Cleveland Museum of Natural History among grant recipients at Foundation fall meeting
The George Gund Foundation awarded a five-year, $2 million grant to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for its Centennial Campaign at the Foundation’s fall meeting. The museum seeks to transform its University Circle campus to better connect its visitors to science and nature and help them advocate for finding solutions to the emerging environmental and scientific issues of this century. The transformation of the museum will allow it to enhance its world-class scientific research and academic programs and continue to grow its reputation as a key resource on environmental issues, both local and global.
The Foundation approved 77 grants, totaling more than $10.5 million. Other grants include $75,000 to the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation to support “Stokes: Reflecting on 50 years, honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future of Cleveland,” a yearlong commemoration of the legacy of the Mayor Carl B. Stokes and Congressman Louis Stokes.
The Foundation continued its commitment to the transformation of public education with Cleveland with two grants totaling $2.09 million that will support the planning, launch and start-up of 12 new Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools.
Other notable grants include:
- $60,000 to the Cleveland office of In Our Backyards, Inc (IOBY), a crowdfunding platform that supports small neighborhood projects that improve the quality of life in neighborhoods and the environment;
- $56,000 to Karamu House for operating expenses and other support;
- $50,000 to the Catholic Charities Corporation for the Friend of the Court and Unaccompanied Minors Pro Bono Programs, an initiative to aid in legal representation of children before the Cleveland Immigration Court;
- $30,000 to Kent State University’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative to support the Design Diversity Index project, that seeks to improve the small amount of people of color working in design fields; and
- $110,000 to the Ohio Justice and Policy Center in support of its “Smarter Justice, Fewer Prisoners” initiative.
The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 as a private, nonprofit institution with the sole purpose of contributing to human well-being and the progress of society.
The George Gund Foundation seeks 2017–2019 fellow
The George Gund Foundation Fellowship provides an opportunity for promising professionals to work inside the Foundation, a philanthropic organization that plays a vital role in supporting the civic life of Greater Cleveland and in various national policy deliberations that affect our community. The Fellowship is a two-year, full-time commitment beginning in summer 2017, requiring residence in Northeast Ohio during the term of engagement.
The Fellowship experience will be tailored to the Foundation’s needs and will include a wide range of substantive assignments including reviewing grant proposals, organizing and conducting site visits and researching topics related to the Foundation’s grantmaking interests.
To be considered for the Fellowship, each candidate must submit a cover letter, a short essay discussing why the Fellowship opportunity is appealing, a detailed resume and two letters of recommendation. Please also indicate how you learned of the position. These materials should be combined into one pdf document for submission and are due no later than 5:00 PM EST on January 4, 2017. A Fellow will be selected by mid-April 2017. Email application materials to hr@gundfdn.org. Letters of recommendation may be submitted as part of the application or sent separately via email or regular mail.
Successful candidates for this Fellowship will have a graduate degree and/or several years work experience in the nonprofit sector. Excellent writing skills and sufficient computer competency to carry out assigned projects are essential. A demonstrated desire to work in public service or the nonprofit sector is also important, as the Foundation views the Fellowship to be a valuable early career opportunity. The selection process is anticipated to be highly competitive.
Each George Gund Foundation Fellow will receive a stipend of $45,000 per year, plus a full benefits package including health, dental, disability and life insurance, 403(b) contributions and work-related travel expenses. Housing, transportation and other living arrangements are the responsibility of the Fellow.
The George Gund Foundation (www.gundfoundation.org), established in 1952, is the largest private foundation in Ohio. The Foundation makes annual grants totaling approximately $25 million. Program officers professionally handle grantmaking in arts, economic development and community revitalization, education, environment and human services.
The George Gund Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic established by law.
Changing Minds Photographic Exhibit
Changing Minds Photographic Exhibit September 2–October 28
Public schools in Cleveland are “Changing Minds” — dispelling myths, breaking down barriers, and re-picturing education. The 11 district and charter schools featured in The George Gund Foundation’s “Changing Minds” photography collection are just some of the public schools in Cleveland that inspire their students through high expectations, collaborative relationships and creative instruction.
The photography collection will be on exhibit downtown in the Louis Stokes Wing of the Cleveland Public Main Library from September 2 through October 28. A smaller traveling exhibit will be on display at several library branches around the city. For more information, please visit http://gundfdn.org/change.
Come see for yourself evidence of Cleveland’s Plan for Transforming Schools, whose goal is to ensure every child in Cleveland attends a high-quality school and every neighborhood has a multitude of great schools from which families can choose.
The George Gund Foundation Awards its 2016 Summer Grants
The George Gund Foundation announced a total of $4,886,750 in grants determined at its July board meeting. The grants ranged from support of the Collective Arts Network’s production of the CAN Journal to support of locally-oriented retail business training by the Hispanic Business Association.
