Sheldon K. Caplis, prodigious fundraiser for community causes, dies

Sheldon K. Caplis, who devoted his life to giving away money he helped raise from corporations to nonprofits, died of a heart attack June 11 at his Pikesville home. He was 73.

“Sheldon spent his life helping others and was committed to social justice, children and young people to help them succeed. He was never discouraged and found ways to lift them up,” said Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president from 1992 to 2022 of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

“He was a source of inspiration to people and his smile revealed a gentle spirit. He also devoted his life to serving as an inspirational leader of our city.”

“He worked to help needy people,” said Mr. Caplis’ wife of 50 years, Jamie Waldman, who worked in development for the Enoch Pratt Free Library and other nonprofits. “He was the connection between nonprofits and corporations.”

Sheldon Kirby Caplis, the son of Joseph Caplis, a postal worker, and Jenny Caplis, a state worker, was born in Baltimore and raised in Northwest Baltimore.

A 1966 graduate of Baltimore City College, he earned a degree four years later from the University of Baltimore. In 1973, he obtained a master’s degree in business from Morgan State University.

He began his career in development at the University of Baltimore in 1972, working there until 1993 when he was appointed vice president of development at UMBC, where he worked with Mr. Hrabowski.

Mr. Caplis led two capital campaigns that raised more than $150 million for the university.

This led to a case study being done by Harvard University and Mr. Caplis and Mr. Hrabowski traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts, for several years to train newly hired college presidents in the methodology of fundraising.

“Sheldon was someone who was loved by all of us at UMBC, and he loved us all unconditionally,” Mr. Hrabowski said.

Mr. Caplis found his career path early in life.

“He was young when his father died,” Mr. Hrabowski said. “When two men of color, fellow postal workers, came to his home to pay their respects, he found out his father had co-signed mortgages so they could purchase homes. That was such a mark of courage in the 1960s and it impressed Sheldon.”

Mr. Caplis left UMBC in 2008 because he wished to fulfill his dream of giving away money through the corporate community, and joined Citi Group as regional director of community relations.

He left Citi Group in 2016 and established Caplis Consulting.

“He was passionate about higher education and put his energy towards community colleges and workforce development, in order to enable underserved people to have more opportunities for higher paying jobs and economic stability,” according to a biographical profile.

“Sheldon knew the importance of education and believed that it helps all of its children,” Mr. Hrabowski said. “It was important to him that people believe and focus on the truth.”

Mr. Caplis was a member of numerous boards, including the Community College of Baltimore County and the Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce, and was the first chairperson of Maryland CASH, which works with low-income people.

“He enjoyed doing philanthropic strategy for educational institutions,” his wife said.

Mr. Caplis also held various positions with The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore,  including chairing its life and legacy program where he encouraged people to make a gift following their death.

An avid collector of people, Mr. Caplis enjoyed mentoring them, and like his father, quietly helped them with education-related expenses, family members said.

“Every time he talked, Sheldon gave you that great smile,” Mr. Hrabowski said. “Until the night before he died, he was still checking in on his people.”

Mr. Hrabowski added: “He was a great family man and showed young men how to talk about their wives. He was a man who taught us how to live and how to love.”

“He was also very involved in the political landscape and Democratic politics and [a get-out-the-vote group],” his wife said.

Mr. Caplis was a member of the Suburban Club, a Baltimore golf organization.

“He was a very enthusiastic and passionate golfer who liked to play with his wife,” said his son, Jonathan Caplis, of Owings Mills.

Mr. Caplis was an equally avid Orioles fan.

He was a longtime member of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation.

Services were held June 14 at Sol Levinson & Bros. with interment in the Baltimore Hebrew Cemetery.

In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by a daughter, Allison Caplis Mandelberg, of Federal Hill; a brother, Stephen Caplis, of Pikesville; and four grandchildren.