September 2026 CEO Blog

September ’26 CEO Blog

September gave us one of my favorite reminders of what makes Lorain County so special: when our community comes together, we make more possible.

This year’s Connect to a Cause was a tremendous success, and what stood out to me most was seeing every corner of our county in action. Nonprofit leaders rallied around their missions. Mayors and community leaders showed their support. Our Main Streets and local businesses found creative ways to get involved. And our Community Foundation staff worked across the community to make the day meaningful for the organizations and neighbors we serve.

To everyone who donated, shared a post, attended an event, supported a participating business, encouraged a friend to give, or simply took the time to learn more about the work happening across Lorain County: thank you.

Connect to a Cause is about more than one day of giving. It is about connection. It gives each of us an opportunity to discover the organizations working every day on issues we care about and reminds us that philanthropy belongs to everyone.

That spirit of connection extended beyond Lorain County this month, too.

I was honored to join several members of our Community Foundation team at the Governor’s Residence for a celebration kicking off Dolly Day and recognizing the collaboration surrounding Ohio’s Imagination Library. It was another wonderful reminder that some of our greatest impact happens when local communities, statewide partners, and people who care deeply about the future of our children come together around a shared goal. We even saw this happen on our local level after a fantastic partnership with the Lake Erie Crushers as we set out a goal of raising enough funds to support 100 kids for a year’s worth of Imagination Library books. You can read more about that event here.

Our involvement with the Imagination Library reflects the same belief that drives so much of our work here at the Community Foundation: investing early, building strong partnerships, and creating opportunities that can shape a person’s future. Whether we are helping put books into the hands of young children, connecting donors with local nonprofits, or bringing neighbors together around causes they care about, none of this work happens alone.

And that spirit of generosity does not end when Connect to a Cause Day comes to a close.

As we look toward the final months of the year, there will be even more ways to participate. Giving Tuesday offers another opportunity to pause during a busy season and think intentionally about the causes, organizations, and communities that matter most to us.

It is also an exciting time for our five Affiliate Funds: the African American Community Fund, Hispanic Fund, Women’s Fund, Youth Fund, and our newest addition, the LGBTQ+ Affiliate Fund.

Each Affiliate Fund brings together community members who want to strengthen Lorain County through a particular lens, combining local knowledge, leadership, fundraising, scholarships, and grantmaking to create lasting impact. As they look toward another year of service, our Affiliate Funds are also welcoming new people who want to lend their voices, ideas, talents, and time.

You do not have to consider yourself an expert in philanthropy to get involved. You simply need to care about your community and be willing to help shape what comes next all while being a part of something special.

That invitation feels especially exciting as our LGBTQ+ Affiliate Fund prepares to host its first event later this year. As our fifth Affiliate Fund begins building its presence in Lorain County, it represents both something new for the Community Foundation and a continuation of what our Affiliate Funds have always done best: creating space for community members to lead, connect, and invest in one another.

This month offered so many examples of what collaboration can look like — from nonprofits, businesses, Main Streets, local leaders, donors, and volunteers coming together for Connect to a Cause, to partnerships reaching across our state to invest in Ohio’s youngest readers.

As we head toward Giving Tuesday and a new season for our Affiliate Funds, I hope we carry that same energy forward.

There is always another way to give. Another way to serve. Another way to connect.

And there is always room for you at the table.

With gratitude,

Cindy