Beginning this month and throughout 2014, Donors Forum is celebrating its 40th anniversary year — that's four decades of strengthening Illinois and the nonprofit community!

"2014 marks an amazing milestone for Donors Forum," said Board Chair Donald A. Cooke, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. "In addition to looking back at our many achievements in service and innovation for philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, we are looking ahead as we begin implementation of Engaging for Impact, Donors Forum's new strategic plan."

"We've been fortunate to have had many successes and learned many lessons over the past 40 years," added Donors Forum President and CEO Valerie S. Lies. "As we move into the future, our strategic plan addresses the unique ways in which we can help funders, nonprofits, and their advisors improve the lives of all the people in Illinois. "

Our 40th Anniversary Committee, co-chaired by Merri Ex from Family Focus, Inc. and Ernest Vasseur from Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, has planned three cornerstone events to commemorate this special year.

The first event, a Kick-Off Program and Reception, will be held Tues., Jan. 28 at the Museum of Broadcast Communications in downtown Chicago. The program will feature Sterling Speirn, recently retired President and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, who is widely known for his provocative and engaging presentations. He will speak on the imperative that grantmakers, nonprofits, business, and the public sector work together to truly impact some of our thorniest social problems.

Responding to Sterling's talk will be Sharon Bush from Grand Victoria Foundation, Alejandra Ibanez from Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, and Mark Ishaug from Thresholds. Mae Hong of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors will moderate the discussion.

Following the afternoon program, we'll adjourn to the reception, where you can enjoy hor d'oeuvres and drinks with colleagues and explore the Museum exhibits — as well as some special interactive opportunities set up especially for our Donors Forum group!

Register here for our Jan. 28 Kick-Off Program and Reception.

Additional cornerstone events will include the 40th Anniversary Luncheon on Fri., June 20 and an event in late 2014. Watch your email in the coming months for details and invitations.

2014 will also be a year of transition, as Valerie S. Lies, our President and CEO, retires in June. Valerie will have served as CEO for 27 years and is only the second person to lead Donors Forum in its history. A national search for a new CEO is underway, with an announcement expected in the Spring.

We hope you will join Donors Forum as well as your grantmaking and nonprofit colleagues as we celebrate the past and look toward the future.

40th Anniversary Sponsors

Impact

Premier

Platinum Plus

Platinum

Gold

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Silver

Microsoft
The Albert Pick Jr. Fund
Pierce Family Foundation
United Airlines

Bronze

D & R Fund
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
Motorola Solutions
New Prospect Foundation
Peoples Gas
The Seabury Foundation

 — Marilou Jones, Director of Strategic Marketing