic plan, management of programs and operations, and cultivated productive relationships in the public, private and civic sector. During her career at Metro West, Keisha also held the positions of Community Organizer (2014) and Director of Economic Development (2016). In these capacities, she focused on community-building initiatives designed to improve conditions in the neighborhood through the involvement of residents, businesses and community institutions.
Keisha earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Cleveland State University and went on to earn her Master of Arts in Historic Preservation from the University of Delaware. During her time at the University of Delaware she worked for the Mid-Atlantic Historic Buildings and Landscape Survey at the Centre for Historic Architecture and Design documenting at-risk historic dwellings, infrastructure and landscapes for local and state governments.
Committed to the equitable placemaking, Keisha has worked on many key projects in the cities where she has lived. Locally, Keisha was a part of the executive steering committee that launched La Placita and has elevated the La Villa Hispana as a priority placemaking initiative for the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. On the east coast, she worked on the Delaware City Oral History Project, a campaign designed to digitally document local recollections pertaining specifically to the history of the natural areas surrounding Delaware City, Delaware.
Kathleen HallisseyGrantmaking
Vice President, Grantmaking
Executive Assistant: Mary Clare Donnelly 216.685.4000
Kathleen Hallissey joined The Cleveland Foundation in August 2005 as a program officer, focusing on education and health, human services grants, and strengthening nonprofit organizations across Greater Cleveland. She was promoted to Director of Community Responsive Grantmaking where she worked with a team of program officers to align grantmaking with the needs of the community and the foundation’s priorities.
Previously, Kathy served as a management consultant to the Head Start community working on special projects such as the grantee monitoring system, data analysis and the development of training and technical assistance materials. She served as a program analyst in the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC, focusing on programs and policies impacting children, youth and families specifically Head Start and Early Head Start. She began her career in the federal government as a Presidential Management Fellow. This two-year program was designed to build excellence in the public sector. During her fellowship she completed key projects in legislative affairs, planning and evaluation, and program implementation.
Kathy earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Drew University in New Jersey. She is a 2013 Leadership Cleveland graduate and a graduate of the YWCA Women’s Momentum program.
Ciba JonesGrantmaking
Program Coordinator
216.615.7184 |
Ciba “CJ” Jones is the program coordinator for community-responsive grantmaking and two program officers. CJ joined the foundation in August 2003. Prior to that, she was the human resources coordinator for the Benjamin Rose Institute’s administrative office.
CJ received a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University, an artistic diploma in theory from the Royal College of Music, and an artistic diploma in performance from the Julliard School.
Diane KaszeiGrantmaking
Director, Grants Management
216.615.7167 |
Diane Kaszei has been with the foundation since 1990. She was promoted to grants manager in 2004 when the foundation centralized its grantmaking. Prior to that, Diane worked in the Gift Planning and Donor Relations Department helping donors with grantmaking and as an assistant in the civic and economic development program area.
Diane holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Myers University.
Andrew KatusinGrantmaking
Director of Community Philanthropy
216.615.7146 |
Andrew Katusin joined the Cleveland Foundation in August 2021 as the Program Officer, Grantmaking Initiatives, where he oversees various investments across the nonprofit sector in Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga Counties. Prior to joining the Foundation, Andrew served as the Director of Basic Needs at United Way of Greater Cleveland and managed the organization’s responsive grantmaking in the areas of housing, homeless services, and food access. In addition, he supported the Community Investment team’s special projects including Right to Counsel and the Family Stability Initiative.
Andrew is a Licensed Social Worker and holds a Master of Social Science Administration from the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Andrew serves on the Community Advisory Council for the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency and volunteers with the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation in his neighborhood.
Stephen LoveGrantmaking
Program Director, Environmental Initiatives
Stephen Love joined the Foundation in 2014 as part of the community responsive grantmaking team. In this capacity, Stephen also managed the Foundation’s Summer Internship Program and oversaw implementation of the Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship. In 2018, Stephen became the Foundation’s Environment Program Officer, overseeing development of an Environmental Grantmaking strategy, including efforts to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the parks and greenspaces we enjoy by supporting policies and practices that link environmental protection, climate action, health, equity and economic prosperity.
