Cleveland Foundation

The Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Program is in its 27th year of connecting emerging professionals with career-launching opportunities in the nonprofit and public sector.

Meet this year's cohort here: https://www.clevelandfoundation.org/stories-events/stories-news/2026/05/21/introducing-the-cleveland-foundation-2026-summer-internship-program-cohort

This month, the Lake Geauga Fund at the Cleveland Foundation opened its grant process to applicants in Lake and Geauga counties. Grants up to $75,000 will be awarded in support of transformative projects in the region. All applications must be complete by June 8.

Learn more here:

The Lake Geauga Fund at the Cleveland Foundation This month, the Lake Geauga Fund at the Cleveland Foundation opened its grant process to applicants.

Yesterday our board member, Reverend Dr. Robin Hedgeman, joined our team for a conversation about the power of stewardship and being active members of your community. She stressed that stewardship is not just about what you have, but how you manage what you have.

Thank you for spending the afternoon with us, Reverend Hedgeman.

Join the Cleveland Foundation in the Paul Davis Pennant District for the Guardians Pride Night on June 8. Every special event access ticket supports the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund to provide resources for Greater Cleveland organizations serving and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community.

We cannot wait to celebrate Pride and watch the Guardians take on the Yankees next month!

Secure your ticket to the Pride Night game here: https://www.mlb.com/guardians/fans/pride-night

Our Senior Manager, Venue and Guest Services, Chris Nierstheimer, was awarded the Anna Maria Murphy Award by his peers from New Partners of Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center & Speech Center last week. Serving as the Vice President of the Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center associate board, New Partners, Chris was recognized for his outstanding commitment, service, and contributions to their mission.

Join us in congratulating Chris for this honor!

This spring, we promoted five of our team members and expanded the foundation with four new hires!

Anthony Gattuso assumed the role of Senior Vice President, Finance, Investments & Treasurer. For the past decade, Tony has played a critical role in stewarding the Foundation’s financial strength and operational discipline. His leadership across finance and investments has helped ensure our resources are managed responsibly and strategically in service of our mission.

Jason Weiner was promoted to Director, Organizational Impact and Community Philanthropy. Over his nine years at the Foundation, Jason has become a trusted partner to individuals, families and non-profits seeking to shape their philanthropic goals.
Brittany Schultz will serve as the Director, Donor Impact and Philanthropy. Since joining the Foundation in 2017, Brittany has advanced our work by fostering deep relationships with individuals, families and organizations as they pursue their philanthropic goals.

Mike Hood has been promoted to the Director, Place-Based Development. Mike has played a pivotal role in transforming Sixty6 from an idea into a thriving destination for music and community in less than a year. At the same time, he has strengthened the sense of connection within the MidTown Collaboration Center by building a powerful system of engagement among tenants through shared experiences and programming.

Chris Nierstheimer will serve as the Senior Manager, Venue and Guest Services. At the heart of Chris’s work is a clear focus on hospitality and how people feel when they walk through our doors. From first impression to lasting experience, he ensures our spaces are welcoming and their experience is memorable so that they return.

We are also glad to welcome Dena Mooty, Director of Brand Experience, Tanya Reynolds, Manager, Strategic Communications, Dr. Cristina González Alcalá, Director of Connecting People to Prosperity, and Michelle Sese, Senior Paralegal, Charitable Planning & Administration.

Learn more about our team here: https://www.clevelandfoundation.org/about-us/board-staff

Yesterday, The Sixty6 Music Lounge & Studio celebrated its one-year anniversary with live music, a community gathering, and a celebration honoring one of Hough’s longtime leaders, LaJean Ray.

The celebration brought more than 300 people to The Sixty6 at the Warren E. Anderson MidTown Collaboration Center (MCC) on East 66th Street and Euclid Avenue.

Learn more about this anniversary celebration here: https://www.clevelandfoundation.org/stories-events/stories-news/2026/05/18/sixty6-music-lounge-studio-marks-one-year-anniversary-with-live-performances-and-community-celebration

"Projects like the Midline are meant to outlast all of us standing here today — from the land restored, to the neighborhoods reconnected, to the lives improved.

Our collective responsibility is to make sure the systems we build are strong enough to carry that future forward." –Cleveland Foundation chief growth officer and CFO Rosanne Potter at yesterday’s Midline announcement.

The Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund is supported by a permanent endowment, stewarded by the Cleveland Foundation, designed to grow over time and sustain site clean-up across the city for generations. The Midline is a cornerstone of Mayor Bibb’s Cleveland ERA initiative, representing the largest-ever industrial redevelopment for the city that will transform more than 350 acres of long-vacant land between Downtown and University Circle. This collaborative effort of our partners at City of Cleveland, Cleveland City Council, Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund and LAND studio will connect neighbors to jobs, green space and each other.

We are proud to be part of this moment.

Monday, May 11 is the last day to apply for the first round of grantmaking from the Black Philanthropy Fund!

Through strategic grantmaking and community partnerships, the fund invests in organizations creating pathways to opportunity, building wealth and advancing holistic well‑being.

Learn more about the fund's impact areas here: https://www.clevelandfoundation.org/philanthropy-giving/ways-to-give/affinity-funds/black-philanthropy-fund