Cleveland Foundation announces $640,000 for 32 Black-led and -serving organizations through Cleveland Black Futures Fund


Cleveland, OH – The Cleveland Foundation today announced that $640,000 in grants will be awarded to 32 Black-led and -serving non-profit organizations in the fifth round of grantmaking for the Cleveland Black Futures Fund.

Since its inception in late 2020, the Cleveland Black Futures Fund has granted a total of $6.5 million through 204 grants and 82 fellowships supporting local Black-led and Black-serving non-profits. 

“The Cleveland Black Futures Fund is guided by the principle that those who are closest to the problem are often closest to the solution,” said Joe Black, Program Manager, Racial Equity & Racial Justice Initiatives, Cleveland Foundation. “Over the past four years, the fund has elevated and strengthened the work of Black leaders and organizations and supported hundreds of programs and initiatives that are improving the quality of life for Black Clevelanders.”

The Cleveland Black Futures Fund was founded to build and strengthen the ecosystem of Black leaders and Black-serving organizations in Greater Cleveland by providing intentional resources to help grow organizational infrastructure and capacity.

To ensure the long-term impact of the Cleveland Black Futures Fund, the Cleveland Foundation plans to endow the fund with $3 million and begin grantmaking under an updated model in 2025. It will become one of three affinity funds at the Foundation – the others focusing support on the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities in Cleveland.

“The Cleveland Black Futures Fund has helped deepen the network and capacity of Black organizations across Cleveland, but we know that the work to reverse historic systems of racism and injustice will continue to require a long-term, collective effort,” said Lillian Kuri, President and CEO, Cleveland Foundation. “That’s why we have committed to endow this fund for generations to come, ensuring that we can continue to move the needle on improved outcomes for Black children, families and neighborhoods and advance racial equity across the entire community.”

Black-led, Black-serving nonprofit organizations operating in Cuyahoga, Lake or Geauga counties with budgets of $25,000 to $1 million were eligible to apply for this round of the Cleveland Black Futures Fund. Information on the new, endowed model for the fund and future grantmaking strategy will be available in early 2025.

All Cleveland Black Futures Fund Round 5 grant recipients are listed below. Each organization received a $20,000 grant.