Lake Geauga Fund Grant

The Cleveland Foundation supports the needs, priorities and opportunities identified by communities and residents in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties, with grantmaking for long-term impact and grantmaking for immediate impact.
The Lake Geauga Fund, established in 1988 at the Cleveland Foundation, aims to promote community philanthropy and strategic grantmaking to support transformative projects in Lake and Geauga counties.
Impact Areas
Capital: Focus on new projects that provide a direct benefit to the community. This includes both pre-development and capital needs.
Capital projects should accomplish one of the following:
Strategic and Long-Term Focus: Has a generational impact, not a focus on day-to-day operations.  Community Centered: Aim to enhance quality of life or address critical community needs.   Sustainability: Incorporate LEED environmental standards. Advances the advantage and competitiveness of the region. The organization demonstrates financial stability and sound operations
Economic Development: Support for projects and programs that strive to improve economic and workforce conditions in Lake and Geauga Counties for its residents.
Economic Development projects should accomplish one of the following:
Increase the number of individuals qualified for high-demand, high-growth jobs in through training and/or upskilling. Addresses barriers to individuals engaging in work or workforce development.  Support growth of small- and mid-sized businesses.  Expand resources for entrepreneurs starting new businesses.
Critical Knowledge and Infrastructure: Support infrastructure and systems needed in order to achieve catalytic community impact.
Critical Knowledge and Infrastructure projects should accomplish at least one of the following:
Improve implementation ability for an organization executing catalytic or transformative projects.  Pilot innovative operating structures to promote efficiency, quality, and community-wide impact.  New models or unique partnerships that will improve impact.

Eligibility

Grants are awarded to 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations that provide programs and services that benefit the inhabitants of Lake and Geauga counties. All nonprofit organizations located in Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties and providing services in Lake and Geauga are eligible to apply. Groups or organizations that do not have or are awaiting tax-exempt status must partner with a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization for the project to be considered for funding. The tax-exempt organization must initiate the application process and will be considered the Fund applicant.

Ineligibility

Individuals  For-profit/commercial organizations  Endowment campaigns, annual appeals or membership drives  Religious organizations for religious purposes  Travel for individuals or groups when travel is the proposal’s primary focus  Community services such as police and fire protection, road repair or snow removal  Capital projects for hospitals, nursing homes or institutions of higher education

Nonprofits (501(c)(3)), government agencies and similar entities with projects benefiting Lake and Geauga counties, Ohio.