Supporting & Strengthening Communities

May 19-20, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Featured Guest Speakers

Araba Sapara-Grant

Senior Manager of Community Activation, Weave: The Social Fabric Project, Aspen Institute

 

Amy McIsaac

Managing Director, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE)

AJ Herrmann

Director, Policy & Program Innovation, Accelerator for America

 

DeAmon Harges

Founder, The Learning Tree

Januarie York

Januarie York

Cultivator of Joy, The Learning Tree

Joshua Devine

Economic Mobility Officer, Pittsburgh Foundation

Tammy Thompson

President & CEO, Catapult Pittsburgh

Sarah Dieleman Perry

Vice President of Economic Mobility, Neighborhood Allies

 

Conference Venues

Kimpton Hotel Monaco, in downtown Pittsburgh: 620 William Penn Place

The Pittsburgh Foundation: 912 Fort Duquesne Blvd,

Both locations are approximately a 30-minute drive from Pittsburgh Airport.

Conference Schedule and Agenda Highlights

Monday May 18:  5:30-7pm at Hotel Monaco

  • Welcome reception (Rialto Suite, Rooftop)
  • Dinner on your own

Tuesday May 19:  8:30am – 4:45pm at Hotel Monaco, Sofia Ballroom

  • Breakfast buffet from 7:30-8:30am
  • Conference Kick Off & Welcome to Pittsburgh!
  • Anchoring Communities: Community Foundations Strategies & Support Amid Federal Policy Shifts
    • Immigration Focus:  Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Vermont Community Foundation
    • Federal Funding Gaps: Hawaii Community Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, St. Louis Foundation, and San Diego Foundation
  • CFON Housing Cohort: Learning & Innovations
    • Moderated by AJ Herrmann, Director, Policy & Program Innovation, Accelerator for America
    • Chicago Community Trust
    • Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
    • New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
  • Equity & Authentic Community and Neighborhood Building
    • Weave: The Social Fabric Project: Araba Sapara-Grant, Senior Manager of Community Activation, joined by Tyrell Ross and Sandi Hansen, Lincoln Community Foundation
    • The Learning Tree:  DeAmon Harges, Founder and Januarie York, Cultivator of Joy, joined by Leigh Riley Evans, Indianapolis Foundation
  • Offsite event and dinner at Cafe Momentum – 6:30-8:30pm

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 Wednesday May 20: 8:30am – 3:30pm at The Pittsburgh Foundation (912 Fort Duquesne Blvd.)

  • Breakfast buffet from 8:00-8:30am
  • Civic Health & Bridging Divides
    • Strategies for Bridging Divides: Amy McIsaac, Managing Director, PACE
    • Community Foundation Role & Opportunities:  CFLeads
  • Interest Area Breakout Groups
    • Climate & Environment:  Cait Botschner, CF Climate Collaborative
    • Early Childhood: Christina D’Allesandro, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
    • Donor Engagement:
    • Operations & Support:
  • Economic Mobility in Pittsburgh, A Panel Discussion
    • Moderated by Joshua Devine, CEcD, Economic Mobility Officer, The Pittsburgh Foundation
    • Tammy Thompson, President & CEO, Catapult Greater Pittsburgh
    • Jennie Zeman, Education/Workforce Development Supervisor, Allegheny County Housing Authority
    • Sarah Dieleman Perry, Vice President of Economic Mobility, Neighborhood Allies
  • Call to Action and Closing Remarks
  • Box Lunches at 1:00
  • Optional Site Visit at Catapult; please register in advance  (depart 1:30, concludes by 3:30)

Registration

Registration is free for CFON members and we encourage you to come as a group – you may bring up to 3 representatives from your foundation (staff, board members, key partners).