The mission of The Bruening Foundation is to fund crucial efforts today that help every child in Cuyahoga County grow into adulthood with health, wellness and dignity. The Foundation invests in effective programs that serve the economically disadvantaged by meeting their educational, employment, and basic human needs. The vision of the Bruening Foundation is to improve the overall quality of life in Cuyahoga County, by empowering economically disadvantaged individuals to navigate through life with dignity and to gain greater personal and economic security and self sufficiency.
The Bruening Foundation invests through two grantmaking approaches: proactive and responsive. The proactive strategy was developed in an attempt to have a greater impact in one area of our grantmaking and is the result of a 2-year strategic planning process. The Foundation's responsive grantmaking remains committed to addressing the root causes of poverty.
The Bruening Foundation hopes to develop and maintain partnerships with organizations that:
2020 awardees can be found here: http://www.brueningfoundation.org/2020-grants/
Requests for program, start-up or emergency operating and capital support will be considered. Applicants are discouraged from submitting requests for endowment, general operating expenses, research, symposia/seminars or fundraising events. No grants are awarded to individuals, nor does the Foundation respond to mass mailings or annual campaign solicitations.
Preference for capital campaigns will be given to projects that fit the Foundation's stated responsive grantmaking interests. Given the Foundation's limited resources, organizations interested in submitting an application for capital support should first submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) to be considered at one of the Distribution Committee's three scheduled meetings (May, August and December).
In order to eligible, your organization or your program must:
Rare exceptions may be made, on a case-by-case basis, for organizations headquartered outside the County that maintain facilities within the County, fall within priority program areas, and serve the residents of Cuyahoga County.
The Distribution Committee members review grant proposals 3 times a year as follows: Applications are available February 1st, May 1st, and September 1st and are due on March 1st, June 1st, and October 1st for the May, August and December meetings, respectively.