The Cleveland Foundation, based in

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U ...

Ohio Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...

, is the world's first community foundation and one of the largest today, with assets of $2.5 billion and annual grants of more than $100 million. Established in 1914 by banker Frederick Harris Goff, the Cleveland Foundation partners with donors to improve the lives of residents in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties, now and for generations to come. The Cleveland Foundation is made up of more than 800 funds representing individuals, families, organizations and corporations. The current president and chief executive officer is Ronald "Ronn" Richard. The foundation was founded by Frederick Harris Goff, a well-known banker at the Cleveland Trust Company, who sought to eliminate the "dead hand" of organized philanthropy. He created a dynamic, corporately structured foundation that could utilize community gifts in a responsive and need-appropriate manner. In 2019, 1,871 place-based foundations exist internationally. In its first decade, the foundation accomplished innovative projects to improve the quality of life for Greater Cleveland residents including conducting research surveys to promote public education reforms and understand the relationship between poverty and crime. In 1919, the Foundation's call for an expansion in public recreational opportunities led to launching Cleveland Metroparks. In 1963, the Cleveland Foundation took over the stewardship of the

Anisfield-Wolf Book Award The Anisfield-Wolf Book Award is an American literary award dedicated to honoring written works that make important contributions to the understanding of racism and the appreciation of the rich diversity of human culture. Established in 1935 by Clev ...

, the only literary prize in the country dedicated to honoring written works that make important contributions to our understanding of racism and appreciation of the rich diversity of human culture. The foundation has taken a leadership role in fueling multiple revitalization projects including the resurgence of

Downtown Cleveland Downtown Cleveland is the central business district of Cleveland, Ohio. The economic and symbolic center of the city and the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area, it is Cleveland's oldest district, with its Public Square laid out ...

in the 1950s, the rebirth of Playhouse Square in the 1970s and the Greater University Circle Initiative in the early 2000s. Frederick Harris Goff led from 1914 to 1919. Raymond C. Moley led the foundation from 1919 to 1923. Carlton K. Matson, 1924–1928. Leyton E. Carter led the Foundation for 25 years, from 1928 to 1953. From 1953 to 1967, J. Kimball Johnson. James A. Norton, 1968 - 1973, left the foundation upon State of Ohio Governor John J. Gilligan’s invitation to serve as chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. Barbara Haas Rawson served as interim director, 1973–1974. Homer C. Wadsworth, 1974–1983. Steven A. Minter, who had served as the commissioner of public welfare for the State of Massachusetts and first under secretary of the US Department of Education, was CEO from 1984 to 2003. Ronald B. Richard, with experience in the U.S. Foreign Service, the CIA, and the private sector, has led the Foundation since 2003.

Grantmaking

The Cleveland Foundation awards most of its grants to 501(c)(3)

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

s. Some grants are made to

government agencies A government or state agency, sometimes an appointed commission, is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an administratio ...

. Grants support Greater Cleveland projects and programs that benefit its citizens, meet community needs and test new ideas. The foundation generally does not make grants to individuals, for-profit organizations, small businesses, endowment campaigns, annual fundraising or membership drives. The foundation directs two-thirds of its discretionary grant dollars to these priority areas: *Arts and Culture *Economic and Workforce Development *Education *the Environment *Leadership Development *Neighborhood Revitalization and Engagement *Youth Development The other one-third is awarded in response to direct requests from the community. In total, the foundation's grantmaking awards approximately $100 million annually.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cleveland Foundation Organizations based in Cleveland Philanthropy 1914 establishments in Ohio Community foundations based in the United States Non-profit organizations based in Ohio Organizations established in 1914 United States National Medal of Arts recipients