Several grants support access to high quality reproductive health through both direct services and public policy advocacy. Grants to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence and the Family Planning Association of Northeast Ohio, Inc. offer services to women seeking access to reproductive health care, victims of sexual assault and vulnerable teens.
The Foundation made a $100,000 grant award to launch the Excellence in Teaching Award, developed in partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the Cleveland Teachers Union, and the Cleveland Foundation. This award, intended to be annual, recognizes and rewards CMSD teachers who demonstrate creativity and innovation, who make learning engaging for students and who set a standard of excellence.
Other grants of interest include:
- $150,000 to the Cleveland Water Alliance to host an event called “AquaHacking 2017: United for Lake Erie” that will focus on water quality issues, including the toxic algal bloom that annually afflicts the western basin of the lake.
- $60,000 to the Museum of Contemporary Art to build organizational capacity to support the work of the newly-hired lead curatorial staff in positioning the museum globally in light of its 50th anniversary in 2018.
- $100,000 to Montessori Development Partnerships in continued support of the launch of Stonebrook Montessori charter school in Glenville. The school is sponsored by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and is the only public Montessori school on the city’s east side.
- $145,000 to the Juvenile Justice Coalition Inc. and the Council for a Strong America to provide continued investment in juvenile justice reform.
- $60,000 to the Greater Cleveland Media Development Corporation to encourage and support the burgeoning film industry in Cleveland and advocate for state support of the industry through increased tax credits.
The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made three times a year in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $700 million.
Further details on the Summer 2016 grant awardees can be found at www.gundfoundation.org.
The George Gund Foundation's 2015 Annual Report Available Online
The George Gund Foundation’s 2015 interactive annual report features a photo essay on the progress of Cleveland’s Plan for Transforming Schools, and it is now available on the Foundation’s website.
Award-winning photographer Lisa Kessler captured the inspiring but still inadequately recognized change that is happening in public schools in Cleveland. Kessler wrote in an accompanying statement that what she witnessed deeply affected her. “Being in these schools in Cleveland made me love school again,” she wrote. “A place where ideas and personalities fly around, and where it’s okay to be ourselves.” Foundation Executive Director David Abbott amplifies that sentiment in his annual letter and briefly describes the 11 schools that Kessler visited, which are only some of those being overhauled under The Cleveland Plan.
Geoffrey Gund, the Foundation’s president, offers observations on the nature of this year’s presidential campaign as the Republican National Convention prepares to meet in Cleveland. In particular he decries the demonization of government at a time when government is needed as a credible partner in order to meet many dire challenges.
The report also includes guidelines and procedures for applying for grants, a financial statement and a list of grants made during 2015.
Leah Hudnall Named Gund Foundation Fellow
Leah Hudnall, the community outreach coordinator for the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, has been selected as The George Gund Foundation Fellow for 2016-2018. In her role at the task force, which operates within the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office, she conducts safety presentations and training sessions at schools and community organizations. Previously, Hudnall was a development associate at the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning and an intern at the KeyBank Foundation.
Hudnall has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and culture from Howard University and a Master of Arts in nonprofit management from John Carroll University.
The George Gund Foundation Fellows program, started in 2004, provides an opportunity for promising young professionals to work inside the Foundation, an organization that plays an active role in supporting the civic life of Greater Cleveland and in various national policy deliberations that impact our community. Each Fellow, selected from a nationwide pool of applicants, works at the Foundation for two years.
Hudnall, a Cleveland native, will begin her work at the Foundation in June.
Foundation Awards $7 Million at Winter Meeting
The George Gund Foundation approved grants totaling $7,083,637 at its February meeting, including continuing support for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and $1 million to help match Cuyahoga County's major expansion of funding for high quality preschool.
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Inc. (CNP) has played a crucial role in supporting the health of Cleveland’s neighborhoods for almost three decades. It was a leader in developing innovative strategies to fight the urban ravages of the mortgage foreclosure crisis and the Great Recession. The Foundation awarded CNP $3,600,000 over the next three years to incorporate more people-oriented strategies into the rehabilitation of Cleveland’s neighborhoods.
The Foundation committed $1 million over two years to the campaign for private donations to match $10 million from Cuyahoga County for expansion of its Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program. “The social and economic evidence of early childhood education’s impact is overwhelming,” said Marcia Egbert, the Foundation’s senior program officer for human services. “The County’s expanded program will increase the number of high-quality seats and will make them more affordable for children with the greatest need.”
Other grants of note included:
- $25,000 to the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes to host a series of public events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the efforts to successfully fight the construction of the Clark Lee Freeway, which would have cut through the Shaker Lakes and Cleveland's east side
- $95,000, over two years, to GroundWorks DanceTheater for operating support and completion of work identified in its strategic plan to artistically and administratively move the organization foward
- $175,000 for operating support and capacity building to the Cleveland Transformation Alliance, which oversees the implementation of the Cleveland Plan, our community's education reform plan
- $40,000 to the Healthy Fathering Collaborative for the Baby Elmo Project, which provides parenting education for previously incarcerated teen fathers to develop and strengthen relationships with their young children
- $100,000 to Oberlin College for the Oberlin Food Hub. The Hub will aggregate produce from multiple smaller Northeastern Ohio farms and then distribute the food to institutional buyers, such as grocery store chains
The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made three times a year in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled almost $696 million.
