Meet Liz & Don Thompson | Our Story
Love is the Strategy. Leadership is the Legacy.
From a bold family vision to a national organization shifting what’s possible, the Thompsons' belief in people, love, and legacy launched The CAFE Group.
Where It All Began
Cleveland Avenue is more than a street. It's our starting point.
Liz and Don both grew up on Cleveland Avenue in Chicago’s Near North Side—Liz in Cabrini Green and Don just four blocks north. From those roots, they carried a shared belief: that love, faith, and community are the foundation for lasting change.
As professionals, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, Liz and Don have never lost sight of what matters: investing in people, making space for genius to shine, and building systems that serve all of us.
From Personal Calling to National Reach
What began as a family commitment has since grown into The CAFE Group: a Chicago-born nonprofit advancing a future where more leaders are seen, supported, and resourced across the country.
Today, under the leadership of CEO Liz Thompson, The CAFE Group carries forward that founding vision. Through catalytic funding, cross-sector collaboration, and leadership development rooted in relationship, we're shifting what’s possible in education and philanthropy.
A Future That's Built to Last
Through programs like The 1954 Project and the LEAD Internship Program, The CAFE Group is unlocking social capital, expanding opportunity, and honoring the kind of legacy that reaches seven generations deep.
The Thompsons have always known that genius isn’t rare. But access to the rooms where it can thrive? That’s what we’re here to change, with love, strategy, and a whole lot of community.
