The Cleveland Foundation

All of us came from pretty humble beginnings. We were given opportunities and we took them. We feel a moral responsibility to share what we’ve been given.

I'm very excited when I think about the future of the Cleveland Foundation. I really feel that we are maximizing our impact, and we will continue to raise the bar and increase the impact over time.

When we meet to consider requests, we do so with the firm conviction that we are fulfilling the wishes of our parents, grandparents & great grandparents.

In many cases, we’re doing projects that are off the radar – projects where other people aren’t giving. We’re seeking a fresh way to do things, and we want to support creativity and results.

It’s all about where we can be most impactful. We want to find places where we can truly make a difference.

Philanthropists will have to play a role to help solve some of our region’s most pressing issues. Concentrated poverty, joblessness and poor educational options need our collective energy so we can move society forward.

You don’t have to be Oprah to give. Each of us can make an impact.

Philanthropy is not only for the very wealthy, who have a named room at a museum. It’s for people with average incomes like me, a school teacher, to get involved and do something for the future.