Culture Shifting Foundation

for racial equality and wealth creation

Culture Shifting Foundation

OUR HISTORY:

We are a new foundation (Reg. 501c3) with roots dating back to 2006 when working to solve racial inequalities was not in the national public dialogue as a critical social reform.

In 2006 Culture Shift Labs (CSL), a professional service firm, began pioneering new ways of generating wealth for Black businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists. Culture Shift Labs delivered successes for Black community in healthcare, business founders, and venture capital funds. Our foundation was thus incubated with first-hand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in improving outcomes and creating new wealth.

OUR FOCUS:

We believe wealth isn’t just for the wealthy. Wealth cushions families against costly problems that arise—such as an emergency that leads to an unexpected hospital visit—and gives people the means to move up the economic ladder.

Urban Institute research shows that wealth inequality has not improved over the past 50 years and that lower income and less access to wealth-building vehicles, like retirement savings programs and investment accounts, are part of the reason.

That’s why at the Culture Shifting Foundation for Racial Equality and Wealth Creation, our mission is to narrow inequality gaps for the Black community in three main areas:

Health
Equity

The economic health of cities and communities depends on the financial health and stability of their residents.  The financial health and stability of residents in turn, depends on physical health. Physically healthy individuals contribute more to the local economy and provide the stability, attention, and support that children need to thrive and succeed.  We focus on health equity as a basis for long-term economic stability and income earning potential.

Wealth
Creation

Fredrick Douglas, the great American social reformer, understood that economic liberty was a crucial component of liberty more generally. He believed in private property and the accumulation of wealth are the keys to freedom. It is our aim to accelerate wealth creation (narrow the wealth gap) in the Black community by opening up opportunities and by creating programs where wealthy Black families help other Black families create new wealth using a “pay it forward” model.

Black Community
Investing

Capital does not flow proportionally to the Black business community, nor do Black Households receive wealth management services that align well with their average financial condition. We aim to diversify investing by: increasing the flow of capital to Black businesses (Entrepreneurs), investment vehicles (Black Venture Capital Funds), by creating significant Black Wealth in a “pay it forward” system, and increasing Black Household investing.

Programs

currently being funded

BLACK WEALTH CREATION SUCCESS STORIES:

“If you can see it, you can be it!” Produce the nation’s largest library of Black Wealth Creation Success Stories to drive positive thinking, inspiration and action (in partnership with Harvard and HBCUs). Publish and distribute through select media channels, B-schools, and incubators to drive action among tens of thousands in the Black community.

CENTER FOR BLACK WEALTH CREATION:

“Narrow the wealth gap now”. Identify and unite through “pay it forward” pledges, a group of high-potential Black leaders to further accelerate their success, prominence, and capacity as genuine “change agents” for the Black community. Align this group with the best wealth-creation opportunity sources (in a mutually beneficial manner) to create new, modern success stories (and ready-to-deploy new wealth).

CULTURE SHIFTING WEEKEND’S BLACK INVESTMENT FORUMS:

Driving and improving outcomes for entrepreneurs and venture investors. Build off the decade of success in Culture Shifting Weekends which enabled $546 million of deals and collaborations with Black entrepreneurs, executives, healthcare startup founders and Black lead venture fund founders. Continue to produce more events that triple this number.

Meet Our CEO

Cecelia Waterman-Santiago

CEO,
Culture Shifting Foundation

About Cecelia

Cecelia Waterman-Santiago is the CEO of Culture Shifting Foundation, a nonprofit company created to increase racial wealth equality in the United States. Before joining Culture Shifting Foundation, Ms. Waterman-Santiago was the CEO of House of Rising Sun, a nonprofit dedicated to the wellness of girls that have been abused. Prior to establishing House of Rising Sun, she was Senior Vice President – Marketing & Client Services at Strategy Asset Managers, LLC and before that, she was Senior Vice President & Key Accounts Manager at Lexington-ING, a division of ING Group. Ms. Waterman-Santiago has over 25 of years of experience in the
Financial Industry.

Ms. Waterman-Santiago has an M.B.A. from Fordham University and a B.S. from St. Lawrence University. She also has a Certified Investment Management Analyst designation from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania.

Meet Our Board

Our board members work tirelessly to accomplish our important and challenging mission to narrow inequality gaps for the Black community.

Andrea Hoffman

Founder & CEO,
Culture Shift Labs;
Founder, Culture Shifting Foundation

Fred Thompson

CEO,
F.T. Global Executive Search

Araya Mesfin, CFP

Managing Director at UBS, Senior Portfolio Manager Wealth Advisor, Athlete & Entertainer Consultant

Jacques-Philippe Piverger

Co-Founder/Managing Partner,
Ozone X Ventures