The George Gund Foundation

03/16/2009 in Grantmaking

Foundation Awards $1 Million in March

The George Gund Foundation made grants at its first quarterly meeting of 2009 to several organizations that support the local foods movement in Northeast Ohio.

The Oberlin-based New Agrarian Center, which received a $40,000 grant, operates the City Fresh program that works in urban communities to expand access to locally-grown produce while also providing new markets for local farmers.

A $42,000 grant was made to the Ohio State University Extension Service for the Community Gardening Program which in 2008 worked with more than 4,000 gardeners at 209 sites across Cuyahoga County and also offers training in starting market garden businesses.

The Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy will use a $70,000 operating support grant to continue its advocacy and research on farmland preservation as well as its training program for new farmers interested in non-commodities farming.

“Food security, local food, land use and nutrition are important issues facing our community,” said David Abbott, Foundation executive director. “These organizations are key players in the Cleveland Cuyahoga Food Policy Coalition that is addressing these important concerns related to urban sustainability and working to develop a regional food system in Northeast Ohio.”

These grants were among 31 totaling $1,095,850 made to organizations working in the human services, education, arts, environment and economic and community development fields.

Other grants of interest included:

  • Up to $125,000 to the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks for advocacy on hunger relief policies and expansion of the Ohio Benefit Bank
  • $45,000 to the Greater Cleveland Media Development Corporation for attraction and facilitation of film production in Greater Cleveland
  • $29,250 in start-up support for The Bang and The Clatter Theatre Company’s downtown theater
  • $50,000 to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for the GreenCityBlueLake Institute
  • $125,000 to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities for continued research, analysis and advocacy on government policies that will reduce poverty and inequality

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 and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $524 million.

For further information contact:
Deena M. Epstein (216) 241.3114