Connecting Philanthropy & Community - Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy (CAAIP)

August 25, 2022 at 7:00pm
Chicago History Museum

Join the celebration

Connecting Philanthropy & Community is our signature event. Its focus is to highlight exemplary work in fostering meaningful connections between the local philanthropic sector and the diverse communities it serves.

The goal is to stimulate dialogue and action around strengthening philanthropy’s commitment to the African American community – by paying tribute to today’s leaders, and by way of recognition of and support for the leaders of tomorrow. The awards and lecture call special attention to philanthropy- community partnerships that identify needs and create strategic opportunities aimed at improving outcomes for African Americans.

We are honored to have Nikki Giovanni, one of this country’s most widely read and renowned poets as our keynote speaker.

Tickets for the in-person event are now sold out, please join us virtually!

congratulations to our awardees

2022 Advocate for Equity: Daniel O. Ash

The 2022 Advocate for Equity award will be given to Daniel O. Ash, president of the Field Foundation of Illinois, where he is responsible for collaborating with the Board and staff to help Field achieve its mission—centering racial equity to achieve community empowerment through Art, Justice, Media & Storytelling, and Leadership Investment.

Prior to being appointed president at Field, Daniel served as associate vice president of Community Impact for The Chicago Community Trust, where he was responsible for creating the Building Collective Power strategy to help advance equitable neighborhoods within under-invested communities through grant-making to community organizing, storytelling and resident-driven initiatives.

2022 Champion of Social Justice: Chris Rudd

The 2022 Champion of Social Justice will be given to Chris Rudd is an award-winning designer, community organizer, and founder of ChiByDesign, a Black-owned and people-of-color-led design firm in Chicago. Chris has a deep background in social equity work, systems change, and youth development. He’s worked with youth and community residents on the south and west sides of Chicago, supporting them to design new anti-racist infrastructures to enable an equitable future.

In addition to his role at ChiByDesign, Chris is also a Clinical Professor of Practice and Lead of Community-led Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology Institute of Design (ID), where his work focuses on developing the co-design practice at ID and the anti-racist design field. Chris is a former Stanford Institute of Design (d.school) Civic Innovation fellow, Chicago Urban League IMPACT fellow, and a 2021 Illinois Science and Technology Coalition Researcher to Know.

Preview the soul of philanthropy

The Soul of Philanthropy – Reframed and Exhibited, a groundbreaking exhibition that has captivated visitors across the country with its comprehensive, multimedia presentation of stories of centuries-old generosity among Americans of African descent.

Appealing to diverse and multi-generational audiences, the exhibit debuts in Chicago during, Black Philanthropy Month at Connecting Philanthropy and Community.

join us as a sponsor

Our event offers foundations, corporate entities, and businesses significant opportunities to promote dialogue between philanthropic and nonprofit organizations, advance our collective understanding of pressing issues for the African American community, and advance racial equity.

Please contact us to learn more.

our Keynote Speaker

Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni is one of this country’s most widely read poets and one of America’s most renowned poets world-wide. Her poem, “Knoxville, Tennessee,” is arguably the single literary work most often associated with that city.

Nikki Giovanni was born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr. in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1943, but her parents moved to the all-black Cincinnati suburb of Lincoln Heights when she was an infant. She and her sisters spent the summers with their grandparents in Knoxville, and she returned there for her high school years.