UPDATED Dec. 17, 2021, 3 P.M. EST
Dear Friends,
The well-being of the Greater Cleveland community has been our focus for more than a century. During that time, our community has faced a number of serious challenges: from the 1918 Influenza pandemic to the HIV epidemic – from the Great Depression to the Great Recession. Through it all, the Cleveland Foundation has stood ready to help our partners and neighbors weather the storm. Today, our community faces a new challenge presented by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The threat may be new and evolving, but our commitment to helping our community navigate this latest challenge remains steadfast.
The health and safety of our partners, staff and neighbors is our top priority. Following the guidance of public health officials, the foundation has activated procedures to conduct our work remotely and modify in-person meetings and public events. We have plans to implement the necessary business operations that will allow us to continue to serve our grantee partners and donors while following social distancing practices. Below, we have provided more details about these procedures and plans, as well as helpful resources.
As this situation continues to unfold, the foundation is actively listening to our partners who are serving on the front lines of this pandemic, and we are prepared to respond to the needs of our community as they arise. We will continue to provide updates and recommendations as necessary via email, our website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn). We encourage you to closely monitor updates and review the valuable resources provided by the CDC as well as our state and local health departments. Please take care of yourselves and consider the needs of others. Our community must act in solidarity – and with an abundance of caution – to protect our family members, friends and neighbors.
Finally, we encourage you to support local nonprofits that are serving the most vulnerable individuals and families in our community. This pandemic has further strained the finite resources of community health centers, homeless shelters, preschool and after-school programs, food pantries and other organizations that had already been dealing with reductions in state and federal funding. Read more about our work addressing these challenges through the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, which has evolved to become the Funders Collaborative on COVID Recovery.
Times like this remind us of our common humanity. Together, we must honor that humanity and step up to serve the greater good.
Sincerely,
Ronn Richard
President & Chief Executive Officer
Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland Foundation office access restricted
Based on recommendations from public health officials, Cleveland Foundation operations are largely remote with a small number of staff working out of our office. Our staff remain accessible via phone and email and have the tools to continue our necessary business operations, from any location. If you are seeking to schedule a meeting with members of our staff, we ask that you conduct a video or telephone conference as an alternative as we are not accepting visitors to our office space at this time.
Our main number, 216-861-3810, is continuing to be monitored from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Grant and planned gifts processing and distribution of checks/EFT will continue.
The Steven A. Minter Conference Center closed at present time
The Cleveland Foundation has suspended all meetings in our public conference facility – The Steven A. Minter Conference Center – until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to resuming our partnership with the nonprofit community to provide access to this free conference space as soon as it is advisable.
A message to our nonprofit partners
We understand the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting nonprofits in many ways, and the Cleveland Foundation is here to support our partners across Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. We continue to accept grant inquiries through our regular grantmaking process. You can learn more here.
Looking for COVID-19 information?
The Ohio Department of Health is a credible source for the public, businesses, community organizations and healthcare providers looking for updated information about COVID-19. Please visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov for resources or dial the state’s call center with questions via: 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).