Cleveland Foundation

The first community trust in the U.S. It was organized in 1914 by Frederick J. Goff and the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Trust Company. It has provided funds for educational and artistic development and for humanitarian purposes such as housing and aid to children and the handicapped.

From the description of Records. Series II 1923-1982 1955-1978. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 18131036

From the description of Records 1915-1968. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 17532528

The Cleveland Foundation was organized by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Trust Company on January 2, 1914. It was founded under the leadership of Frederick H. Goff, then president of the Cleveland Trust Company and a distinguished lawyer of the city. The foundation was the first community trust in the nation and served as a model for similar organizations around the nation.

The purpose of the foundation is to provide a means of distributing funds for assisting charitable institutions, for promoting educational and scientific research and to provide for the sick, elderly, or helpless. Its overriding aim is to aid in the mental, physical, and cultural improvement of Cleveland's citizens.

Based on Goff's idea of a philanthropic organization existing primarily through the perpetual protection and distribution of capital funds, the Foundation accumulates its resources from bequests. It then administers these funds until they are needed. While some donors will specify a recipient organization in their wills, others simply designate a general area of concern, such as health, education or the arts. The funds are then disbursed by the Foundation's distribution committee made up of community leaders.

The Foundation has participated in a wide range of projects throughout the city of Cleveland. While in some instances, the Foundation's aid was merely supplemental, in other cases it was the principal funding agent for a program.

One of the first major projects of the Cleveland Foundation was its 1916 education survey. Under the leadership of Dr. Leonard D. Ayers, twenty-five papers were published dealing in a comprehensive fashion with the Cleveland Public School system. Almost a hundred suggestions for improving the schools grew out of the survey and affected such diverse areas as curriculum planning, teacher training, and extracurricular activities. As a result, the public developed a greater understanding and appreciation of educational goals and processes in the community.

In 1921-1922 the Foundation received world wide attention for its inquiry into the local administration of criminal justice. Dealing comprehensively with all agencies of law enforcement, the program made recommendations to bring about a more efficient and humanitarian administration of criminal justice in the city.

The year 1940 saw the establishment of the Frederick W. and Henryett Slocum Judd Fund to provide in the home library services for the handicapped and for shut-ins. By 1957, philanthropic disbursements of the Foundation passed the $1,000,000 mark as the organization extended aid to institutions such as Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and the Children's Aid Society.

Throughout the 1960s, the Cleveland Foundation provided more money than ever before for housing in an attempt to meet the challenge of rebuilding an aging city. Now operating in its sixth decade (as of 1975), the Foundation continues to function as Cleveland's principal philanthropic organization.

Click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Cleveland Foundation

From the guide to the Cleveland Foundation Records, 1891-1969, 1915-1969, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Cleveland Foundation was organized by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Trust Company on January 2, 1914. It was founded under the leadership of Frederick H. Goff, then president of the Cleveland Trust Company and a distinguished lawyer of the city. The foundation was the first community trust in the nation and served as a model for similar organizations around the nation.

The purpose of the foundation is to provide a means of distributing funds for assisting charitable institutions, for promoting educational and scientific research and to provide for the sick, elderly, or helpless. Its overriding aim is to aid in the mental, physical, and cultural improvement of Cleveland's citizens.

Based on Goff's idea of a philanthropic organization existing primarily through the perpetual protection and distribution of capital funds, the Foundation accumulates its resources from bequests. It then administers these funds until they are needed. While some donors will specify a recipient organization in their wills, others simply designate a general area of concern, such as health, education or the arts. The funds are then disbursed by the Foundation's distribution committee made up of community leaders.

The Foundation has participated in a wide range of projects throughout the city of Cleveland. While in some instances, the Foundation's aid was merely supplemental, in other cases it was the principal funding agent for a program.

One of the first major projects of the Cleveland Foundation was its 1916 education survey. Under the leadership of Dr. Leonard D. Ayers, twenty-five papers were published dealing in a comprehensive fashion with the Cleveland Public School system. Almost a hundred suggestions for improving the schools grew out of the survey and affected such diverse areas as curriculum planning, teacher training, and extracurricular activities. As a result, the public developed a greater understanding and appreciation of educational goals and processes in the community.

