Rose Ann Cleveland

Rose Ann Cleveland is the executive director of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. She is also the chair of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers Board of Directors.

Profile July 2010 Rose Ann Cleveland

Years in position: Five
Years in philanthropy: Five
Where is home? Greensboro, N.C.
Years in DC region: 30+

How did you get started in philanthropy?
In my previous job, I served as director of programming for Washington Performing Arts Society and came to the Cafritz Foundation, in August 2005, as the program officer for the arts and humanities.

What's your favorite part about your job?
Don't think that I can pick just one favorite part:
- The people with whom I work, whether in the office or in the community.
- The variety—each day is different.
- I also like that I am constantly learning.

Biggest challenge you've faced:
While I expect that most of us find that some days are devoted to the trees and others to the forest, I think it useful to remind myself to keep shifting perspectives. As funders, I believe that it's important to be responsive to the community we serve. Yet, we also need to be forward-thinking and to anticipate future issues. Where's that balance between the day-to-day details and the larger picture, between the listening and leading? It's probably managing the tension between these seeming polarities that's most fruitful.

Biggest/most exciting project you worked on in the past year:
Taking on the role of chair for the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers board. I'm delighted to be working with Tamara and such an amazing group of funding colleagues and WG staff.

Given the challenges that we are all facing, it's an opportune time for the funding community to be thinking and planning strategically about how we go forward as a region to improve the lives of area residents.

"When I'm not working, I'm..." getting together with friends, attending arts events, taking classes in ballroom dance, practicing yoga, or pretending that the time I spend gardening is making some difference in the appearance of my yard.