Fund Management and Committees
As a collaboration, the Fund's work is performed by its members with the support of a small staff. To organize its work, the Fund uses a committee structure to identify, evaluate and review initiatives that it supports through grantmaking, research and civic engagement.
Action Teams
Fund members serve on one of six action teams that make grantmaking, research and civic engagement recommendations. The action teams evaluate new opportunities and ideas for regional initiatives potential Fund support, and they are responsible for monitoring the performance of grantees, translating research into recommendations and identifying opportunities to engage the region in initiatives that will strengthen the economic competitiveness of the region. The action teams invite experts and interested parties from outside the Fund to participate and contribute to their work.
Action Teams and there leadership are:
Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion: Co-chairs Kim Pesses and Peter Meisel of the Meisel Family Foundation; and Shilpa Kedar of the Clevleand Foundation
Engage and Empower: Co-chairs Deborah Vesy of the Deaconess Community Foundation and Roy Church of Lorain County Community College
Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Chair Bill Seelbach of the George W. Codrington Charitable Foundation
Government Collaboration and Efficiency: Co-chairs Raphael Omerza of the Lake-Geauga Fund of the Cleveland Foundation and Bob Jaquay of The George Gund Foundation.
Inclusion: Co-chairs Shana Marbury of the Greater Cleveland Partnership and Christine Mayer of the GAR Foundation
Talent Development: Chair Kurt Karakul of the Third Federal Foundation
Steering Committee
Responsible for reviewing the recommendations of the action teams. The Steering Committee decides which grants, research and civic engagement projects will move to the Funders Committee for consideration. The committee consists of members who have contributed $1 million or more to the Fund, plus four at-large members. The committee meets quarterly.
Funders Committee
The decision-making body of the Fund. The Funders Committee consists of more than 50 members who have committed at least $100,000 to the current three-year phase of the Fund (which expires in early 2013). The Funders Committee decides which grants, research projects and civic engagement initiatives are pursued by the Fund. The committee meets quarterly.