Prior to joining the foundation in 2014, Stephen worked for the Cuyahoga Land Bank, researching and compiling property data for vacant property reuse opportunities as part of the President’s Special Projects team. Additionally, he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, focusing on neighborhood stabilization and urban agriculture projects. Stephen founded a volunteer beach cleanup and advocacy effort directed at improving Euclid Beach Park. Previously, he served on the board of directors of the Cleveland Lakefront Conservancy and the Northeast Shores Development Corporation.
Colleen McCaugheyGrantmaking
Grants Coordinator
216.615.7151 |
Colleen McCaughey joined the Cleveland Foundation in August 2021 as a Grants Coordinator. In her role, she supports the Program team and external grantee partners to facilitate the grantmaking process. Prior to joining the Foundation, Colleen spent six years at Cleveland Public Theatre as a core member of their Development team, primarily managing institutional giving.
Originally from Hudson, Ohio, Colleen has worked across Northeast Ohio as a stage manager, performer, and singer. Most recently, she served as the Production Stage Manager for Working Theater’s 2020 national virtual tour of Leila Buck’s “American Dreams.” From 2013-2015, she worked in New York City as a stage manager for various theatre companies including The Play Company, The Flea Theater, and Lincoln Center, while serving as the Administrative Associate for Dixon Place Theater. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in both Theatre and Political Science from Allegheny College.
Stephanie MolnarGrantmaking
Program Manager, Leadership Development
216-685-4009 |
As Program Officer, Stephanie provides support for the planning, implementation, and management of the foundation’s programs focused on community leadership and development, including the Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship and Summer Internship Programs, scholarships, and Encore Cleveland.
Stephanie joined the foundation as a summer intern in 2016, first supporting Greater Cleveland Volunteers. She then interned with the foundation's Community Responsive Grantmaking team, helping plan and manage the Summer Internship and Public Service Fellowship programs.
Stephanie is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration as well as a certificate in nonprofit management at Cleveland State University. She earned her bachelor of science in education from Kent State University. She is a former teacher and two-term AmeriCorps Alumna, having served with the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, Florida, and Notre Dame Mission Volunteers in Washington, D.C.
Zaija PelligreeGrantmaking
Program Coordinator
Zaija Pelligree joined the Cleveland Foundation in May 2021 as a Program Coordinator. In this role, she provides administrative and project support to Stephen Love, Program Manager for Environmental Initiatives, and other program staff as assigned in alignment with their strategic initiatives.
Before joining the foundation, Zaija worked as Urban Programs Coordinator at Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC), where she provided coordination and support for all urban program areas, including land banks, community forestry, property inventory initiatives and vacant land redevelopment.
Zaija has great passion for urban greening and community organizing. In addition to her academic and professional experience, she also volunteered with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms in Costa Rica, and currently serves as a Council Appointed Member of South Euclid Tree Commission as well as Board Vice President of Organic Connections Inc.
Zaija graduated magna cum laude from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Environmental Studies and Urban Studies with a minor in Sustainable Development.
Nicole RosenbaumGrantmaking
Program Officer, Workforce Development & Talent Cultivation
216.615.7165 |
Nicole Rosenbaum joined the Cleveland Foundation in December 2022 as a Program Officer for Workforce Development & Talent Cultivation. In her current role, Nicole is responsible for addressing talent attraction and retention challenges and opportunities in the Greater Cleveland area to support equitable economic growth.
Prior to joining the foundation, Nicole managed a competitive grant through the Department of Labor. In that capacity, Nicole engaged local employer partners and nontraditional sources of talent to design and implement pre-apprenticeship/apprenticeship models of education and on-the-job-training to increase employment, academics, and retention deliverables in Cuyahoga County.
