CLEVELAND, Ohio — More than $10 million in grants will go to 300 nonprofit organizations in Cuyahoga County after receiving approval Wednesday from the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Board of Trustees.
“We are excited to make these grants to 300 nonprofit organizations that serve residents in every zip code in Cuyahoga County,” Jill Paulsen, CAC’s executive director, said in a statement. “Among the organizations receiving grants are steadfast community pillars like the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Music Settlement, Karamu House and others that we’ve funded since CAC began.”
The $10,750,847 in grants were awarded for 2025 through the CAC’s General Operating Support, Project Support and Cultural Heritage grant programs. General Operating Support and Cultural Heritage grants are entering the second year of a two-year grant cycle.
Seventy organizations will receive General Operating Support grants totaling nearly $9 million in 2025, including $11,760 to the Cleveland Opera and $872,000 to Playhouse Square. The Project Support grant program will share $1,546,680 among 217 projects, including $1,505 for the Association of Asian Indian Women in Ohio and $18,040 for the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
Fifteen organizations will CAC funding for the first time, including the Association of Asian Indian Women in Ohio, Euclid Symphony Orchestra and RhythmiCLE Sound Tap Company.
“We make these grants with heartfelt gratitude for Cuyahoga County voters who recently approved an increase in CAC funding through 2035, which is a sign that county residents appreciate the exceptional work of these 300 organizations,” Paulsen said.
The Cultural Heritage grant program will share $220,442 among 13 organizations. Grants range in size from $5,000 to the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers to $30,000 each to Foluke Cultural Arts, Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival and Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center.
The 2025 grants are not impacted by the increased cigarette tax approved in November. CAC will begin collecting the new tax in March.
Since 2006, CAC has invested more than $257 million in 500 organizations.