Meeting Challenges, Making an Impact

Each year, the Lake-Geauga Fund awards more than $1 million 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.

Hispanic Growers: Girl holding carrots

The Lake-Geauga Fund is a part of the community that it serves, as an asset-builder, convener, and catalyst. The advisory committee, made up of local community leaders, seeks to foster positive growth in a variety of ways:

  • Promoting philanthropy that supports major initiatives
  • Supporting partnerships and collaborations. We help organizations pool their strengths and leverage resources to further benefit the community. Encouraging lively dialogue and exploring ways to work together that strengthens agencies and increases their potential to sustain and expand services.
  • Strategic grantmaking that meets the needs of the communties

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.

History

Lake Metropark guide showing turtle to childrenThe Lake-Geauga Fund of the Cleveland Foundation was established in 1986 in response to the number of key institutions in the two counties that had long-range impact on the region. The fund was developed by individuals with an interest and passion in supporting growth of the region and addressing unique needs in Lake and Geauga counties.

Both are classified as rural counties with a substantial amount of open space and cultivated farmland.  Agricultural industry in the two counties includes a vibrant viticulture and nursery industry in eastern Lake County, a strong dairy industry and associated crop cultivation, and a growing equine industry that spans both counties. In addition, Lake County has a significant number of entrepreneurial businesses and manufacturing companies. Vital issues in the two counties include transportation, mental health services, affordable housing, and workforce development.

Since its inception, the Lake-Geauga Fund has awarded more than $12 million in grants in the two counties. The fund is guided by an advisory committee of residents who have a knowledge and passion for their communities. Committee members must be residents of Lake County or Geauga County and agree to serve two consecutive five-year terms.

2011 Grants

Apollo’s Fire: The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra

  • $15,000 Lake Erie College Collaborative Partnership

Cleveland Foodbank

  • $35,750 Increase outreach in Lake and Geauga counties

The Cleveland Foundation

  • $107,097 Frances Battles Johnson scholarship assistance to Ohio’s eight medical schools for students enrolled in either their third or fourth year

Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center

  • $10,000 Regional infant hearing program in Lake and Geauga counties

Coaches’ Corner

  • $12,500 Waterproofing project

Das Deutsch Center for Special Needs Children dba DDC Clinic

  • $60,000 Certification of the DDC Clinic as a Clinical Genetic Laboratory

Family Planning Association of Northeast Ohio

  • $11,000 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Readiness Assessment to be conducted in partnership with the Lake County Free Medical Clinic

The Fine Arts Association

  • $19,000 Costs associated with conducting a capital campaign feasibility study

Geauga County Educational Service Center

  • $40,000 Support phase two of the Lake/Geauga ESC P–16 project

Lake County Educational Service Center

  • $69,000 Establishment of classrooms for students with autism

Lake County Free Medical Clinic

  • $20,000 Challenge grant for the development of a fundraising campaign to secure new donors and volunteers.

Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District

  • $5,000 Conduct the Comprehensive Economic Impact Summary for Lake County Agriculture

Lake Erie College

  • $26,000 Scholarship support to Painesville area residents

Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers,

  • $25,000 Complete renovations to the new Geauga County facility

Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation Concord, OH

  • $84,700 Storrs scholarships and administrative fees

The Lakeland Foundation

  • $45,000 Lakeland Community College scholarship support to Painesville area residents

Maple Leaf Community Residences

  • $34,702 Technology upgrade and building staff capacity

Neighboring

  • $89,791 Develop the Lake County Volunteer Guardian Program

New Avenues to Independence

  • $60,000 Support the Buckeye Industries program through staff expansion

Painesville Adult Basic and Literacy Education Program

  • $14,000 Summer program support in collaboration with Lakeland Community College’s Men’s Center

Painesville City Local School District

  • $46,000 Continued funding of the SOAR program

Rabbit Run Community Arts Association Madison, OH

  • $37,500 Support professional staffing of the Lake Geauga Creative Alliance

United Way of Greater Cleveland

  • $27,748 United Way Services of Geauga County — Activities related to updating the Geauga Community Impact study

Vocational Guidance Services

  • $25,000 Lake County Vocational Rehabilitation Public and Private Partnership Initiative

WomenSafe

  • $61,844 Costs associated with the startup of a resale store

2010 Grants

Chagrin Falls Park Community Center

  • $40,000 Chagrin Falls Park Community Center – Continuation of the Career Achievement Program
  • $5,000 Chardon Community Day Care – emergency repair of the playground

The Cleveland Foundation (Inc.)

