Root Cause Celebrates 20 Years

In 2024, Root Cause is celebrated 20 years of social impact. Since 2004, we’ve helped over 400 nonprofits, public agencies, schools, hospitals, and foundations achieve their goals while advancing racial and economic equity and justice. To celebrate, we’ve launched a social media campaign highlighting some of Root Cause’s projects and partners over the past 20 years. Take a look at them below!

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“The project revolved around long-term strategic planning for the HOPE initiative, as a means by which to ensure intentionality as we build out the program. The outcome led to a robust Theory of Change-inspired report that laid out a foundation for how we would do what we do moving forward."
- Evans Erilus, Hope Initiative - Bunker Hill Community College

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“Happy 20th Anniversary! I feel such pride in seeing how Root Cause continues to grow and evolve, always prioritizing people, partnership, and purpose.”
- Julie Zack, Root Cause staff 2004-2019

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“I had so many opportunities to try out different areas of focus at Root Cause, and to collaborate with amazing people working on many social issues. Congratulations on 20 years, what a milestone!"
- Jessica Bloom Galen, Root Cause staff 2007-2010

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“Hi Root Cause! I can't believe it's your 20 year anniversary. I worked with InnerCity Entrepreneurs (later Interise) when it was part of RC. I so enjoyed working closely with a group of smart, dedicated, and friendly colleagues. It was a wonderful opportunity for a recent college grad. I'm looking forward to watching the organization continue to thrive in the coming decades!”
- Jeff Kessner Root Cause staff 2007-2008

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“Root Cause was my first foray into the social sector after graduating college, and gave me incredible exposure to a range of organizations working on important social issues across the country. To this day, I value being a part of many conversations with nonprofit and foundation leaders where they shared their strategic and organizational challenges, and what was keeping them up at night.
– Liz Cipparone, Root Cause staff 2011-2016

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“The Pay for Success initiative to create opportunities for permanent supportive housing. Root Cause was a source in helping us explore the possibilities of PSH and later became the evaluator of the actual performance of the initiative.”
- Joe Finn, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA)

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“When I joined Root Cause as the first staff member of the Social Innovation Forum (SIF), it was clear that this initiative had the potential to create real change. I worked closely with the Root Cause team to shape SIF's early work, focusing on supporting lesser-known nonprofits and developing a model to amplify their impact. Those foundational years were marked by a shared commitment to collaboration and innovation, as SIF grew and flourished as a program of Root Cause for its first 12 years. Building on those early lessons, SIF established itself as an independent organization, continuing to help community-based nonprofits thrive and drive meaningful community impact. I am excited to see how Root Cause continues to lead and inspire in the years ahead. Here's to celebrating 20 impactful years!”
- Susan Musinsky, Root Cause staff 2005-2015

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“Root Cause was an invaluable part of my early career, and shaped everything about my career path moving forward. My experience at Root Cause gave me a foundation of skills and knowledge that I continue to draw upon regularly in my current role 10+ years later. My managers taught me how to be a good manager, the projects I worked on taught me what I was most passionate about (and not passionate about), and my coworkers taught me how to be a good teammate. Happy 20th Anniversary, Root Cause!.”
- Kim Jackson-Nielsen, Root Cause staff 2011-2014

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“Root caused helped us to be better understand what older adults in our community need in order to live a healthy and fullfilling life. This project helped set the foundation for our grantmaking in our county to support older adults and their caregivers.”
- Christopher Lemon, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation

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“Happy Birthday Root Cause! In a word, my experience with you was "transformative." Never could I have imagined the opportunities to partner with hundreds of equity-driven leaders, organizations, and community members across the country alongside our amazing team. From the national movements for Black male achievement and Latino education equity to aging justice in Washtenaw County, MI and early childhood systems change in Guilford County, NC during the pandemic, I am proud of the work we did and apply the immense learning (and inspiration) from it every single day.”
- Anand Dholakia, Root Cause staff 2005-2021