Nicole started her professional career as a second-grade teacher in the Cleveland community. Nicole currently holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh with a certification in women and gender studies.
Kirby SuntalaGrantmaking
Associate Director, Grants Management
216.685.2017 |
Kirby Suntala provides administrative support to the Program, Advancement and Finance teams, as well as external grantee partners, to structure and coordinate workflow and communication around the grantmaking process.
Prior to joining the Foundation’s Program team in August 2019, Kirby served Cleveland’s youth and families as Rainey Institute’s Administrative Assistant, where he carried out registration, marketing, proposal writing, and business development functions for the community arts center. While at Rainey, Kirby also served as Graduate Assistant to the Director of the Master of Public Administration Program at Cleveland State’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. There he analyzed and coded emergency communications by state and local officials across several social media platforms.
Kirby holds a Master of Public Administration and dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Nonprofit Administration & Urban Studies from Cleveland State University. Alongside his work in the nonprofit sector, Kirby is passionate about the arts and is an actively performing musician in the community.
Kathryn TerrellGrantmaking
Program Officer, Data and Grantmaking
216.685.2007 |
Kate Terrell joined the Cleveland Foundation in June 2019 and currently serves as a Program Officer focusing on projects related to health and human services. Prior to joining the Foundation, Kate spent nearly a decade working with and for out-of-school time programs across Cleveland where she focused on leveraging education, outreach, and direct service provision in order to promote well-being for youth and families. Most recently, she coordinated fund development and evaluation design for the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, an organization that provides outreach and case management services to at-risk and gang-involved youth. Kate began her career in the classroom where she taught literature, journalism, and creative writing to high school students.
Kate holds a Master of Science in Urban Studies with a concentration in Public Policy from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Science in Integrated English Language Arts with a concentration in Cultural Studies and Public Life from Miami University. She is an involved and active community member and currently serves on the board of Twelve Literary Arts and the Junior League of Cleveland.
Bronlynn ThurmanGrantmaking
Program Officer
216.685.4001 |
Bronlynn Thurman joined the Cleveland Foundation in July 2024 as a Program Officer on the responsive grantmaking team. In her role, she works to advance the foundation’s strategic priorities through the review and assessment of grant inquiries across a broad range of issue areas, including arts and culture, the environment, physical and mental health, and education. Prior to joining the Foundation, Bronlynn worked as a program officer at GAR Foundation focusing on equitable community development and arts in education.
Bronlynn holds a Master of Science in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management - UXD and a bachelor’s degree in advertising with a double minor in marketing and psychology from Kent State University. She is an Ashé Leaders Fellow and alumni of Torchbearers.
Bronlynn serves on the boards of several area nonprofits and commissions, including the Greater Ohio Policy Center, Akron 200, the City of Akron’s Planning Commission and Akron’s Bicentennial Commission. She has received the Archbishop Hoban One Hope-One Dream award, Greater Akron Chamber’s 30 For the Future, and the NASW Ohio Region 2 Public Citizen of the Year award. In 2021, she co-founded Black Women Explore, an outdoor recreation group centering Black and Brown women/femme-identifying people. In her free time, she is an avid cyclist and visual artist.
Darlene ToneyGrantmaking
Program Officer, Youth & Human Services
216.615.7584 |
Darlene Toney joined the Cleveland Foundation in August 2019 and currently serves as a Program Officer focusing on projects related to Youth and Human Services. Prior to joining the Foundation, Darlene spent many years dedicated to serving Cleveland area youth and families, most recently as a Community Resource Manager with College Now Greater Cleveland. As Community Resource Manager she partnered with community organizations to align community, school, and family resources to eliminate the barriers of student development and post-secondary success. Throughout her career she has developed and championed programs and strategies that engage youth and families to participate in the academic process, out of school time enrichment and leadership development activities that advance the whole child. Darlene earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Kent State University and her Masters of Public Administration from Cleveland State University, with a graduate certificate of nonprofit administration and leadership.