January Grant Highlights

a group of women in chef jackets stand in commercial kitchen
Photo Credit: Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry

We’re excited to share a few highlights from our recent grants to organizations serving residents of Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. These January grants focus support on workforce development, resources for area seniors, housing and neighborhood development, as well as efforts to reduce sex crimes and support victims. Follow our grantmaking throughout the year by subscribing to our monthly e-newsletter here

Resources for Seniors

  • $75,000 to Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association to develop ICONNECT, a virtual senior center that will use digital devices to connect older adults. The program will introduce at least 150 older adults to increased socialization opportunities that help to develop community support networks.
  • $25,000 to Project Hope for the Homeless to establish Senior Hope House, a 24-hour shelter space for seniors age 65 and older. Guests will learn about local resources by engaging with a Senior Care Coordinator, who will also assist them in finding stable housing and/or further services.

Housing and Neighborhood Development

  • $200,000 to Medina Creative Housing, Inc. to construct 16 independent living affordable housing units in Middleburgh Heights to be occupied by individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. The project will meet green building standards and have an emphasis on social interaction with daily recreation and educational activities.
  • $200,000 to Cleveland Neighborhood Progress to establish Collinwood United, a new collaboration with Collinwood Nottingham Villages Development Corporation and Northeast Shores Development Corporation created to better serve East side neighborhoods. Our grant will also support the development of a sustainable business and operating model for the historic LaSalle Theater in Collinwood. 
  • $100,650 to New Village Corporation for the founding of Hough Community Land Trust. The community land trust will work to ensure long-term real-estate affordability and support racially and economically inclusive ownership and access in the Greater University Circle area.

Workforce Development

  • $50,000 to Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) to expand capacity in their culinary arts training program offered to Greater Clevelanders returning from incarceration. This expansion will further LMM’s work to remove barriers faced by people with criminal backgrounds as they re-enter the community after incarceration by providing opportunities to earn Associate of Applied Science degrees.
  • $200,000 to Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) to serve as the MyCom youth employment lead agency. Our grant will be used for services and resources necessary to recruit MyCom youth and enroll them in short-term training programs that lead to long-term economic self-sufficiency. 
  • $50,000 to Scranton Road Ministries Community Development Corporation to strengthen the Youth Jobs Partnership by elevating math enrichment and financial literacy curriculums, and engage with employers to identify workforce needs and gaps. 

Sex Crime Reduction Efforts and Victim Support

  • $99,898 to Case Western Reserve University’s Begun Center for Violence Prevention to explore the feasibility of a county-wide sex crimes task force and, if viable, design a group based on best practice research. The task force would work to widen the network of individuals and institutions invested in reducing sex crimes in Cuyahoga County and strengthen existing relationships between institutions. 
  • $199,898 to Cleveland Rape Crisis Center to enhance outreach and prevention efforts in currently underserved neighborhoods and schools. Our grant will contribute to this growth by funding two staff positions: a Manager of Outreach & Education and a Manager of Hogar Consuelo.

Want to learn more about the foundation’s grantmaking? Click here