The initial mission of CAF is to catalyze local action that delivers solutions to national and global challenges, by proving out pilot scale initiatives in Cleveland, OH and the greater Cleveland region. We do not supplant any pre-existing organizations or initiatives. Our objective is simply to amplify the speed to impact.

We care about the following topics listed in alphabetical order:

America (security, prosperity, civic engagement and unity)

Chips, Cleantech, Critical Minerals & Materials (trade-able goods and intellectual capital)

Digital Transformation (AI, Access to high speed internet but not necessarily via broadband)

Health (Increasing American productivity and innovation by optimizing for healthy living)

Natural Environment (Preserve, protect and promote our natural resources)

Principles for Action:

1) Our work is achieved by leveraging a network of people, public and private organizations and purposeful pursuit of uncommon collaborations.

2) Creating new solutions requires innovation, and by its nature innovation doesn’t happen when the same people apply the same tools in the same way.

3) Pro-bono volunteers are the life blood. We’re putting our funds to work by limiting overhead associated with employees. We are tackling inspiring challenges that people want to work on. Our action focused model does not lend itself to having long-term programs. While the big picture may take longer to solve, we focus on the high impact incremental unlockers that need to happen to enable broader change.

4) Stay True to Mission. We do not aim to supplant or replace existing organizations. Building upon our name, mission, and Principles 1, 2, 3 we will add fuel to others. When or where long term execution is needed, the network of partner organizations is always the preferred mode.

5) Grace. We’ll need lots. We’ll probably be contacting you in off-hours because we all have day jobs. We’ll probably be asking you for a favor that has to get done quickly, because we have to move fast. We might unintentionally offend or puzzle you at first because we’re kind of different.

6) Optimism & Openness. We know we can do what we set out to achieve because we’ve done amazing things. We keep an open mind to new ideas or what may seem like contradictory points of view. We aren’t concerned with your labels and affiliations as long as you can help us catalyze action.