CGLR Foundation
The CGLR Foundation brings together great lakes leaders from government, business, academia, and the nonprofit sector together to find new ways of harnessing the region's economic strengths, improving the well-being of the region's citizens, and protecting the environment for future generations through educational events, public policy research and programs, and awareness building activities.
CGLR Foundation at a glance
In short: CGLR Foundation gave $304K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $303,539
- +47.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $37,942
- +29.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $27,000
- Total assets
- $1,005,541
- -40.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (77% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who CGLR Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council ($77K). Together the top 8 received $304K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 15 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $205K (2024) to $304K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $304K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council Petoskey, MI | Stormwater Filtration System Grant | $77,000 |
| Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative Inc Muskegon, MI | Funding for Gutter Bins | $74,500 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Roundtable Research Grant | $49,789 |
| Milwaukee Riverkeeper Milwaukee, WI | Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Grant | $27,000 |
| Ohio State University Painesville, OH | Bebot and Pixie Drone Grant | $27,000 |
| Grand Valley State University Muskegon, MI | Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Grant. | $25,500 |
| University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, WI | Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Grant. | $16,500 |
| Belle Isle Conservancy Detroit, MI | Funding to Run the Bebot Program. | $6,250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,005,541 | $908,548 | $1,547,623 | $303,539 | 8 |
| 2024 | $1,695,975 | $1,019,852 | $907,291 | $205,450 | 7 |
| 2023 | $1,601,780 | $2,015,588 | $727,753 | — | — |
| 2022 | $156,902 | $197,171 | $248,868 | — | — |
| 2021 | $226,882 | $209,190 | $765 | — | — |
About CGLR Foundation
Based on IRS filings
CGLR Foundation is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Cleveland, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $304K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
CGLR Foundation is led by Brian Ames, Chair since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brian Ames
Chair
Vice Chair & Director → Chair of the Board & Director, 2022
Chair of the Board & Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lora K. Shrake
Chief Operating Officer
Senior Program Director → Chief Operating Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$109K (2023) → $121K (2025)
Matt McCurdy
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen J Petras Jr.
Vice Chair
Chair of the Board & Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2022
Vice Chair & Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marie Helene Sicard
Vice Chair
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Drummond
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Mark Fisher (2021–2024) — President & C.e.o.
- Former: Jeffrey Weiss (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Marie-Helene Sicard (2022–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Steve Petras (2023–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Geoff Wilson (2021) — Vice Chair & Director
- Former: Wayne Garnons-Williams (2021) — Secretary & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $121K, to Lora Shrake (Chief Operating Officer).
Frequently asked questions about CGLR Foundation
How much does CGLR Foundation give each year?
CGLR Foundation gave $304K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $205K across 7 grants.
What is CGLR Foundation's typical grant size?
CGLR Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $27,000, and its average grant was $37,942, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does CGLR Foundation give grants?
CGLR Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Wisconsin (14%) and Ohio (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Muskegon, MI (2 grants).
Does CGLR Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on CGLR Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Grant" (3 grants).
Who are CGLR Foundation's largest grantees?
CGLR Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council ($77,000), Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative Inc ($74,500) and University of Michigan ($49,789), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is CGLR Foundation?
CGLR Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $909K.
What is CGLR Foundation?
CGLR Foundation is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Cleveland, OH. It holds $1.0M in total assets as of 2025.
What is CGLR Foundation's EIN?
CGLR Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-4736237. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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