George Gund Foundation

The George Gund Foundation is a charitable foundation established by Cleveland businessman and philanthropist George Gund. It supports education and various projects of community organizations located primarily in northeastern Ohio, but also in Ohio and the United States. Of particular interest to the Foundation are new teaching methods and education for disadvantaged people. The arts, civic affairs, economic development, the environment, and human services are also priorities of the Foundation. Abortion rights, women's issues, handgun control, homelessness, equal housing, museum development, retinitis pigmentosa research, AIDS public policy and education, community gardening, historic preservation, population control, family planning, and nuclear weapons control are also areas supported by the Foundation.

From the description of George Gund Foundation records, series II, 1966-1998. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 45083785

From the description of George Gund Foundation records. Series III, 1984-2008. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 489052066

Charitable foundation established by Cleveland businessman and philanthropist George Gund. It supports education and various projects of community organizations. Of particular interest to the foundation are new teaching methods and education for disadvantaged people. One of its special interests was the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Commission.

From the description of George Gund Foundation records, 1966-1983. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 18131084

The George Gund Foundation was established by Cleveland businessman and philanthropist George Gund (1888-1966) in 1952. Gund's business career began when he created the Kaffee Hag Corporation in the 1910s. The Corporation produced decaffeinated coffee and sold the caffeine to Coca-Cola. Gund sold the business to the Kellogg Corporation in 1929 and then carefully invested the proceeds from this sale. At the time of his death in 1966, his personal estate was valued at $600 million, of which $40 million was left to the foundation which subsequently became public. During his career, he served as a director and later president of the Cleveland Trust Company (later Ameritrust). In 1962, he became chairman of the board, succeeding I.F. Freiberger. The George Gund Foundation supports education and various projects of community organizations. Of particular interest to the foundation are new teaching methods and education for disadvantaged people. One of its special interests was the Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Commission, a group formed to aid the celebration of the 1976 Bicentennial in Ohio. James Lipscomb became director of the George Gund Foundation in 1969 and held this position until his death in 1987. As of 1983, the foundation's assets totaled $113,856,000.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the George Gund Foundation click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for George Gund

From the guide to the George Gund Foundation Records, 1963-1983, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by Cleveland, Ohio, businessman and banker George Gund (1888-1966) as a private foundation with the sole purpose of contributing to human well-being and the progress of society in general. George Gund, the son of Cleveland brewery owner and real estate investor George Frederick Gund (1855-1916), graduated from Harvard College in 1909 and attended Harvard Business School. He served in Army intelligence during World War I, attended Animal Husbandry School at Iowa State University, and was involved in ranching in Nevada. Gund's business career began when he created the Kaffee Hag Corporation in the 1910s. The corporation produced decaffeinated coffee and sold the caffeine to Coca-Cola. Gund sold the business to the Kellogg Corporation in 1929 and then carefully invested the proceeds from this sale. He married Jessica Roesler (d. 1954) in 1936 and settled in Cleveland to raise his children George III, Agnes, Gordon, Graham, Geoffrey, and Louise. George Gund became a director of the Cleveland Trust Company (later known as Ameritrust) in 1937 and became president of that organization in 1941. From 1962 until his death, he was chairman of the board, succeeding Isadore F. Freiberger (1879-1969). He also served on the boards of thirty other corporations and over a dozen philanthropic and educational institutions. At the time of his death in 1966, his personal estate was valued at $600 million, of which $40 million was left to The George Gund Foundation.

The foundation is directed by a board of trustees whose task is not solely to disburse funds but also to actively review the utility of received proposals. It has included five of the six children of the founder: George Gund III, Gordon Gund, Geoffrey Gund, Graham Gund, and Louise Gund. Gordon Gund's wife Llura, Graham Gund's wife Ann, and Agnes Gund's first husband Albrecht Saalfield and daughter Catherine Gund have also served as trustees. Other trustees have included Hawley Stark, George Karch, Frederick Cox, Robert Storey, and Kathleen Barbar.

