12/15/2009 in Grantmaking

Foundation Awards $4.9 Million in December

CLEVELAND OH — Organizations that will promote legislation to support sexual violence survivors, provide foreclosure prevention services and encourage sustainable business practices received funding at The George Gund Foundation’s final meeting of 2009. 

The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center received a $50,000 grant over two years for the Sexual Assault Public Policy Project which will work to heighten awareness of sexual assault, increase funding for sexual assault programs and promote public policies that serve survivors of sexual violence.

Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People (ESOP) will use a $20,000 grant to continue its efforts to work with low-income owners and lending institutions to renegotiate loans in danger of foreclosure.

Entrepreneurs for Sustainability received $50,000 in operating support for a wide-range of educational and networking programs designed to encourage businesses to make sustainability part of their operating standards.

The Foundation also made a $2 million grant to The Foundation Fighting Blindness for research on retinal degenerative diseases.

These grants were among 56 grants totaling $4,899,005 approved at the Foundation’s December meeting. Total grantmaking to education, human service, arts, environment and economic and community development organizations for the year was $15,378,729.

Other grants of interest included:

  • $110,000 to Ingenuity, the Cleveland Festival of Arts and Technology for its 2010 festival
  • $100,000 to ParkWorks for operating support
  • $50,000 to the Westside Industrial Retention and Expansion Network for planning for the new Max Hayes High School
  • $50,000 to the Center for Community Solutions for the AIDS Funding Collaborative
  • $50,000 to the Cleveland Play House for planning expenses related to its move to Playhouse Square
  • $62,500 to the Trust for Public Land for its work in acquiring land for parks and open space preservation
  • $71,500 over six months to the Friends of E Prep Schools to create a Cleveland charter schools management organization

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 almost $538 million.

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