Strengthening the Communities We Serve

Lake-Geauga Fund

Each year, the Lake-Geauga Fund awards more than $900,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in Lake County and Geauga County, Ohio. Grantmaking is driven by an advisory committee in response to the stated needs of the community. The committee also engages in convening and asset-building activities that strengthen the fund and its ability to make an impact on the community.

Priorities

Focus: Promoting Partnerships and Collaborations
The rural nature of both counties has previously resulted in the creation of smaller, grassroots organizations that may be geographically separated but provide the same or similar services. Encouraging lively dialogue and exploring ways to work together strengthens these agencies and increases their potential to sustain and expand services.
What we’re doing: 

• We supported a partnership involving UHHS Geauga Medical Center, the Council on Aging, and area assisted-living facilities to develop a program providing continuity of care for seniors

• We funded planning activities for conservation-based, affordable housing in Middlefield as a result of a partnership between Geauga Parks and Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

• We made a grant to support a partnership among the Western Reserve Resource and Conservation Development, HOLA (an Hispanic advocacy organization), the Lake County Nursery Association, and the Lake County Soil and Water Conversation District to develop an Hispanic farmers market cooperative. Hispanic families were trained in agricultural techniques and given fallow nursery land to cultivate produce for area farmers markets and restaurants.

Focus: Supporting economic development
The cornerstone of a healthy community is a vital economic base. This requires thriving cultural and environmental institutions as well as growing businesses and industry.
What we’re doing: 

• We have given financial support to the Lake Erie College Center for Entrepreneurship Internship Program and the Geauga County Growth Partnership. Both programs promote nonprofit and business partnerships in the two counties.

• We convened area arts organizations and their municipalities with partner funders the Lake County Visitors Bureau Arts & Culture Committee and Lakeland Community College. These institutions and civic leaders are exploring ways to pool resources and strengthen ties across both counties.

Focus: Meeting acute needs in Lake and Geauga Counties
The recent recession resulted in a service bulge for basic-needs organizations in Lake and Geauga counties. Even without the challenges presented by the current economic climate, funding for immediate needs remains a priority for the committee.
What we’re doing: 

• We gave a grant for the evaluation component of the Lake County Courts Guardians, an internship program that provides follow-up interviews and evaluation for court-appointed guardians and their wards. This vital function is performed by college interns trained to fill this role as part of their summer training experience.

• We supported the Painesville Adult Basic Learning (Painesville-ABLE) summer program. This initiative provides accelerated programs for adult learners in English as a second language, literacy, and basic math skills.

In addition, more than $350,000 in scholarship support for students from Lake and Geauga counties was awarded through Lake Erie College, Lakeland Community College, the Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation, and eight Ohio medical schools.

Become a donor

The Lake-Geauga Fund’s impact stems from the vision and commitment of the community it serves. The partnership that has grown among donors, community leaders, and nonprofit organizations promises a brighter future for Lake and Geauga counties.

For more information contact:
Ann Fairhurst
Lake-Geauga Officer
Lake-Geauga Fund of the Cleveland Foundation
7575 Fredle Dr.
Painesville, Ohio 44077
440-354-3956
Email Ann Fairhurst

Apply for a grant

• Learn how to apply for a grant from the Cleveland Foundation.
• If you already have a username and password, enter our Gifts & Grants Online system.

Our 2012 quarterly meeting docket calendar:

Important Links:

Lake-Geauga podcasts

Click to listen to podcasts on:

• Ann Fairhurst describes vital issues in Lake and Geauga counties

History of the fund

Read about the history of the Lake-Geauga Fund.

Past grants

• 2010 Lake-Geauga Fund grants
• 2009 Lake-Geauga Fund grants 
• 2008 Lake-Geauga Fund grants

Advisory committee

View a list of members of the Lake-Geauga Advisory committee.

Our Facebook page

Read about the Lake-Geauga Fund and other initiatives on the Cleveland Foundation Facebook page.