03/27/2003 in Grantmaking

Recent Grants – March 2003

Cleveland, Ohio — The George Gund Foundation made several grants at its March meeting related to the Cleveland Municipal School District’s (CMSD) plans for a massive school facilities improvement program.

A $75,000 grant was made to Cleveland Tomorrow for the Bond Accountability Commission, an independent entity created to monitor and oversee expenditure of funds from the $350 million bond issue that was approved by voters in May 2001 for school building and renovation.

A two-year $150,000 grant will be used for efforts to engage and involve the community in school facilities planning and management. The grant was made to The Cleveland Foundation and will be used by three partners in community engagement efforts-the City of Cleveland, the CMSD and Cleveland Neighborhood Development Coalition.

The Foundation also made a $50,000 grant to EcoCity Cleveland’s Green Building Coalition which will work with the school district to encourage use of “green” energy efficiency and health standards in construction and renovation.

The grants were among 73 totaling $2,439,580 made by Trustees to a wide range of organizations and projects in human services, education, arts, environment, civic affairs and economic and community development at the first quarterly meeting of 2003.

Other grants of interest included:

  • $350,000 over two years to Case Western Reserve University’s Center on Urban Poverty and Change for focused social policy analysis, communication for policy influences and graduate education in poverty research.
  • $25,000 over 15 months to the Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre for operating support.
  • $30,000 to the Center for Employment Training Cleveland for operating support.
  • $25,000 to the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland for the Safe Schools Are For Everyone program.
  • $30,000 over two years to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for the Natural Areas Program.
  • $67,500 to the Federation for Community Planning for the emergency state budget campaign.
  • $15,000 to Cleveland Bridge Builders, Incorporated for a strategic program assessment.
  • $25,000 to the Adoption Network Cleveland for a program and volunteer coordinator and office relocation.
  • $40,000 over two years to the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums for the Ohio Butterfly Conservation Initiative.
  • $25,000 to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence for the Firearms Litigation Clearinghouse.

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 quarterly in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment, arts and civic affairs. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $393 million.

For Further Information Contact: Deena M. Epstein216.241.3114