More than 60 community foundation CEOs and senior leaders from across the country gathered in Chicago on September 30, 2025, for Community Foundations for Civic Health: Live in Chicago!, a day-long convening designed to accelerate innovation and collaboration in strengthening civic health at the local level.
The event, held at Summit Chicago, was hosted by partners in the Community Foundations for Civic Health initiative: CFLeads, the National Civic League, and the Rhode Island Foundation. It featured thought-provoking presentations, peer-to-peer exchange, and practical strategies that leaders can take home to their communities.
The convening opened with a welcome from Mary L. Thomas (CFLeads), David Cicilline (Rhode Island Foundation), and Matt Leighninger (National Civic League), setting the tone for a day focused on advancing trust, civic participation, and local problem-solving.
“Community foundations are already playing critical roles in strengthening civic health. They have tremendous potential to knit together our social fabric and repair the relationship between people and the institutions that serve them.”
-Matt Leighninger, Vice President, National Civic League
Sessions explored topics such as:
- Defining and practicing civic health in local contexts.
- Communicating civic health to stakeholders and residents.
- Measuring civic health with reliable tools and data.
- Funding strategies to sustain civic health initiatives.
- Developing local action plans tailored to each foundation’s community.
The program included a keynote address by Susan Sherman, Managing Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project , who highlighted stories from the effort and stressed the importance of rebuilding connections across divides.
The convening also provided opportunities for networking and collaboration, including a welcome reception the evening prior at Virgin Hotels Chicago.
About Community Foundations for Civic Health
Community Foundations for Civic Health is an initiative of CFLeads, the Rhode Island Foundation, the National Civic League, and other partners aimed at increasing the number of community foundations confidently engaging in strengthening civic health in their communities. By enhancing civic opportunities and civic infrastructure, the initiative helps communities build stronger connections among residents, institutions, and places—fostering outcomes that range from better health to greater resilience and reduced polarization.
For more information about Community Foundations for Civic Health, visit: https://cfleads.org/civic-health/
