We champion efforts that empower those in our community who have been most negatively impacted by our systems and institutions.

Longstanding policies and practices continue to reinforce the inequitable distribution of wealth and access to opportunity that undergirds many of the disparities we see along race, gender and economic lines. For the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio to reach their full potential, we must invest in people-centered solutions that drive more equitable outcomes for the most marginalized members of our community.

The George Gund Foundation makes grants to local organizations whose work has a direct impact on the neighborhoods and residents of the City of Cleveland. The Foundation is interested in systems-change efforts that increase pathways to economic mobility through improved access to good jobs; high-quality, affordable housing; and equitable development. Additionally, the Foundation supports efforts to expand the capacity for community-based leadership through greater access to resources, talent and networks.

The Foundation has particular interest in:

• Supporting our most marginalized groups, including but not limited to people of color, women, people with disabilities, and LGBT communities
• Organizations whose leadership is representative of the communities it serves
• Efforts to address systemic barriers to accessing capital
• Strengthening networks of individuals and organizations, particularly those working inter-sectionally and across sectors
• Narrative change work that centers the lived experiences of individuals from marginalized groups and incorporates their experiences into decision-making processes

Successful grant applicants will make a connection between their work and one or more issue areas in the Foundation’s What We Believe statement.

The Economic Justice and Community Power program area does not currently prioritize the following areas:

• Direct service organizations for specific industries/sectors
• Pitch competitions
• Standalone job readiness and training programs