STAFF
The Deaconess Foundation’s staff is comprised of individuals who provide their expertise and passion to help achieve long-term community impact and continue to address our community’s ever-changing workforce development challenges.
Cathy Belk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cathy Belk is the President and CEO of Deaconess Foundation, a position held since October 2020. In this role, she works every day to generate impact by building networks and partnerships which enable people in need to build careers that sustain them and their families.
Cathy came to Deaconess Foundation after serving as President of JumpStart, a Cleveland-based non-profit unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurship to transform entire communities. Under the leadership of Cathy and her colleagues, JumpStart’s entrepreneurs contributed $6 billion in economic impact, raised more than $2B in additional capital, and created more than 10,000 good jobs; 45% of its entrepreneurial clients were women or people of color.
Cathy has also spent more than 20 years in the private sector, creating impact by stewarding brands and developing new businesses at Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and American Greetings. She started her career in middle-market finance at Bank of America in Charlotte, NC, and in the greater DC area.
Cathy’s work includes acting as a member of the boards of the New Growth Innovation Network (Miami, FL) and Cleveland-based Church of the Saviour Foundation and the Cleveland Leadership Center. In the past, she served on several boards including Forward Cities (Durham, NC), the Shaker Schools Foundation and Adoption Network Cleveland. Cathy is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland 2012, a Crain’s Cleveland Woman of Note, and is an active, frequent speaker in national and local conferences and events.
Cathy was a Keller Scholar and received her MBA from Duke University and a BA in economics from Davidson College. A proud native of Ohio, Cathy, and her husband have two adult sons.
Lissy Rand
Vice President, Grantmaking
Lissy Rand is the Vice President, Grantmaking, of the Deaconess Foundation. In this role, she partners with community organizations helping people impacted by poverty build careers which sustain themselves and their families to deepen the foundation’s impact. She returned to Deaconess after serving as Executive Director, Workforce Partnerships for MAGNET, where she worked to align the workforce development ecosystem with manufacturers seeking talent solutions by developing, testing, and scaling solutions.
Lissy initially joined the foundation as a Program Officer in 2014, and was promoted to serve as Vice President of Grantmaking & Strategy in 2017. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade as a Program Officer with Foundation Management Services where she supported five client foundations with priorities supporting health, human services, and education.
Lissy’s work has included board service to Family Connections of Northeast Ohio, Philanthropy Ohio, and MidTown, Inc. She is a 2017 graduate of Leadership Cleveland. She received her Master of Social Work degree from University of Michigan, a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois – Chicago, and her BA from Northwestern University.
Lori Jolliffe
Executive Assistant
Lori Jolliffe is a highly accomplished professional with over two decades of experience in administrative consulting, bringing a unique blend of strategic insight, operational excellence, and a passion for community impact. With over 22 years in the business, Lori has developed a deep understanding of the intricacies of foundation operations, board management, and leadership.
Known for working closely with high-level executives, Lori excels in managing complex operational tasks, driving efficiency, and delivering results. A skilled communicator and collaborator, Lori has a proven track record of liaising with both corporate and nonprofit boards, ensuring seamless execution of business strategies and fostering alignment across diverse stakeholders.
Beyond the boardroom, she is deeply committed to creating positive change. With a passion for working alongside nonprofits and foundations, Lori thrives on building partnerships that amplify impact and address pressing community needs. This dedication to service is matched by a vibrant personal life: a proud graduate of John Carroll University, Lori is a devoted parent of three and an avid traveler who finds balance and joy on the pickleball court.
Combining sharp business acumen with a heart for service, Lori is a dynamic leader who brings vision, expertise, and a collaborative spirit to every endeavor.