The George Gund Foundation
The George Gund Foundation is a private foundation established in 1952 and based in Cleveland, Ohio. It supports U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations working on issues including climate and environmental justice, arts and culture, democracy, economic justice, public education, and social and family well-being.
The George Gund Foundation at a glance
In short: The George Gund Foundation gave $29.8M across 334 grants in 2024 (avg $89K), mostly in Ohio. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $29,790,232
- +0.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 334
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $89,192
- -1.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $555,923,023
- +9.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (48 of 266, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The George Gund Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation uses an online application and does not have a letter-of-intent process. The filing lists organizational background, a project description, project budget, and organizational budget among the proposal materials, along with a current trustee list and the most recent audited financial statements. Applicants are also asked to discuss their organization’s thinking and actions regarding climate change, inequality and racial equity, and threats to democracy. The Foundation says it does not fund organizations engaged in discriminatory or illegal activities.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists proposal deadlines of November 15, 2026, for the winter meeting; March 15, 2027, for the summer meeting; and August 15, 2027, for the autumn meeting. Proposals are considered three times a year, and submission by a listed deadline does not guarantee consideration at the corresponding trustee meeting.
- Deadline
- The website lists proposal deadlines of November 15, 2026, for the winter meeting; March 15, 2027, for the summer…
- Contact
Application contact: Online Application Only Via Website
Mailing address: Wwwgundfoundationorg, Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: (216) 241-3114
Email: info@gundfdn.org
Website: https://gundfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The George Gund Foundation
Who The George Gund Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cleveland State University Foundation ($2.9M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $11.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,681 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 733 grants of 1,681 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is rooted in Cleveland and describes its Cleveland focus as a way to support local work with potential relevance beyond the city. In 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio. Other reported recipient-state shares were Maryland, 7%; the District of Columbia, 6%; California, 4%; and Massachusetts, 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 334 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The George Gund Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 48 of 266 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $56K; repeat grants $124K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 50% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $29.6M (2023) to $60.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 334 grants totaling $29.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland State University Foundation Cleveland, OH | Living Learning Community | $2,750,000 |
| Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc Columbia, MD | Retinal Degenerative Disease Research | $2,000,000 |
| Cleveland Neighborhood Progress Cleveland, OH | Operating Support | $1,215,000 |
| Ohio Progressive Collaborative Education Fund Columbus, OH | Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | Ohio Key States Program | $650,000 |
| Tides Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Healthy Democracy Fund | $500,000 |
| Ohio Environmental Council Columbus, OH | Operating Support | $440,000 |
| College Now Greater Cleveland Inc Cleveland, OH | College access advising services, scholarships, and retention services for cleveland metropolitan school district students. | $400,000 |
| Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association Cleveland, OH | Cleveland Votes Operating Support | $366,000 |
| Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County Independence, OH | PRE4CLE Operating Support | $350,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $555,923,023 | $89,790,877 | $40,572,226 | $29,790,232 | 334 | $33,484,227 | $83,328,911 | $28,028,069 |
| 2023 | $506,606,604 | $51,521,913 | $39,701,112 | $29,601,792 | 327 | $33,073,925 | $44,968,249 | $24,607,710 |
| 2022 | $502,367,168 | $21,210,048 | $51,185,973 | $40,703,025 | 346 | $44,436,358 | $14,805,360 | $26,600,476 |
| 2021 | $524,945,754 | $120,923,136 | $72,453,801 | $60,061,152 | 322 | $63,700,619 | $113,568,210 | $29,734,576 |
| 2020 | $476,967,286 | $68,811,203 | $56,491,382 | $46,033,271 | 352 | — | $62,473,614 | $25,508,046 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The George Gund Foundation reported a distributable amount of $28.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to contribute to human well-being and the progress of society. Its vision is of a regenerative Earth where people are free, treated with dignity and respect, have equal rights and access, and have the resources needed to thrive.
