Cleveland Black Futures Fund announces nearly $1.4 million to 36 nonprofits in round four of grantmaking efforts

Release Date: 8.28.2023

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Foundation and its partners today announced $1.36 million to 36 organizations in the fourth round of grantmaking from the Cleveland Black Futures Fund (full list of recipients below). The Fund has amassed more than $6.8 million since its inception in late 2020 to support the capacity of Cleveland-based nonprofit organizations that are both Black-led and Black-serving. The Fund previously awarded $4,465,000 to 134 organizations in the first three rounds of grantmaking dating back to June of 2021.

Throughout the first three rounds, the Cleveland Foundation was not able to fund each organization recommended by the grant review teams due to budgetary constraints. The fourth round of funding focused on resourcing some of the organizations which had applied in past rounds but didn’t receive funding due to a limited budget.

“Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, there was a surge of funding across the country, which has since diminished,” said Joe Black, Cleveland Foundation program manager for racial equity & racial justice initiatives. “However, we are committed to raising additional funds to continue supporting Black-led organizations, demonstrating our desire to focus not just on the moment, but to think about the long-term impacts of change.”

The overarching goal of the Cleveland Black Futures Fund is to strengthen the ecosystem of Black leaders and Black-serving organizations in Greater Cleveland by providing intentional resources to help grow organizational infrastructure and capacity. Long term, the foundation aims to deepen the field of leaders working to dismantle systemic racism and advance the community towards racial equity.

The fifth round of funding is expected to open early spring 2024 to all eligible Black-led and Black-serving organizations. For more information or to donate to the Cleveland Black Futures Fund, visit ClevelandFoundation.org/Futures.

Cleveland Black Futures Fund Recipients – Round 4

10K Movement ($25,000)

Art of Me Productions ($25,000)

Black Child Development Institute – Cleveland ($25,000)

Black Diamonds Cheer and Dance Academy ($25,000)

The Cleveland Observer ($75,000)

CollectivExpress Inc. ($50,000)

Collinwood Cobras Inc. ($25,000)

David’s Challenge Ohio Young Achievers ($25,000)

DNA Rising ($25,000)

Duffy Liturgical Dance Ensemble ($25,000)

Environmental Health Watch ($25,000)

Foluké Cultural Arts Center, Inc. ($50,000)

Gilmore Girls Greetings Foundation ($75,000)

Greater Cleveland Congregations ($25,000)

Hands-On Health ($15,000)

I’m In Transition Ministries ($50,000)

Imagine Your Victory ($50,000)

Integrity Development and Rehabilitation Center ($25,000)

Jarvis Gibson Foundation ($15,000)

Jordan Community Resource Center ($100,000)

Larchmere Porchfest ($25,000)

Mended Inc. ($25,000)

The Missing Link, COPE Inc. ($50,000)

The New Community ($25,000)

Ohio Sister Circle ($50,000)

The Phe’be Foundation ($75,000)

Pipeline To God Communications, Inc. ($50,000)

PolicyBridge ($25,000)

Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center ($50,000)

Queen IAM ($75,000)

Removing The Stigma ($25,000)

The Tavern Coffee House ($25,000)

Tender Heart Crusades ($15,000)

We Think 4 a Change ($15,000)

Young Leaders Program ($25,000)

Young Men Growing ($50,000)

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