In 1921-1922 the Foundation received world wide attention for its inquiry into the local administration of criminal justice. Dealing comprehensively with all agencies of law enforcement, the program made recommendations to bring about a more efficient and humanitarian administration of criminal justice in the city.

The year 1940 saw the establishment of the Frederick W. and Henryett Slocum Judd Fund to provide in the home library services for the handicapped and for shut-ins. By 1957, philanthropic disbursements of the Foundation passed the $1,000,000 mark as the organization extended aid to institutions such as Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and the Children's Aid Society.

Throughout the 1960s, the Cleveland Foundation provided more money than ever before for housing in an attempt to meet the challenge of rebuilding an aging city. Now operating in its sixth decade (as of 1975), the Foundation continues to function as Cleveland's principal philanthropic organization.

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

From the guide to the Cleveland Foundation Records, Series II, 1923-1982, 1955-1978, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Cleveland Foundation was organized in Cleveland, Ohio, by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Trust Company on January 2, 1914. It was founded under the leadership of Frederick H. Goff, then president of the Cleveland Trust Company and a distinguished lawyer of the city. The foundation was the first community trust in the nation and served as a model for similar organizations around the nation. The current mission of the Cleveland Foundation is "to enhance the lives of all residents of Greater Cleveland, now and for generations to come, by working together with our donors to build community endowment, address needs through grantmaking, and provide leadership on key community issues" as quoted from their website. The foundation provides a means of distributing funds for assisting charitable institutions, for promoting educational and scientific research and to provide for the sick, elderly, or helpless. Its overriding aim is to aid in the mental, physical, and cultural improvement of Cleveland's citizens and it does this by focusing on six areas which a growing amount of its grant dollars go to support. These six areas include education, neighborhoods, human services, arts and culture, economic development, and the Greater University Circle area.

Based on Goff's idea of a philanthropic organization existing primarily through the perpetual protection and distribution of capital funds, the Foundation accumulates its resources from bequests. It then administers these funds until they are needed. While some donors will specify a recipient organization in their wills, others simply designate a general area of concern, such as health, education or the arts. The funds are then disbursed by the Foundation's distribution committee made up of community leaders.

The Foundation has participated in a wide range of projects throughout the city of Cleveland. While in some instances, the Foundation's aid was merely supplemental, in other cases it was the principal funding agent for a program.

One of the first major projects of the Cleveland Foundation was its 1916 education survey. Under the leadership of Dr. Leonard D. Ayers, twenty-five papers were published dealing in a comprehensive fashion with the Cleveland Public School system. Almost a hundred suggestions for improving the schools grew out of the survey and affected such diverse areas as curriculum planning, teacher training, and extracurricular activities. As a result, the public developed a greater understanding and appreciation of educational goals and processes in the community.

In 1921-1922 the Foundation received world-wide attention for its inquiry into the local administration of criminal justice. Dealing comprehensively with all agencies of law enforcement, the program made recommendations to bring about a more efficient and humanitarian administration of criminal justice in the city.

The year 1940 saw the establishment of the Frederick W. and Henryett Slocum Judd Fund to provide in the home library services for the handicapped and for shut-ins. By 1957, philanthropic disbursements of the Foundation passed the $1,000,000 mark as the organization extended aid to institutions such as Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and the Children's Aid Society. Throughout the 1960s, the Cleveland Foundation provided more money than ever before for housing in an attempt to meet the challenge of rebuilding an aging city. Throughout the 1970s the Foundation continued to function as Cleveland's principal philanthropic organization and by 1976 grants surpassed $10 million dollars. In the 1980s and 1990s neighborhood redevelopment and downtown Cleveland's lakefront redevelopment were successful, among other projects. In 2004 foundation grants reached a record $86 million dollars. The Cleveland Foundation has maintained its success through the present time, focusing on its priority areas and having success with educational, healthcare and urban development initiatives. It continues to strive for and be successful at enhancing the lives of greater Clevelanders through its stated mission.

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

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Frederick Goff

From the guide to the Cleveland Foundation Records, Series III, 1955-1999, 1972-1997, (Western Reserve Historical Society)