4:30pm Networking
5:30pm Dinner
6:00pm Program
Event
Greater Toledo Community Foundation partners with donors and community leaders to invest more than $25 million annually into local initiatives that improve quality of life across arts and culture, education, neighborhood revitalization, and economic well-being. In her talk, Kate will discuss how the Foundation serves as a flexible charitable partner, managing over a thousand funds to drive long-term impact. Gain insight into how the Foundation’s permanent endowment supports both proven and emerging projects, and how its mission of “stronger together, building forever” continues to shape Toledo’s future. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from a leader dedicated to fostering collaboration, expanding access, and ensuring that philanthropy enriches lives for generations to come.
Bio
Kate Sommerfeld is an experienced and nationally recognized nonprofit and philanthropy executive. A passionate community champion, Kate has more than fifteen years of experience leading organizations, fostering cross-sector collaboration, securing catalytic investment, building teams and delivering organizational growth.
Sommerfeld currently serves as the President and CEO of Greater Toledo Community Foundation. Through its five decades of service, the Community Foundation has been trusted to distribute more than $310 million in grants to Toledo area nonprofits and beyond. The Community Foundation now holds more than 1,000 funds and approximately $510 million in assets with the goal of creating a better community for generations to come.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Kate was a strategic advisor to private and public foundations and organizations on corporate giving, community partnerships and philanthropy. Prior to consulting, Kate served as the President of The National Social Determinants of Health Institute and Corporate Vice President of Community Relations and Social Investment at ProMedica. At ProMedica, Kate led change initiatives to drive capital in under-resourced urban and rural communities, reduce health disparities, and increase wealth in historically disinvested neighborhoods. Kate is active on numerous boards for local and national nonprofit organizations.
Kate’s leadership has been recognized nationally through various awards including American Hospital Association’s Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary's Opportunity & Empowerment Award, and Top Healthcare Innovation and Modern Healthcare’s 2020 Top 25 Emerging Leaders.
Kate has dual B.A. degrees in political science and child psychology from Purdue University and a Master of Public Administration degree, with a focus on Child and Family Policy, from Bowling Green State University. Kate lives in Bowling Green, Ohio with her husband Matt and two spirited, active children.
Learning Objects - 1 CPE credit
- Gain Insight into Philanthropy’s Role in Toledo’s Growth
- Explore Strategies for Community Collaboration and Impact
- Connect with the Foundation’s Mission and Vision for the Future