Its stated program areas include climate and environmental justice, creative culture and the arts, democracy building, economic justice and community power, public education, and thriving families and social justice. The Foundation says applicants should connect their work to one or more of the issues in its What We Believe statement, including climate change and environmental degradation, inequality, and threats to democracy.
The Foundation supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations. Among its 2024 grantees, Cleveland State University Foundation said its mission is to improve access to and the quality of higher education through financial aid and grants. College Now Greater Cleveland described its work as increasing postsecondary educational attainment through advising, financial aid counseling, scholarships, and retention services. The Ohio Environmental Council said it works to protect Ohio communities’ environment and health through legal and policy advocacy, decision-maker accountability, and civic engagement. These are grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 334 grants totaling $29,790,232. Grant amounts ranged from $1,200 to $2,750,000, with a median grant of $50,000.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $2,750,000 to Cleveland State University Foundation for a living learning community; $2,000,000 to Foundation Fighting Blindness for retinal degenerative disease research; $1,215,000 to Cleveland Neighborhood Progress for operating support; and $1,000,000 to Ohio Progressive Collaborative Education Fund for operating support. Other listed awards included $650,000 to Energy Foundation for its Ohio Key States Program and $440,000 to Ohio Environmental Council for operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Anthony Richardson as president; Ann Mullin as executive vice president; Catherine Gund as chair and trustee; Nancy Mendez as vice chair and trustee; Lara Gund as secretary and trustee; and Zachary Gund as treasurer and trustee. It also lists Margaret Bernstein, Marvin Hayes, Anna Traggio, and Geoffrey Gund as trustees.
The George Gund Foundation is led by Anthony Richardson, President on every filing since 2022; 5 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Anthony Richardson
President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$312K (2022) → $369K (2024)
Catherine Gund
Chair & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Bernstein
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2022) → $6K (2024)
Marvin Hayes
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$6K (2022) → $6K (2024)
Nancy Mendez
Vice Chair & Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$6K (2022) → $6K (2024)
Anna Traggio
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lara Gund
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zachary Gund
Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geoffrey Gund
Trustee
Trustee Candidate → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tyler Gund
Trustee
Trustee Candidate → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Mullin
Executive Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$271K (2024)
Former officers (4)
- Former: David T Abbott (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Susannah Bien-Gund (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Ann L Gund (2020) — Vice Chair & Trustee
- Former: Mark Joseph (2020) — Trustee
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 $369K, to Anthony Richardson (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The George Gund Foundation
How much does The George Gund Foundation give each year?
The George Gund Foundation gave $29.8M across 334 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $29.6M across 327 grants.
What is The George Gund Foundation's typical grant size?
The George Gund Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $89,192, across 334 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The George Gund Foundation that year got $56K on average.
Where does The George Gund Foundation give grants?
The George Gund Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (7%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (183 grants), Columbus, OH (37 grants), Washington, DC (23 grants) and Shaker Heights, OH (7 grants).
Does The George Gund Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of The George Gund Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (195 of 334) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Summer Camp Scholarships." (4 grants) and "Membership Dues." (3 grants).
Who are The George Gund Foundation's largest grantees?
The George Gund Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cleveland State University Foundation ($2,925,000 across 3 grants), Foundation Fighting Blindness Inc ($2,005,000 across 2 grants) and Ohio Progressive Collaborative Education Fund ($1,249,722 across 4 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The George Gund Foundation?
The George Gund Foundation reported $555.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $28.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The George Gund Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to contribute to human well-being and the progress of society. Its vision is of a regenerative Earth where people are free, treated with dignity and respect, have equal rights and access, and have the resources needed to thrive. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The George Gund Foundation?
The Foundation uses an online application and does not have a letter-of-intent process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The George Gund Foundation's EIN?
The George Gund Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6519769. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The George Gund Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The George Gund Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-george-gund-foundation-morg_582af9c2b61e430486a4ade77a9b333d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_346519769_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The George Gund Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-george-gund-foundation-morg_582af9c2b61e430486a4ade77a9b333d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The George Gund Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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