Saint Luke’s Foundation Partners with the St Croix Foundation to Expand Strategic Learning and Collaborative Philanthropy
Uniting our longstanding commitment to equity and community-focused solutions, this strategic partnership catalyzes transformative cross-cultural learning and drives strategic renewal for lasting community impact
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Saint Luke’s Foundation, a philanthropic corporation dedicated to advancing equity and community-focused solutions through innovative grantmaking, is proud to share a strategic learning partnership with the St. Croix Foundation, a recognized leader in equitable philanthropy committed to serving low-wealth communities of St. Croix.
This partnership builds on a long-standing relationship that began in 2020 through our shared Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) membership and has grown stronger through our leaders’ service on the ABFE Umoja Circle planning committee. Earlier this year, both foundations engaged in a virtual learning meeting that reinforced our commitment to operationalizing equity and implementing responsive, participatory grantmaking. We remain dedicated to advancing and strengthening our strategies and will provide updates on how this collaboration translates into measurable outcomes for the communities we serve.
In 2023 Saint Luke’s Foundation had the pleasure of hosting Kaushalya Ariyathilaka, a grants manager at Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust in Sri Lanka, for a two-week learning exchange. In 2024 we hosted Suraj Somaiah from the Quantedge Foundation, located in Singapore, for a 4-week learning exchange. “Hosting these bright international philanthropic professionals in Cleveland broadened our perspective on roles foundations can play in communities they serve,” says Tim Tramble, President and CEO of the Saint Luke’s Foundation. “Under the leadership of Deanna James, the St. Croix Foundation board and staff have consistently demonstrated innovative thought leadership and incisive critical thinking in operationalizing equity, thereby setting a transformative standard for equitable practices. The engagement with St. Croix Foundation is more holistic involving the board, staff, and key community stakeholders of both foundations. Therefore, more reciprocal and comprehensive learning is at play leading to more creative and innovative approaches to equitable philanthropy. These partnerships allow us to see outside of the box to better think outside of the box.”
In-person learning summits are planned for the partnership with St. Croix Foundation, starting this Spring in St. Croix, and later hosting them in Cleveland. This upcoming learning summit will also incorporate work associated with the review and refinement of Saint Luke’s Foundation’s strategic plan. The goal is to continue to grow our insights and innovative best practices that address systemic challenges and drive transformative changes in the communities we serve.
“At this pivotal moment in U.S. history, it is imperative that social impact organizations unite to fortify our communities and the infrastructure that sustains them. Achieving these demands greater coherence within philanthropy’s ecosystems—where alignment, collaboration, and trust are the foundation for real impact, says Deanna J. James, President & CEO, St. Croix Foundation. “Living on the frontlines of environmental fragility and American democracy as a U.S. Territory, St. Croix Foundation has built mastery around community resilience, nonprofit coalition building, and radical approaches to place-based philanthropy that are serving as a model for national partners. St. Croix Foundation is honored to partner with the Saint Luke’s Foundation to demonstrate the power of investing in peer exchanges and transformative relationships. Together, we are building a model that centers equity, resilience, and place-based leadership to drive lasting systemic change.”
For more details about this strategic partnership and its initiatives, please visit saintlukesfoundation.org.
About Saint Luke’s Foundation:
The Saint Luke’s Foundation is dedicated to achieving health equity by addressing social determinants of health for people in neighborhoods surrounding Saint Luke’s and throughout Cuyahoga County. Saint Luke’s is committed to demonstrating grantmaking that is responsive to the community and believes that people thrive as a result of living free of racism and poverty and experiencing equitable economic opportunities and conditions that enable them to lead healthier lives. Since it was established with the charitable assets of the Saint Luke’s Medical Center in 1997, the Foundation has awarded over $170 million in grants. For more information on the work of Saint Luke’s Foundation, please visit saintlukesfoundation.org
About St. Croix Foundation:
St. Croix Foundation for Community Development (SCF) is a place-based philanthropic organization established in 1990 in the U.S. Virgin Islands in response to the devastation of Hurricane Hugo. Founded by community activists with a vision for holistic community development, SCF combines traditional grantmaking with direct services and capacity building. Over the past 30 years, the foundation has acted as both a conduit and operator of philanthropic resources, channeling over $42 million into strategic investments and earning national recognition for its impact in economic development, public health, education reform, and community revitalization. For more information about the St. Croix Foundation, please visit stxfoundation.org
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Media Contact:
Devonta Dickey
Communications and Marketing Officer
Saint Luke’s Foundation
216.431.8010
ddickey@stlukesfdn.org