For over a decade, Cara Dickerson, VP of Client Success & Account Management at Momentive Software, has helped nonprofits across the country further their missions through technology. But her commitment to impact runs far deeper than her day-to-day work. For Cara, giving back is personal — rooted in loss, fueled by community, and guided by the belief that even small acts can change someone’s life.
Honoring a Friend, Carrying Forward a Legacy
Cara’s passion for service centers around her work with the Jennie Goas Silverman Foundation, where she serves as a board member, volunteer, donor, and, in her words, a proud “do-it-all-er.”
The foundation was created in honor of Cara’s friend Jennie, a Chicago Public Schools math teacher who passed away from triple-negative breast cancer at just 29 years old. The loss was sudden and devastating—Jennie went from diagnosis to passing in under a year.
“I’m passionate about the foundation because I knew Jennie personally,” Cara shared. “Supporting this foundation means keeping her memory alive, supporting the students she cared so deeply about, and raising awareness for a cancer that impacts far too many.”
The foundation focuses on two causes Jennie was passionate about:
1. Scholarships for Chicago Public Schools students
Awarded to students at the two CPS high schools where Jennie taught, these scholarships are intentionally flexible—supporting books, meals, transportation, extracurriculars, or whatever a student needs most. “There aren’t many scholarships like that,” Cara explained. “It’s supplemental funding that fills the gaps.”
Over the past nine years, the foundation has watched students graduate, launch careers, and return to share how the scholarship changed their trajectory. Cara recalls dinners with scholarship recipients—nurses, finance professionals, first-generation college students—all with unique stories and immense gratitude.
“It’s really cool,” she said. “Hearing directly from them about the impact is what keeps us going.”
2. Funding and awareness for triple-negative breast cancer
Driven by Jennie’s own diagnosis, the foundation also contributes to research and awareness efforts for one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-detect breast cancers. While their board is small, their commitment is strong: five members raising roughly $75,000 annually through a mix of grassroots outreach, events, and community support.
“It’s small but mighty,” Cara said. “And to see progress on the research front, even in the news, it feels like we’re part of something meaningful.”
Doing More With Less: Lessons in Leadership
Serving on a small volunteer-run board has shaped Cara’s leadership style in tangible ways.
Resourcefulness. Creativity. Problem-solving. The courage to try new things even when success isn’t guaranteed.
“That’s something I carry into my work,” she shared. “We tell nonprofits all the time to diversify, to test, to take chances. I try to model that with my team, too. There’s no such thing as a bad idea—bring it forward and let’s try it.”
She sees her nonprofit experience as a grounding reminder of why her work at Momentive matters and why supporting nonprofits through technology is a privilege.
“Tech is tech. But here, we get to help organizations fund their missions. That’s fulfilling. And we’re encouraged to actually volunteer, to be out in the community, to meet our clients and understand the work they’re doing. Not every company provides that type of opportunity.”
A Culture That Supports Service
Cara came to Momentive after previously working in the nonprofit industry, so a company that valued volunteerism was important to her.
“I’ve never been told “no” when it comes to supporting an organization,” she said. “The volunteer days, the encouragement, the fact that we’ve sponsored events for years—it matters. It aligns with who we are and what we believe in.”
And yes, Cara and her board use GiveSmart to power their foundation’s events, ticketing, donation forms, and more. She loves knowing she’s supporting the mission with tools she believes in personally and professionally.
Finding a Starting Point: Cara’s Advice
When asked what she’d tell someone who wants to give back but doesn’t know where to start, Cara didn’t hesitate:
“No small deed goes unnoticed.”
Whether it’s an hour of volunteering, $5 on Giving Tuesday, or helping at a local event, Cara believes every action counts.
“Start with the time, money, or talent you have,” she said. “Impact doesn’t mean a huge commitment. And once you start, it becomes kind of addictive—you want to feel that again. You want to do more.”
Her encouragement is simple and powerful: explore what moves you. It might be education, animals, housing, or cancer research. You don’t need one cause; you just need to start somewhere.
Living Her Values, Inspiring Others
Cara’s story is a reminder of what an inspiring leader is: a person who shows up— personally, passionately, and wholeheartedly—to make life better for others.
Her commitment to honoring Jennie, supporting students, and pushing forward lifesaving research is not only inspiring but deeply human. It reflects the heart of our mission: empowering people and communities to bring on better outcomes all around the world.
And Cara does exactly that—every day, in every way she can.