James Lipscomb (1923-1987) was hired as the executive director of the foundation in 1969 and held this position until his death; during his tenure, Lipscomb personified The George Gund Foundation and its philanthropic philosophy. Under his leadership, the staff of the foundation grew to include seven full-time employees; this number had grown to ten by 1999. Henry Doll served as acting director of the foundation from 1987-1988 and continued the philosophical leadership of James Lipscomb during this time of transition. David Bergholz has been the executive director of the foundation since 1989.

By 1970, a long-range plan had been developed to guide the use of substantially increased grant capacity and address the ramifications of the Tax Reform Act of 1969. Early grant program objectives included support for the following: new concepts and methods of teaching and learning at educational institutions and broadening educational opportunities for the disadvantaged and minorities, improving the living conditions of minority and low-income groups, public education about and research into the environmental problems of the Lake Erie Basin area, increasing the availability and improving the quality of medical treatment and family planning services, and strengthening cultural institutions in northeast Ohio. While these objectives have persisted, they have evolved and expanded as the trustees continued to evaluate and refine the foundation's funding priorities. During the 1970s, the foundation funded programs that examined the effectiveness of certain government policies and programs, joined the foundation community effort to facilitate the desegregation of the Cleveland Public Schools, and assisted a variety of women's programs including reproductive rights. When the foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1977, it had given away $33 million dollars, $4 million of which was donated in 1977 alone.

During the 1980s, the basic funding objectives of the foundation continued with education and social and economic progress being top priorities. Funding was increased for primary and secondary education programs, the category of special interests of women was expanded to include domestic violence shelters, programs for prevention of nuclear war became an important interest, and Great Lakes water quality projects were emphasized. A comprehensive program for retinal degenerative disease research was initiated during the 1980s due in part to trustee Gordon Gund's personal experience with retinitis pigmentosa.

The foundation's commitment to education, economic and community revitalization, human services, environmental quality, the arts, civic affairs, and retinal degenerative disease research continued throughout the decade of the 1990s. Improvement of the Cleveland Public Schools remained a top priority with special emphasis placed upon more effective administration. Environmental grantmaking focused locally on urban environmental problems, regionally on Great Lakes issues, and nationally on policy related to the mitigation of global climate change. The commitment to women's issues such as reproductive rights and family planning continued. As the bicentennial of the City of Cleveland approached in 1996, the foundation provided approximately $800,000 to support the projects of the Cleveland Bicentennial Commission. New museums located on Cleveland's lakefront, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Great Lakes Science Center, were given substantial gifts as well. Job availability, training, and placement became an increasing problem in Cleveland during this decade, and the foundation increased its grantmaking in this area. In 1999 The George Gund Foundation was ranked in the top one hundred United States foundations with assets totaling over $476 million. Since its inception, the foundation has made grants totaling more than $257 million.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for this organization

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History article on George Gund

From the guide to the George Gund Foundation Records, Series III, 1984-2008, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by Cleveland, Ohio, businessman and banker George Gund (1888-1966) as a private foundation with the sole purpose of contributing to human well-being and the progress of society in general. George Gund, the son of Cleveland brewery owner and real estate investor George Frederick Gund (1855-1916), graduated from Harvard College in 1909 and attended Harvard Business School. He served in Army intelligence during World War I, attended Animal Husbandry School at Iowa State University, and was involved in ranching in Nevada. Gund's business career began when he created the Kaffee Hag Corporation in the 1910s. The corporation produced decaffeinated coffee and sold the caffeine to Coca-Cola. Gund sold the business to the Kellogg Corporation in 1929 and then carefully invested the proceeds from this sale. He married Jessica Roesler (d. 1954) in 1936 and settled in Cleveland to raise his children George III, Agnes, Gordon, Graham, Geoffrey, and Louise. George Gund became a director of the Cleveland Trust Company (later known as Ameritrust) in 1937 and became president of that organization in 1941. From 1962 until his death, he was chairman of the board, succeeding Isadore F. Freiberger (1879-1969). He also served on the boards of thirty other corporations and over a dozen philanthropic and educational institutions. At the time of his death in 1966, his personal estate was valued at $600 million, of which $40 million was left to The George Gund Foundation.

