For the past 25 years, the Cleveland Foundation has worked with our donors to enhance the lives of residents in Lake and Geauga Counties, providing more than $32.8 million in grants. At the December 18, 2015, meeting of the Cleveland Foundation board of directors, the board reiterated our commitment to Lake and Geauga Counties by approving an enhanced process for grantmaking in these counties that offers greater flexibility and responsiveness to funding requests, with the possibility for more dollars and increased access to Cleveland Foundation staff to help with technical support and strategic counsel.

Community Responsive Grants

The foundation requires all grant applicants to submit an online grant inquiry, outlining basic information about the proposed project. These Community 0662-CF-OhioMapDesign_V2_CroppedResponsive inquiries may be submitted at any time. We recommend submitting one inquiry per proposed project. If it is determined that your project fits the foundation’s guidelines, you will be asked (within a few weeks) to submit a full application. Please note that an invitation to submit a full application does not guarantee funding at any level.

Request for Proposal

The Fund is seeking programmatic grant proposals from organizations within the Cleveland Foundation’s footprint (Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties) that serve Lake and Geauga residents. Strong submissions will be rooted in community feedback, collaboration, partnership and will align with two key priority areas: serving senior citizens and addressing mental health. 

Download the RFP here. 

The application window will open on Aug. 10, 2022. Submit an application via our online portal here. 

The deadline to apply is Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, by 5 p.m. 

Have questions? Join us for a virtual technical assistance session on Aug. 17, from 1-2:30 p.m. Register here.  

The Role of Donors

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.

2020 Grants

Project Hope for the Homeless

  • $22,000 COVID-19 emergency response

Lake County Free Clinic

  • $10,000 COVID-19 emergency response

Crossroads Health

  • $25,000 COVID-19 emergency response

Lakeland Foundation

  • $10,000 COVID-19 emergency response

Fine Arts Association

  • $10,000 COVID-19 emergency response

Claridon Community Helps

  • $5,000 Commercial refrigerator, freezer and food supplies

Geauga Hunger Task Force

  • $20,000 Food and shipping costs

University Hospitals

  • $25,000 Testing, treating, preventing, protection, wellness and resilience for the employees and community at University Hospitals Geauga Campus

Deepwood Foundation

  • $20,000 Food cards and rental subsidies for the families and adults living independently

Family & Community Services, Inc.

  • $15,000 Chagrin Falls Park Community Center food, delivery costs, and academic activities and supplies

Metzenbaum Sheltered Industries Inc.

  • $14,000 Client lost wages due to the COVID-19 crisis

Ravenwood Mental Health Center

  • $15,000 Emergency needs due to the COVID-19 crisis

Kent State University Foundation

  • $20,000 Zoom room on Burton, Ohio campus and establishment of an Emergency Relief Fund that supports students in Lake and Geauga counties

NAMI Geauga County

  • $1,500 Laptop, two Zoom accounts, and staff training for tele-communications and service

2019 Grants

Kent State University Foundation

  • $14,079 Growing the student pipeline to postsecondary education in Geuaga County (Year 2)

Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc.

  • $60,000 Chagrin River Corridor and Lakefront Trail Connection Plan

Foundation for Geauga Parks

  • $15,000 Planning and piloting pollinator initiative

Fairmount Center for the Arts

  • $10,000 Engaging rural underserved preschoolers and their caregivers in expanded early childhood, literacy based program

Catholic Charities Corporation

  • $21,250 Innovative backpack program pilot in Painesville City Local Schools – Chestnut Elementary

2018 Grants

Metzenbaum Sheltered Industries Inc.

  • $10,000 Transport vehicle for individuals with development disabilities to community-based worksites

Catholic Charities Corporation

  • $34,122 Helping Geauga County residents build the foundation to rise out of poverty (Year 2)

Lake Erie College

  • $25,000 Mobile lab for high-need local educational agency schools across Lake and Geauga counties

Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition

  • $5,000 Public policy/advocacy activities for mental health and addiction issues across Lake and Geauga Counties

Kent State University Foundation

  • $15,000 Growing the student pipeline to postsecondary education in Geauga County

Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc.

  • $28,000 Rain garden stormwater pilot program in Lake County

Crossroads Health

  • $40,000 Marketing, branding and implementation of strategic plan

United Way Services of Geauga County

  • $20,000 Improve reading outcomes of children living in Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households in Geauga County

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

  • $34,200 Marketing capacity to enhance services across Lake and Geauga counties

2017 Grants

University Hospitals

  • $70,000 Emergency Department intervention model to fight opioid crisis in Geauga County

Catholic Charities Corporation

  • $24,290 Helping Geauga County residents build the foundation to rise out of poverty

Leadership Lake County

  • $10,000 Pilot new model to develop stronger non-profit leaders

Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers

  • $19,000 Addressing client transportation challenges

DDC Clinic for Special Needs Children

  • $9,300 Creating a more cost effective method of diagnosing rare genetic disorders

Lake Health Foundation

  • $40,000 Capital support to increase addiction treatment beds in Lake County