Cleveland Foundation Opens Public-Facing Hub
The Cleveland Foundation has opened a new public-facing hub designed to make philanthropy more transparent and accessible. The space includes a gallery, a cafe, and event facilities, aiming to engage the community directly with the foundation's work.
The move marks a significant shift for the Cleveland Foundation, which for over 40 years had offices tucked away in the Hanna Building in Playhouse Square. The new $28 million, 55,000-square-foot headquarters at 6601 Euclid Ave. is a deliberate, ground-level investment in the city's MidTown neighborhood, bordering the historically redlined Hough community. Designed by S9 Architecture and Vocon, the LEED Gold-certified building features a transparent glass and warm wood facade, utilizing mass timber construction. This architectural choice is meant to embody the foundation's new era of openness and accessibility, moving away from what one leader dubbed its former "Ivory Tower." Half of the building's footprint is dedicated to public and community use. This includes the KeyBank Studio for performances, the Fred & Laura Ruth Bidwell Exhibition Space, and Susanna's Café, a coffee and lunch spot that is part of a vocational training program for individuals with developmental disabilities. The relocation is a physical manifestation of a strategic pivot to work more directly with the community. New President and CEO Lillian Kuri is spearheading this long-term project to help revitalize Cleveland's near-East Side and better connect the city's downtown with University Circle. Founded in 1914 by Frederick H. Goff, the Cleveland Foundation was the world's first community foundation and remains one of its largest, with assets of approximately $2.8 billion. The new headquarters is the first time in nearly a century the organization has had its own front door to the community. This building is the anchor of a larger vision. The foundation has acquired nearly 11 acres for a future innovation district. Construction is already underway on the adjacent MidTown Collaboration Center, which will house community partners, Black-owned businesses including a brewery, and a music venue, set to open in 2025.
