Save the date for our “2020 - How the Pandemic, Systemic Racism, and Social Justice are Shaping Philanthropy” virtual discussion on Monday, August 17th at 12:00 p.m.
Lisa Schaures, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt Shareholder and Board Member, will moderate a panel of experts who will focus on how philanthropy has evolved amid the challenges of 2020, and what the future looks like. The discussion will explore how COVID-19, systemic racism, and social justice are influencing how people and organizations engage in philanthropy.
Panelists include:
Dominica Meyers, Associate Director of Administration, Seattle Opera
Stephanie Ellis-Smith, Principal Advisor/Owner, Phila Engaged Giving
Ceil Erickson, Director, Nonprofit Relations, Seattle Foundation
Speaker bios:
Lisa Schaures is a shareholder at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt and advises clients on complex nonprofit and business issues as well as every day general counsel matters. Lisa’s leadership and knowledge of different practice areas allow her to pull together the right team to bring major transactions and negotiations over the finish line with a focus on her client’s key goals and relationships. Lisa serves as the Chair of Schwabe’s Women’s Initiative Committee and on Schwabe’s Board of Directors.
Dominica Myers is Associate Director of Administration for Seattle Opera where she serves as senior staff to the Governance and Public Affairs committees for the Board of Directors, among other responsibilities. She is a current Board Trustee for Inspire Washington and immediate Past Board President of Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council. She has managed board relations for nonprofit organizations of varying size and scope for over 7 years, and holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University.
Stephanie Ellis-Smith is a leader with 20 years of experience in the philanthropic sector. She has held every seat at the social sector’s table: non-profit CEO, social enterprise COO, trustee, mentor, and civic activist. Stephanie has held leadership roles that showcase her vision, dedication and expertise at a variety of organizations, foundations, government agencies and companies.
Stephanie is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) and a Certified 21/64 Advisor in multi-generational family philanthropy. She is the founder and former Executive Director of the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas (CD Forum), an organization that presents and produces lectures, readings, and performing arts events rooted in African-American culture. Prior to the CD Forum, she worked with the Jacob Lawrence Catalogue Raisonné Project, a prestigious endeavor that located, catalogued, re-photographed, and published the entire 1,100 work oeuvre of the artist in a two-volume publication.
Ceil Erickson has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, where she has worked with a broad range of organizations and community initiatives and developed a wealth of community knowledge. Ceil has been working at Seattle Foundation since 1996. Prior to joining SeaFdn, Ceil worked in fundraising and marketing for Planned Parenthood and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Ceil has been active in philanthropy at the national level, serving on a number of committees for the Council on Foundations and ProNet (an affinity group of the Council of Foundations). She has dedicated her professional life to identifying and responding to the most challenging issues facing the Greater Seattle region. Ceil is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Mary Washington College.
