CFLeads

We’re pleased to share that Geoffrey Canada will join us as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Economic Mobility Summit!

As the President of the Harlem Children's Zone, Geoffrey has helped shape a nationally recognized, place-based approach to advancing opportunity – demonstrating what’s possible when communities align around long-term, holistic strategies for change.

His perspective will help frame this year’s Summit as we bring together community foundation leaders, partners, and practitioners committed to advancing economic mobility through collaboration, connection, and shared learning.

We look forward to convening leaders from across the country to explore how community foundations can continue to play a central role in building pathways to opportunity.

📍 Where: Fort Worth, Texas
📅 When: July 29–30, 2026 (with a welcome reception on July 28)
👉 Learn more and register today: https://whova.com/portal/registration/Fw2GSDPlSYtdiOnYtMEd/

💡As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, community foundations have an opportunity, and responsibility, to engage with it thoughtfully to advance community impact.

In our latest blog, Emerging AI Trends Across the Field: 2026 CFLeads Survey Insights, CFLeads Graduate Fellow Adán Chávez shares early findings from our national Issues of Interest survey, highlighting how community foundations are approaching AI – and where deeper investment in learning and capacity is needed.

This moment calls for intentionality – building the knowledge, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing environment. To explore these trends and what they mean for the field, read our blog and join us for our upcoming webinar, The State of the Field: Emerging Priorities Shaping Community Foundations’ Work.

📝 Blog: https://cfleads.org/cfleads-post/emerging-ai-trends-across-the-field-2026-cfleads-survey-insights/
📅 Webinar Date: April 14, 2026
🔗 Register Today: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EGleR2xDQW-tXGWDURUQyw #/registration

Emerging AI Trends Across the Field: 2026 CFLeads Survey Insights - CFLeads This blog post was written by CFLeads Graduate Fellow, Adán Chávez. Adán is a second-year Master of Public Affairs student at the Princeton School

🎉 Please join us in congratulating Amanda Hartigan on her promotion to Senior Director of Programs, Strategy, and Culture!

In this expanded leadership role, Amanda will serve as a trusted partner to our CEO in advancing CFLeads 2.0 – ensuring our strategy translates into high-quality ex*****on across programs, strategy, and culture. She will oversee learning and program delivery, strengthen cross-team coordination, and help drive the operational consistency and scalability of CFLeads programming needed to meet the evolving needs of community foundations nationwide.

🎤 "Amanda is an exceptional leader and thought partner. She brings clarity, rigor, and passion to everything she does. As we continue to scale CFLeads 2.0, her ability to connect strategy to ex*****on – and to do so in a way that strengthens our culture – will be critical to our success. We are fortunate to have her leadership at this pivotal moment for our organization and our field." – Mary L. Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads

Amanda brings deep experience and a strong values-driven lens to this role. After graduating from Harvard University and earning her MBA from Boston University, she began her career in the community foundation field at The Boston Foundation, where she developed a deep appreciation for the unique role community foundations play in advancing local impact. Since joining CFLeads, she has been instrumental in strengthening program quality, aligning strategy with ex*****on, and fostering a collaborative, learning-oriented culture.

🎙️ "I’m honored to step into this role at a time when community foundations are being called to lead with courage and impact. CFLeads plays a critical role in equipping the field to meet this moment. I’m excited to continue strengthening our programs, deepening cross-team collaboration, and working with our President and CEO and team to optimize the internal capacity that allows us to deliver our programming with excellence and purpose." – Amanda Hartigan, Senior Director of Programs, Strategy, and Culture, CFLeads