07/14/2011 in Grantmaking

Foundation Awards $5.7 million in July

The George Gund Foundation continued its commitment to creating new, innovative schools in the City of Cleveland with $1.4 million in grants approved at its July meeting. 

An $800,000 grant will support 13 new and innovative schools within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and a $200,000 grant will fund the CMSD Office of New and Innovative Schools. Breakthrough Charter Schools, which currently operates four schools in Cleveland and partners with the CMSD, received $400,000 that will be used for administrative expenses and to open additional schools during the coming school year.

The grants were among 94 totaling $5,653,910 to a variety of human services, arts, environment, education and economic and community development organizations awarded at the Foundation’s second meeting of the year.

The Foundation also made three grants to organizations working to reform Ohio’s juvenile justice system. Public Interest Projects received a $60,000 grant, and the Northern Kentucky Children’s Law Center received $100,000. Voices for Ohio’s Children received $100,000 for its work on this issue as well as other advocacy efforts related to children’s health, education and welfare needs.

Other grants of interest included:

  • $200,000 over two years to support the First Ring Superintendents’ Collaborative, which is embarking on a shared services study in the 16 public school districts that surround the City of Cleveland
  • $100,000 to MetroHealth Foundation for Patients In Care, a pilot program to test a patient-centered “medical home” program for currently uninsured and Medicaid patients
  • $150,000 over two years to the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association Foundation to improve quality, and decrease costs for pediatric patients
  • $100,000 to the Cleveland Housing Network for strategic initiatives that are responsive to current community needs and economic realities
  • $100,000 to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for Global Cleveland’s job matching program
  • $110,000 to the Cleveland Playhouse for the first season in its new home at Playhouse Square
  • $200,000 over two years to the Environmental Law & Policy Center for the Midwest for its Ohio office and work on energy policy
  • $100,000 over two years to EcoWatch, a bimonthly newspaper covering environmental issues in Ohio

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 $573 million.