A Simple Act of Kindness Started Something Bigger

Oak & Ember began with one family's difficult night, one community's generous response and a belief that people do not have to experience a hardship personally before deciding to help.

How Oak & Ember Began

The idea for Oak & Ember began during a Christmas visit to New York, when founder Mike Kodweis's two-year-old daughter suffered an asthma attack and was admitted to intensive care. She recovered, but the experience left Mike and his family facing the fear and uncertainty familiar to every parent whose child is in the hospital.

During their stay, police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews lined the road outside the hospital and turned on their lights. Children watched from the windows as the street filled with color. The gesture was simple, coordinated and joyful. It asked nothing of the families and gave them something positive to hold onto during a frightening time.

Mike returned home thinking about what becomes possible when people decide to show up, even when a cause has not affected them personally. He brought the idea to The Consilium, a trusted group of business leaders he had founded, with a straightforward request: let us use our relationships to help someone.

The group partnered with Phillips Farms for its first fundraiser. Within roughly 90 days, the effort raised about $30,000. What began as one event became a foundation built to connect people, resources and local nonprofits in ways that are personal, useful and responsive.

Oak & Ember is a board-led experiential fundraising foundation based in Raleigh. We create events that appeal to different parts of the community, select nonprofit partners doing credible local work and use our network to generate support that can extend beyond a financial contribution.

That support may include sponsorships, introductions, in-kind services, event exposure, volunteer participation or a fast response to an opportunity that was not on the annual calendar. The common thread is local impact that people can understand and relationships that help good organizations do more.

Who We Are Today

Mission

Oak & Ember Foundation strengthens Triangle communities by connecting people, businesses and resources with local nonprofits through distinctive experiences, trusted partnerships and direct support.

Vision

We envision a Triangle where strong local nonprofits have the funding, visibility and relationships to serve more people, and where giving feels personal, engaging and close to home.

What Guides Us

We look for the right connection, resource or introduction instead of assuming every need is solved by a check.
We look for the right connection, resource or introduction instead of assuming every need is solved by a check.
We design experiences that invite different audiences into the work and make giving easier to begin.
We keep a clear purpose while remaining able to move when a worthwhile opportunity appears.
We review potential nonprofit partners, communicate where support is directed and treat every contribution as a responsibility.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The oak represents strength, reliability and the commitment to remain present over time. The ember represents the small act that can start something much larger. Together, they reflect how Oak & Ember works: build a dependable community, then use its energy to move good work forward.

Our Relationship With The Consilium

Oak & Ember grew out of The Consilium, a private peer network of trusted business leaders founded by Mike Kodweis. The two organizations are distinct but closely connected. The Consilium supplied many of the Foundation's earliest relationships, sponsors and volunteers and continues to be an important source of support. Participation in Oak & Ember events or giving does not require membership in The Consilium.

Board of Directors

Oak & Ember is led by a volunteer board whose members contribute professional expertise, community relationships and hands-on support for the Foundation's events and nonprofit partnerships.