  • $112,000 Frances Battles Johnson scholarship assistance to Ohio’s eight medical schools for students enrolled in either their third or fourth year

Das Deutsch Center for Special Needs Children

  • $30,000 Solving Medical Mysteries strategic campaign

Deepwood Foundation

  • $18,388 Consulting services associated with the formation of a human service consortium

Fairmount Center for the Arts

  • $80,000 Creation of a full time position of Executive Director as part of first phase of the recently completed strategic plan

Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center

  • $20,000 Motor proficiency research project

Geauga Park District Foundation

  • $30,000 Assessment and proposed strategy for upgrading the Nassau Observing Station

Hershey Montessori School

  • $31,000 Staff and start up costs associated with expansion of the Young Child Community

Lake County Planning Commission

  • $25,000 Lake County Planning Commission – Implementation of Phase Two of the Lost Nation Airport Study

Lake County Port Authority

  • $100,000 Creation of the Public Finance Director position

Lake Erie College

  • $25,000 Storrs scholarships to Painesville area residents

Lake Metroparks

  • $60,000 Collaborative initiative to preserve the Lake Erie shoreline

Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation

  • $84,700 Storrs scholarships and administrative fees

The Lakeland Foundation

  • $44,000 Storrs scholarships to Painesville area residents at Lakeland Community College

Mentor Public Library

  • $67,049 Update current technologies to accommodate increased utilization

Neighboring Mental Health Services

  • $5,000 Summer Internship Program in partnership with the Lake County Courts

Painesville Adult Basic and Literacy Education Program

  • $16,512 Painesville Adult Basic and Literacy Education Program – Adult Summer School 2010 Program

Rabbit Run Community Arts Association

  • $65,000 Staff restructuring and expansion

Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio

  • $38,150 Design and implementation of the Flight 93 artistic residency program

2009 Grants

Berea Children’s Home & Family Services

  • $25,000 Freedom Schools summer enrichment programs in partnership with Lakeland Community College

Berkshire Community Planning Association

  • $149,400 Formation of the Geauga Growth Partnership

The Cleveland Foundation

  • $130,172 Scholarship assistance to Ohio’s eight medical schools for students enrolled in either their third or fourth year

Extended Housing

  • $50,000 Planning of 15 additional housing units

Fairmount Center for the Arts

  • $24,000 Fundraising and outreach efforts

Geauga Lyric Theatre Guild

  • $80,000 Strategic plan to strengthen the organization through executive and board leadership development

Girl Scouts of North East Ohio

  • $21,064 Implementation of the Girls Scouts Beyond Bars program

Lake County Educational Service Center

  • $36,200 Porter Center for Science and Mathematics – Porter Biotech Project

Lake Erie College

  • $30,000 Center for Entrepreneurship
  • $10,000 Scholarship support to Painesville-area residents

Lake Hospital Foundation

  • $52,793 Get Healthy Perry program in partnership with Perry Schools

Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation

  • $30,000 Expanded services for adult learners and high-school students and their families
  • $72,750 Scholarship support to Painesville-area high-school seniors and returning sophomore and junior college students not attending Lake Erie College or Lakeland Community College, and administrative costs for scholarship awards

The Lakeland Foundation

  • $40,000 Lakeland Community College scholarship support to Painesville-area residents
  • $40,000 Capacity building and matching challenge grant for the Nonprofit and Public Service Center
  • $36,500 Next Generation Scholarship Campaign

Painesville Adult Basic and Literacy Education Program

  • $16,890 Adult Summer School 2009 program

Suicide Prevention Education Alliance of Northeast Ohio

  • $10,000 Programs in Lake and Geauga county schools

University Hospitals Health System Geauga Regional Hospital

  • $80,000 Implementation of the Geriatric Initiative to Improve Transitional Care for Rehabilitating Elders

Western Reserve Land Conservancy

  • $25,000 Establishment of a conservation-based affordable housing project

Western Reserve RC&D

  • $11,800 Hispanic Growers/Farmers Market Project

Advisory Committee

Following are current members of the Lake-Geauga Advisory Committee. Committee members must be residents of either Lake or Geauga county and agree to serve two consecutive five-year terms.

  • Raphael Omerza, Esq., Chair
    Principal, Quorum Companies
  • Dennis E. Eckart
    North Shore Associates, LLC
  • Nancy Guthrie
    Vice president, Huntington National Bank
  • Bert Holt
    Community volunteer
  • John D. Leech
    Principal, Dynamis Advisors, Inc.
  • Todd R. Ray
    Program manager, Positive Education Program
  • Daniel D. Smith
    Consolidated Investment Corp.

    • Become a donor

    The Lake-Geauga Fund’s impact in the two counties 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. Learn more about becoming a Cleveland Foundation donor.

    Apply for a grant

     

    Our 2013 quarterly meeting docket calendar:

    Quarter

    Inquiry due

    Proposal due

    Meeting date

    1Q 2013

    12/20/2012

    1/31/2013

    3/13/2013

    2Q 2013

    3/1/2013

    4/16/2013

    6/5/2013

    3Q 2013

    6/1/2013

    7/16/2013

    9/5/2013

    4Q 2013

    8/1/2013

    9/15/2013

    11/13/2013