Caitlin Miller loves nothing more than helping people.
That is true in her role as a member of United Way of Greater Cleveland’s Resource Development team, where she develops and maintains relationships with corporations throughout Northeast Ohio as an associate director of corporate philanthropy.
It is also true in her personal life, as she is a certified yoga instructor, volunteers at the Cleveland Clinic Hospice Center, and a certified Death & End of Life Doula.
Starting in January, Caitlin will look to expand her skills as one of 21 Cleveland-area professionals selected to participate in the Foundations for Philanthropy program through the Cleveland Foundation.
The six-month interactive experience seeks to educate emerging professionals on the most effective ways to create meaningful community change. Participants learn about the history of philanthropy in Cleveland, meet with community leaders, and actively partake in the philanthropic process – from exploring values to evaluating nonprofit organizations and making funding decisions, according to the Cleveland Foundation.
“There is more to my job than just being a fundraiser. I also provide customer service and strategic management and build relationships throughout the community,” Caitlin said. “The work I do can only improve the more I learn about Cleveland, and I am honored and excited to be selected as a member of the Foundations for Philanthropy program.”
The group will explore various community issues, choose an area of focus, and close out the program by providing grant support to nonprofit organizations.
The opportunity to add extra tools to her toolbox is one of the reasons that Caitlin is participating in the program.
“I am a transplant to Cleveland, and I am always eager to learn more about the area and expand my knowledge about the philanthropic landscape,” Caitlin said. “I am particularly excited about the hands-on experience surrounding the grantmaking process and learning more about how to use data analysis to determine a grant because those are skills that I can use at United Way.
“I truly believe my purpose is to help people, and I try to integrate that into my everyday life. It is important that my job and work reflect my passion for helping people, and being part of this program will continue to help me do more than talk about helping others.”
