The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc
We are unapologetic promoters of Cleveland. By attracting people and connecting them to experiences that illustrate Cleveland's diversity, creativity, and contagious passion, we stimulate economic growth. Destination Cleveland exists to drive economic impact and stimulate community vitality for Greater Cleveland through memorable leisure, convention and business travel experiences. The organization markets the destination to individuals, meeting planners and tour operators to change perceptions and improve the narrative of Cleveland; pursues, books and services meetings, conventions and events; and manages the destination experience by connecting visitors to Cleveland, the industry that serves them and the environment they experience during their visit.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc at a glance
In short: The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc gave $984K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $328K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $984,455
- +181.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $328,152
- +87.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $334,455
- Total assets
- $39,748,440
- +9.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Ohio (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Greater Cleveland Sports Commission ($600K). Together the top 3 received $984K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 5 grants of 12 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc gives
- Giving grew 132% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $350K (2020) to $984K (2024). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $984K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Cleveland, OH | Operating support to organization with similar mission | $600,000 |
| Forbes Media LLC Jersey City, NJ | Operating support to organization with similar mission. | $334,455 |
| Greater Cleveland Media Development Corporation Cleveland, OH | Operating support to organization with similar mission | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $39,748,440 | $28,226,993 | $24,290,561 | $984,455 | 3 | $1,215,621 |
| 2023 | $36,431,748 | $23,370,295 | $17,729,849 | $350,000 | 2 | $695,742 |
| 2022 | $30,524,585 | $19,527,413 | $15,586,168 | $350,000 | 2 | $84,812 |
| 2021 | $25,296,918 | $17,425,666 | $12,338,297 | $425,000 | 2 | $59,724 |
| 2020 | $20,037,093 | $8,543,785 | $10,609,393 | $350,000 | 3 | $123,709 |
About The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc
Based on IRS filings
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc is a public charity, based in Cleveland, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $39.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $984K. Net investment income was $1.2M.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc is led by David Gilbert, President & CEO - Leased Employee on every filing since 2020; 9 of 50 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Gilbert
President & CEO - Leased Employee
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon Pinney
Board Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Ganotis
Director of Information Technology
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$109K (2020) → $129K (2024)
Lauren Federico
Senior Director of Convention Services
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$137K (2024)
Adam Fishman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Baiju Shah
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Zimmerman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Akers
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Walsh
Director
Chairman → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Heller
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Harris
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
India Pierce Lee
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Therrien
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Tutkovics
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
JW Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Jeans
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Micki Byrnes
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Kelly
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Matsen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Falls
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron King
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Riley
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bradford Davy
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Bryant
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Hill
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tammy LeBlanc
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tania Menesse
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Griswold
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darrell McNair
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Wobser
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Bloomberg
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mayor Pat Ward
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam McNulty
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelly Cayette
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Groppe
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Megazzini
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Hassall
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erik Janas
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Lauer
Vice President of Pr & Communications
Senior Director of Pr & Communications → Vice President of Pr & Communications, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$103K (2020) → $169K (2024)
Gordon Taylor III
Chief Sales Officer
Vice President Convention Sales & Services → Chief Sales Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$189K (2020) → $256K (2024)
Hannah Belsito
Chief Experience Officer
Chief Strategy Officer → Chief Experience Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$226K (2020) → $228K (2024)
Jennifer Valencic
Vice President & Destination Engagement
Vice President & Customer Experience → Vice President & Destination Engagement, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$123K (2020) → $173K (2024)
Sharrona Burns
Vice President of Sales & Services Operations
Senior Director of Convention Sales → Vice President of Sales & Services Operations, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $200K (2024)
Steven Dieringer
Vice President of Finance
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$148K (2021) → $189K (2024)
Marie Scalia
Chief Marketing Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$203K (2022) → $214K (2024)
Ann Zoller
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Kirk
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy McShepard
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Pastore
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Borders
Directors
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Akram Boutros (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Gina Vernaci (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Joe Kubic (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kim Riley (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Rick Wilson (2021–2023) — Vice President of Human Resources
- Former: Chris Ronayne (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Colette Jones (2020–2022) — Chief Marketing Officer
- Former: Harlan Sands (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kathy Mulcahy (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Len Komoroski (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tim Meyer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Hartmut Ott (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Through June
- Former: Julie Boland (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Justin Bibb (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Laura Szarek (2020–2021) — Senior Director of Digital Innovation
- Former: Teri Agosta (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Valarie McCall (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Erica Ishida (2020) — Chief Organizational Development Officer
- Former: Leslie Graf (2020) — Vice President of Finance & Administration
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $256K, to Gordon Taylor III (Chief Sales Officer). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc
How much does The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc give each year?
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc gave $984K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $350K across 2 grants.
What is The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc's typical grant size?
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc's median grant in 2024 was $334,455, and its average grant was $328,152, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc give grants?
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc gives mostly in Ohio: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (34%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (2 grants).
Does The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
How large is The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc?
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc reported $39.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $28.2M.
What is The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc's EIN?
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-0149652. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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