Foundation Grants $17.7 Million at Final Meeting of 2015
The George Gund Foundation approved funding for a diverse array of organizations primarily serving Cleveland at its November meeting. The initiatives receiving grants range from continued support of a national teacher corps presence in Cleveland schools to a local program linking urban consumers with Northeast Ohio farmers.
The Fund for Our Economic Future received a three-year $4,000,000 grant to continue its efforts to grow the region’s ecosystem of entrepreneurship and to leverage philanthropic investments in regional economic growth and opportunity with those of the business community.
The Western Reserve Historical Society received a two-year $250,000 grant to create the “Cleveland Starts Here” permanent exhibit, which will feature local history at the Cleveland History Center in University Circle.
Bard College received a $150,000 grant to open a second early college high school as part of the Foundation’s commitment to innovative schools in Cleveland. The initial attendance for the first school, opened in 2014, has been extremely high. The school offers a tuition-free, credit-bearing college course of study in the liberal arts and sciences.
Trustees approved 96 grants to organizations working in human services, education, arts, environment and economic and community development at the Foundation’s final meeting of 2015, totaling $17,738,500.
Other grants of note included:
- $5,000,000, over five years, to the Foundation Fighting Blindness for the creation of My Retina Tracker, a secure digital database that will accelerate identifying participants for clinical trials of potential treatments of macular degenerative diseases
- $250,000 to Lake View Cemetery Foundation for the first phase of renovations to the historic James A. Garfield monument
- $210,000, over two years, to Bike Cleveland for operating support and project funding to develop a citywide bike sharing program
- $50,000 to the Young Women's Christian Association of Cleveland for the "A Place 4 Me" initiative to end homelessness and provide support for youth who have aged out of the foster-care system
- $25,000 to the local non-partisan think tank PolicyBridge for operating support in order to "create and sustain a high quality discourse that addresses public policy issues"
- $65,000 to College Now Greater Cleveland Inc. to continue the work of the Higher Education Compact of Greater Cleveland
The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made three times a year in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled almost $689 million.
The George Gund Foundation Seeks 2016-2018 Fellow
cGasparro
The George Gund Foundation Fellowship provides an opportunity for promising professionals to work inside the Foundation, a philanthropic organization that plays a vital role in supporting the civic life of Greater Cleveland and in various national policy deliberations that impact our community. The Fellowship is a two-year, full-time commitment beginning in summer 2016, requiring residence in Northeast Ohio during the term of engagement.
The Fellowship experience will be tailored to the Foundation’s needs and will include a wide range of substantive assignments including reviewing grant proposals, organizing and conducting site visits and researching topics related to the Foundation’s grantmaking interests.
To be considered for the Fellowship, each candidate must submit a cover letter, a short essay discussing why the Fellowship opportunity is appealing, a detailed resume and two letters of recommendation. Please also indicate how you learned of the position. These materials should be combined into one pdf document for submission and are due no later than 5:00PM EST on January 6, 2016. A Fellow will be selected by mid-April 2016. Email application materials to hr@gundfdn.org. Letters of recommendation may be submitted as part of the application or sent separately via email or regular mail.
Successful candidates for this Fellowship will have a graduate degree and/or several years work experience in the nonprofit sector. Excellent writing skills and sufficient computer competency to carry out assigned projects are essential. A demonstrated desire to work in public service or the nonprofit sector is also important, as the Foundation views the Fellowship to be a valuable early career opportunity. The selection process is anticipated to be highly competitive.
Each George Gund Foundation Fellow will receive a stipend of $45,000 per year, plus a full benefits package including health, dental, disability and life insurance, 403(b) contributions and work-related travel expenses. Housing, transportation and other living arrangements are the responsibility of the Fellow.
The George Gund Foundation (www.gundfoundation.org), established in 1952, is the largest private foundation in Ohio. The Foundation makes annual grants totaling approximately $25 million. Program officers professionally handle grantmaking in arts, economic development and community revitalization, education, environment, and human services.
The George Gund Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic established by law.
Related News
Foundation Seeks Senior Program Officer for the Arts
cGasparro
The George Gund Foundation has launched a search for a senior program officer responsible for arts grantmaking to succeed Deena Epstein who will retire in July after more than twenty years at the Foundation.
Alison P. Ranney and Alexandra N. Corvin of Koya Leadership Partners are managing the search. Those interested in the position should contact them at koyachicago@koyapartners.com. Information about the position is available at https://koyapartners.com/search/senior-program-officer-for-the-arts/.