Careers

Mark Harris, Jr., who has worked as a community organizer and researcher for several Columbus organizations, has been selected as the 2010–2012 Gund Fellow.

Harris, who will receive his master’s degree in city and regional planning from The Ohio State University (OSU) in June, has an undergraduate degree in political science from Howard University and a master’s in public administration from OSU. He will join the Foundation in July.

Harris currently works as a graduate research associate at the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity and previously was an associate organizer with B.R.E.A.D. (Building Responsibility, Equality and Dignity) and a site coordinator for the Columbus Housing Partnership. He also has worked as a legislative research assistant for Columbus City Council and a summer associate at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C.

He is a native of East Chicago, Ind.

Jeffrey L. Grimes, who has worked for environmental organizations in Louisiana, North Carolina and Georgia, is the 2009 George Gund Foundation Fellow.

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.

Grimes, a native Clevelander, currently is assistant director of the Water Resources Program at the Gulf Restoration Network which is based in New Orleans. He also has worked as an environmental education instructor at the Blue Ridge Outdoor Education Center in Toccoa, GA, and as an intern with Environmental Consulting and Research, Inc. and a consultant to the Upper Neuse River Basin Association, both in North Carolina.

Grimes spent a year in Chongqing, China as a Peace Corps Volunteer following graduation from Allegheny College. He also has a master’s degree in public policy from Duke University. He will begin work at the Foundation June 16.

The George Gund Foundation is seeking a senior program officer for its environmental grantmaking.

The senior program officer will serve an important role in shaping strategy, guiding the Foundation’s environmental policies and practices and developing for the board future directions for the Foundation and its overall grantmaking activities.

Additional information about position requirements and application procedure are available here.

Natalie Celeste-Heffernan, an educator who has worked in several local programs, has been selected as the 2008 George Gund Foundation Fellow.

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.

Celeste-Heffernan received her undergraduate degree in religion and women’s studies from Oberlin College and has a master’s degree in education from Ursuline College and a secondary Montessori certification from the Houston Montessori Center. She has worked as a teacher at H. Barbara Booker School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and as a teacher and middle school coordinator at Old Brooklyn Montessori School. She also has worked as a program facilitator for the Preparing Academic Leaders Academy, an advisor for the Cleveland Scholarship Program and a planning and policy associate at the Federation for Community Planning.

The George Gund Foundation has named John Mitterholzer, a program officer at the Cleveland Foundation since 2005, as senior program officer responsible for environmental grantmaking.

Before returning to Cleveland, Mitterholzer was executive director of Great American Downtown, the downtown revitalization program in Nashua, New Hampshire. He previously worked as a field representative for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming and as executive director of Historic Nashville, a nonprofit historic preservation organization.

The Greater Cleveland native has a bachelor of arts degree from Baldwin Wallace College and a master of arts in history from the University of Memphis.

Mitterholzer will begin at the Foundation April 21.

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 2008, requiring residence in Northeast Ohio during this period.

To be considered for the fellowship, each candidate must submit a cover letter, a detailed resume, two letters of recommendation and a short essay discussing why the fellowship opportunity is of interest. These materials are due no later than January 3, 2008.

A fellow will be selected in mid-April.

For complete information on the fellowship, click here.

The George Gund Foundation is seeking a senior secretary to be part of its five-person support staff team, performing general office and grants management tasks as well as providing administrative assistance to two program officers.

The Foundation is a private philanthropy that makes grants quarterly to nonprofit organizations working in human services, education, environment, arts and economic development and community revitalization. This is an opportunity to be part of an organization that seeks to make Cleveland a better place to live and work.

The position requires strong computer skills including database management, a willingness to learn about Clevelandís diverse nonprofit community, excellent written and oral communications skills, the ability to multi-task, strong interpersonal skills, dedication to detail and the ability to work under deadline. The position also requires flexibility, open-minded thinking, personal initiative, a positive attitude and a sense of humor.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to quickly master grants administration protocols and procedures, adapt to a diverse and changing workload, work well with a diverse staff and communicate effectively with our grantees.

The Foundation, located in downtown Cleveland with convenient access to public transportation, offers a salary commensurate with experience and excellent benefits including fully-paid health insurance and generous 403B contribution. Applicants should submit their resume to Cindy Gasparro at cGasparro@GundFdn.org or to the Foundation, 1845 Guildhall, 45 W. Prospect, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Additional information about The George Gund Foundation is available at www.gundfoundation.org.

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 2007, requiring residence in Northeast Ohio during this period.

To be considered for the fellowship, each candidate must submit a cover letter, a detailed resume, two letters of recommendation and a short essay discussing why the fellowship opportunity is of interest. These materials are due no later than January 3, 2007.

A fellow will be selected in mid-April.

For complete information on the fellowship, click here.

David Goodman, a Cleveland lawyer who has played a leadership role in community organizations, has been named to the board of The George Gund Foundation.

Goodman, who has served as chair of the Center for Community Solutions and Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleveland, is a partner and coordinator of the public finance practice at Squire Sanders & Dempsey. He continues to serve on the Center’s board as well as the board of the Women’s Community Foundation and the visiting committee of the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University.

The George Gund Foundation, the largest private foundation in Ohio, 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 quarterly in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $455 million.

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 2006, requiring residence in Northeast Ohio during the term of the engagement.

To be considered for the Fellowship, each candidate must submit a cover letter, a detailed resume, two letters of recommendation and a short essay discussing why the Fellowship opportunity is appealing. These materials are due no later than January 3, 2006.
A Fellow will be selected in mid-April.

For complete information on the Fellowship, click here.