An important announcement about our grantmaking in 2022

Birds eye view of Downtown Cleveland facing west

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To Our Community and Grantee Partners:

Thank you all for your continued work to support Greater Cleveland throughout some of the most tumultuous times in our region’s history. Our residents, organizations, and institutions continue to be tested, but in the face of adversity, we have demonstrated that our greatest strengths lie within the people who have come together to relentlessly serve others. We cannot thank our donors, nonprofit and community organizations enough for their generous hearts and partnership.

As many of you have heard, the Cleveland Foundation will begin moving into our new office in Midtown/Hough later this year. In preparation, we want to ensure a smooth transition of all our grantmaking and want to inform you that we will not award grants during the months of July and August next year.

Our offices and grant application process will remain open, and organizations can continue to submit inquiries and applications throughout the months of July and August. However, our regular monthly grant decisions and awards during this time will be paused until September. If your organization is hoping to receive a grant in an amount under $200,000 before September, we encourage you to submit your inquiry by May 15. Deadlines and awards for grants over $200,000 will not be impacted by this pause. Please see details about our normal grantmaking schedule, below.

Please note: Deadlines and distributions for affiliated funds at the Cleveland Foundation will not be impacted by this pause, and organizations should continue to apply to these funds as they normally would. Please click here for a list of affiliated funds at the Cleveland Foundation.

Our normal grantmaking schedule

Aside from the pause in our grantmaking in July and August 2022, the Cleveland Foundation typically considers grant inquiries and applications year-round on a rolling basis as they are received. Decisions for grants under $200,000 are generally made on a monthly basis, and decisions for grants over $200,000 are made on a quarterly basis. Please review the information below on our general grantmaking timeline:

Inquiries should be submitted well in advance of the start date of your project/program. It is not required that you speak to a staff person before submitting, but you are welcome to contact them to discuss your request. The Grants Management team is available to assist you with any requests.

If it is determined that your project fits the foundation’s guidelines, you may be asked, typically within a few weeks of your inquiry, to submit a full application. For details on the application process, visit our Apply for a Grant page. Please note that an invitation to submit a full application does not guarantee funding at any level. 

Under $200,000 (Monthly Decision)

Inquiry

Full Application

Decision

Any time

Upon invitation

4-6 weeks after submission of full application*

*Decisions may be delayed for applications submitted in July and August 2022.

Applications that involve complex or new programs, or those that have significant unanswered questions, may require a longer review period. Your Program Officer, Manager, or Director will communicate to you when your proposal will be scheduled for review.

Over $200,000 (Quarterly Decision)

Inquiry

Full Application

Decision Date

January 15

January 31

March 31

April 15

April 30

June 23

July 15

July 31

September 29

October 15

October 31

December 15

 

Meet Our Team – Who to Call

We have had several new staff join the Foundation as well as promotions in positions.

Below is a list of staff by focus areas that you can reach out to discuss your grant submissions. If you’re not sure who to call, start with the Grants Management team.

Arts & Culture:

Cleveland Black Futures Fund:

Cleveland Purpose Built Communities:

Digital Equity & Inclusion:

  • Leon Wilson, Chief of Digital Innovation & Chief Information Officer – Email Leon 
  • Raghav Rao, Digital Innovation Fellow – Email Raghav

Economic & Workforce Development:

Education:

Environment:

Leadership Development: (Public Service & National Urban Fellows, Summer Interns, American Marshall Memorial Fellows)

Neighborhood Revitalization & Engagement:

Youth, Health & Human Services:

Responsive Grantmaking:

Grants Management:

Have questions? Find answers here. 

Thank you again. We look forward to seeing you in the community’s new space in 2022!

India Pierce Lee, Senior Vice President, Program

Email India

Annabel Bryan, Executive Assistant

Email Annabel 


3 Comments

  1. sharon lee-christian

    I really need leadership with Staircase To Freedom I have been working 2 jobs to support and assist some women in our community I also pay for a office and I feed my clients lunch. I also have recovery educational groups to assist them with relapse prevention. I also pass out hats and gloves to the homeless and food I do not understand why I can receive help and or a grant. Beside 1 walmart grant so i need leadership.

  2. sharon lee-christian

    ron lee-christianJanuary 26, 2022
    I really need leadership with Staircase To Freedom I have been working 2 jobs to support and assist some women in our community I also pay for a office and I feed my clients lunch. I also have recovery educational groups to assist them with relapse prevention. I also pass out hats and gloves to the homeless and food I do not understand why I can receive help and or a grant. Beside 1 walmart grant so i need leadership.

  3. Cleveland Foundation

    Hi Sharon – In addition to registering in our Grants Gateway platform to inquire about a grant from the Cleveland Foundation, you might also explore grants available from Neighborhood Connections. You can learn more about grants from Neighborhood Connections here: https://neighborupcle.org/grants/. Thank you for the work you are doing to support people in our community!

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