Posted on October 3, 2009

Gund Foundation Awards $5.6 Million in Third-Quarter Grants

The Cleveland-based George Gund Foundation has announced fifty grants totaling $5.6 million to Ohio nonprofits working in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, the environment, and the arts.

Third-quarter grants announced by the foundation include $100,000 to the Cleveland Heights/University Heights City School District to support its participation in the First Ring Superintendents Collaborative; $80,000 to the Cleveland Housing Network for its work to stabilize neighborhoods; and $50,000 to both the Ohio Environmental Council and the Ohio Grantmakers Forum. In addition, the foundation awarded a three-year, $4 million grant to the Fund for Our Economic Future for phase three of the fund's collaborative efforts to improve the regional Northeast Ohio economy.

"In a time of economic stress it is more important than ever that our region's leadership and resources pull together," said David Abbott, foundation executive director. "A collaboration such as the fund, tackling the tough systemic issues we face, is really hard work. But joining forces makes far more impact than disconnected effort, and our trustees feel strongly that increasing our investment in the fund signals our strong belief in collaborative action. Our increased funding also reflects the impact that the fund has made and the fact that the fund's work is critical for the success of the other organizations we support in fields ranging from the arts to education."