Cleveland Foundation is the oldest and second-largest community foundation in the nation, made up of hundreds of funds created by thousands of individuals, families, organizations and corporations. The foundation focuses on addressing needs through grant making, and to help address important issues in education, it partnered with Cleveland Scholarship Programs (CSP).

“It’s one of the first programs to really work on addressing the issues of increasing affordability of higher education,” said Robert Eckardt, senior vice president of programs and evaluation at the Cleveland Foundation. “Students who might not even think of a higher education are told of the possibilities of college.”

The Cleveland Foundation provides funds for scholarships and counseling support through CSP. According to Eckardt, the most recent grant was $1.25 million over a two-year period. “CSP works with students early enough to help them prepare for college,” said Eckardt. “This can be a real issue for students whose parents haven’t gone to college.” Eckardt credits CSP with filling an important need in the community and quickly adapting to anticipate changes in need.

George M. Humphrey, II is the immediate past chairman of the CSP board of directors and has been involved with the organization for nearly 30 years. Through his work with CSP, he has helped thousands of Cleveland high school students receive financial assistance that enables them to attend college. The recently established George M. Humphrey, II Fund supports college access and workforce development.

Humphrey and his family have generously contributed to a number of nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio for over 50 years. The Gilbert W. and Louise Ireland Humphrey Foundation, formed in 1951, continues to provide educational opportunities for students through CSP. Humphrey has devoted countless hours of volunteer time to CSP, stating that his involvement with this institution “still continues to inspire” him. “For me, there is no greater satisfaction than to have given my support and time to see that our Cleveland students can attend college and have an opportunity thereafter to lead successful, happy and productive lives,” he added.

“Whenever I become involved in an organization, it is important to me that it deliver on [CSP's] mission,” said Humphrey, recognizing CSP as a “truly excellent organization and the best-run college access program in the country.”

The John Huntington Fund for Education is a $40 million endowment established in the will of John Huntington for the purpose of providing financial aid to college students pursuing careers in science and technology. This is accomplished with assistance from CSP.

“Huntington wanted to help students interested in scientific, technical or vocational curriculums receive a quality education,” said Peter Adams, president of the Huntington Fund since 1982. “His hope was that this support would assist in keeping college graduates in Cleveland and, in turn, would help benefit the area’s economy.”

Trustees of the fund are committed to carrying out Huntington’s wishes. With this mission in mind, the trustees contribute to eight local higher-level educational institutions through CSP, which disperses scholarships to eligible students. The fund supports approximately 1,500 students a year, according to Adams, and more than $2 million was donated in 2005.

“We have been pleased to grow with CSP for more than 35 years,” Adams said. “And we hope to continue this partnership for many years to come.”

The George Gund Foundation, established in 1952, is a private nonprofit organization whose goal is the improvement of human welfare. The foundation plays a vital role in advancing this region’s prospects by supporting local nonprofit institutions, particularly in the area of education.

“We have an interest in supporting disadvantaged children in education and increasing access to higher education for children in and around the city of Cleveland,” said Ann Mullin, senior program officer for education at the Gund Foundation. “Cleveland Scholarship Programs is a leader in getting the message out to kids at an early age on the importance of higher education.”

The foundation has been a supporter of CSP nearly from the beginning. Mullin points out that since 1968, the Gund Foundation has made 39 grants to the program, totaling more than $3 million. The support provides scholarships, in-school advisory services and general operating funds.

“The value of CSP, beyond its scholarship dollars awarded to students, is seen in its dedicated promotion of higher education,” Mullin said.