07/11/2016 in Grantmaking

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.