We resource leaders, invest in their genius, and bring people together to reimagine what philanthropy can do.

Founded by Liz and Don Thompson, The CAFE Group is a national nonprofit transforming how change is resourced.

With a focus on education equity, social capital, and philanthropic transformation, we pair catalytic funding, community-rooted leadership development, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen the people and institutions shaping a more just future. Everything we do is grounded in relationship, because we believe the way resources move matters just as much as where they land.

Where We Come From

Cleveland Avenue is where it all started for our founders, Liz and Don Thompson.

The CAFE Group’s name honors the street where Liz and Don grew up on Chicago’s Near North Side. What began as a bold act of family philanthropy—the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education—has grown into a national organization with a mission to love, invest, and build for generations.

Their Story

Our Programs

Our work lives in two flagship programs: The 1954 Project, which provides catalytic capital to education leaders, and the LEAD Internship Program, which connects college students to careers in philanthropy and social impact.

Programs