The George Gund Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your organisation is a US 501(c)(3) working in one of the foundation's five programme areas and can connect its work to climate change and environmental degradation, entrenched inequality (especially racial inequity), or weakened democracy, it is a good fit, though the stated geographic focus is the United States, Cleveland and Ohio, so check where your work sits.
- Most of its grants are modest, with a median of $50,000 and about 8 in 10 falling between $10,000 and $200,000, so a request near $50,000 is a realistic starting point, though its largest grant was $2,750,000.
- Because 88% of its grant dollars in its most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, new applicants should weigh that concentration when they plan.
- Review the guidelines first, then apply through the online portal, which needs no letter of inquiry, by one of the deadlines of November 15, March 15 or August 15.
- Organisations engaged in discriminatory or illegal activities are excluded and should not apply.
Overview
The George Gund Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cleveland, OH.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The George Gund Foundation makes grants to US-based 501(c)(3) organisations working within five programme areas: climate and environmental justice; creative culture and arts; economic justice and community power; public education; and thriving families and social justice. It asks applicants to connect their work to climate change and environmental degradation, entrenched inequality, especially racial inequity, or weakened democracy. Rooted in Cleveland, it focuses on the city while looking to work with relevance beyond it. Its priorities include equitable climate and environmental policy; arts organisations in or impacting Cleveland; economic mobility and community power in Cleveland neighbourhoods; public education as a foundation of democracy; and systems-level reforms addressing poverty and injustice for Greater Cleveland families. It also makes local direct-service grants to mitigate urgent harms.
Themes
- Climate and Environmental Justice
- Creative Culture and Arts
- Economic Justice and Community Power
- Public Education
- Thriving Families and Social Justice
Geographic Focus
United States; Cleveland; Ohio.
What They Don't Fund
- Organizations engaged in discriminatory or illegal activities
How to apply
Applicants review the guidelines to determine fit, then complete an application through the online portal; no letter of inquiry is required.
Deadlines: Proposals are due three times a year: November 15, March 15 and August 15.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,007 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants should show how their work responds to one or more of the Foundation’s key challenges in its What We Believe statement.
- It expects grantee organisations to adopt efforts that contribute to the fight against climate change.
- It expects partners to actively learn how racism continues to affect society and pursue ways of defeating it.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations The George Gund Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 11% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 334 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Cleveland State University Foundation · Living learning community$2,750,0002024 tax year
- Foundation Fighting Blindness · Retinal degenerative disease research$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Cleveland Neighborhood Progress · Operating support$1,215,0002024 tax year
- Ohio Progressive Collaborative Education Fund · Operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Energy Foundation · Ohio key states program$650,0002024 tax year
- Tides Foundation · Healthy democracy fund$500,0002024 tax year
- Ohio Environmental Council · Operating support$440,0002024 tax year
- College Now Greater Cleveland · College access advising services, scholarships, and retention services for cleveland metropolitan school district students.$400,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Tyler Gund — Trustee
- Geoffrey Gund — Trustee
- Lara Gund — Secretary, Trustee
- Anna Traggio — Trustee
- Catherine Gund — Chair, Trustee
- Zachary Gund — Treasurer, Trustee
- Marvin Hayes — Trustee
- Margaret Bernstein — Trustee
- Nancy Mendez — Vice Chair, Trustee
- Ann Mullin — Executive Vice President
- Anthony Richardson — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $51,185,973 | $40,703,025 | $506,437,897 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $39,701,112 | $29,601,792 | $534,810,762 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $40,572,226 | $29,790,232 | $596,036,791 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The George Gund Foundation?
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Applying to The George Gund Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required