Update to Our Focus Areas

As our family foundation approached its eighth year of responsive grantmaking, board members convened throughout 2020 to thoughtfully consider some fundamental questions about our work:

• Are the Foundation’s priorities aligned with changing community needs?
• Are its finite resources being deployed in ways that make meaningful impacts on people’s lives today—and will that still be the case in the years ahead?
• Are we thoughtfully incorporating racial equity and inclusion in our work?
• What could we be doing differently and/or better?

This effort identified many new and evolving needs for residents and stakeholders throughout Northeast Ohio. In response, the board has established a revised grantmaking framework beginning with the first 2021 grant cycle.

Moving forward, we will continue to support programmatic and advocacy initiatives in two of our traditional grantmaking realms: arts and health (focusing on AYA cancer support and reproductive health). Additionally, we are tremendously excited to pursue grantmaking opportunities with organizations whose work strategically aligns with a new focus area: criminal justice.

We value each and every grantee relationship, and we look proudly upon the achievements that these partnerships have generated throughout our existence. It has been our pleasure and honor to support this collective drive to make Northeast Ohio a more equitable and healthier place to live, learn and work. We look forward to making even bigger impacts in 2021 and beyond.

Please reach out to Bridget De Leon, director of grantmaking, with any questions at Bridget@fowlerfamilyfdn.org.