Cecil J. Lipscomb is the President and CEO of the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland, Inc. (UBF). Founded in 1981, UBF is a charitable organization that provides financial (grants) and technical support to neighborhood-based organizations, offering a full range of health and human service programs for the residents of Cleveland’s African American and lower income communities. Cecil has received a number of awards over the years in his service to the community.  Recently, he received a Hidden Figures award from the City of Cleveland – Office of Mayor, Justin Bibb, the Cleveland Chapter of NAACP, and the Phe’be Foundation.  In 2019,  he received the Smart Business 50 Innovation, Impact and Sustainability Award for his work at UBF. Prior to that, Mr. Lipscomb was Senior Director of Institutes at Cleveland Clinic and worked as Director of Fundraising for Case Western Reserve University’s School of Engineering. Before 2004, he worked in commercial and government sales, management, and marketing in the telecommunications sector for ten years with two Fortune 100 Companies, who eventually merged to create Verizon.

In addition to his executive responsibilities, Cecil devotes a significant amount of his time on a voluntary basis to organizations whose missions reflect his life’s vision and where he believes he can make a contribution to their advancement.

To note a few, Mr. Lipscomb was appointed to the Board of The Group Plan Commission, whose stated mission is, “By developing and linking signature public spaces, the Group Plan Commission is reshaping the heart of Cleveland.” He also serves as Board Chair at Eliza Bryant Village, an organization dedicated to providing quality services, outreach programs, and a secure living environment for seniors. In addition to serving on the Board of Friends of Breakthrough Schools, one of the highest-performing network of free, public charter schools in Ohio, he is a visiting member of the Board of Directors for United Way of Greater Cleveland. He was also pleased to accept an appointment to the Cleveland Public Library Board, believing that literacy is a fundamental building block and a critical element to equity in education.  As Co-Chair of the United Way of Greater Cleveland’s Equity Leadership Council, Cecil gives attention to improving race, diversity, equity and inclusion practices within the community. The Council also assists United Way with addressing these issues internally with both Board and staff.

UBF received the 2021 Foundation Leadership Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cleveland Chapter. Also, during the pandemic and in recognition of the need of economic stability within NE Ohio’s marginalized communities, Cecil worked with a small group of business leaders and the UBF Board of Directors to establish M-USA Capital Investments, Inc., a wholly owned for-profit subsidiary of UBF.

Mr. Lipscomb received his undergraduate education from Ursuline College, his MBA from Weatherhead School of Management, and certificate of nonprofit management from Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Case Western Reserve University. He and his wife, Erica, have raised 3 beautiful children, who are now ages 21, 19 and 18.