The foundation is directed by a board of trustees whose task is not solely to disburse funds but also to actively review the utility of received proposals. It has included five of the six children of the founder: George Gund III, Gordon Gund, Geoffrey Gund, Graham Gund, and Louise Gund. Gordon Gund's wife Llura, Graham Gund's wife Ann, and Agnes Gund's first husband Albrecht Saalfield and daughter Catherine Gund have also served as trustees. Other trustees have included Hawley Stark, George Karch, Frederick Cox, Robert Storey, and Kathleen Barbar.

James Lipscomb (1923-1987) was hired as the executive director of the foundation in 1969 and held this position until his death; during his tenure, Lipscomb personified The George Gund Foundation and its philanthropic philosophy. Under his leadership, the staff of the foundation grew to include seven full-time employees; this number had grown to ten by 1999. Henry Doll served as acting director of the foundation from 1987-1988 and continued the philosophical leadership of James Lipscomb during this time of transition. David Bergholz has been the executive director of the foundation since 1989. By 1970, a long-range plan had been developed to guide the use of substantially increased grant capacity and address the ramifications of the Tax Reform Act of 1969. Early grant program objectives included support for the following: new concepts and methods of teaching and learning at educational institutions and broadening educational opportunities for the disadvantaged and minorities, improving the living conditions of minority and low-income groups, public education about and research into the environmental problems of the Lake Erie Basin area, increasing the availability and improving the quality of medical treatment and family planning services, and strengthening cultural institutions in northeast Ohio. While these objectives have persisted, they have evolved and expanded as the trustees continued to evaluate and refine the foundation's funding priorities. During the 1970s, the foundation funded programs that examined the effectiveness of certain government policies and programs, joined the foundation community effort to facilitate the desegregation of the Cleveland Public Schools, and assisted a variety of women's programs including reproductive rights. When the foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1977, it had given away $33 million dollars, $4 million of which was donated in 1977 alone. During the 1980s, the basic funding objectives of the foundation continued with education and social and economic progress being top priorities. Funding was increased for primary and secondary education programs, the category of special interests of women was expanded to include domestic violence shelters, programs for prevention of nuclear war became an important interest, and Great Lakes water quality projects were emphasized. A comprehensive program for retinal degenerative disease research was initiated during the 1980s due in part to trustee Gordon Gund's personal experience with retinitis pigmentosa. The foundation's commitment to education, economic and community revitalization, human services, environmental quality, the arts, civic affairs, and retinal degenerative disease research continued throughout the decade of the 1990s. Improvement of the Cleveland Public Schools remained a top priority with special emphasis placed upon more effective administration. Environmental grantmaking focused locally on urban environmental problems, regionally on Great Lakes issues, and nationally on policy related to the mitigation of global climate change. The commitment to women's issues such as reproductive rights and family planning continued. As the bicentennial of the City of Cleveland approached in 1996, the foundation provided approximately $800,000 to support the projects of the Cleveland Bicentennial Commission. New museums located on Cleveland's lakefront, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Great Lakes Science Center, were given substantial gifts as well. Job availability, training, and placement became an increasing problem in Cleveland during this decade, and the foundation increased its grantmaking in this area. In 1999 The George Gund Foundation was ranked in the top one hundred United States foundations with assets totaling over $476 million. Since its inception, the foundation has made grants totaling more than $257 million.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry on The George Gund Foundation

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry on George Gund

From the guide to the George Gund Foundation Records, Series II, 1966-1998, (Western Reserve Historical Society)