The Cyrus Eaton Foundation

The Cyrus Eaton Foundation is a family foundation located in Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Eaton made his home. All Trustees live or have lived in Cleveland, or are related to Cyrus Eaton, affording us a direct connection with the life of the city, a personal involvement in its welfare, and a clear understanding of his vision. In addition, we make it a point to visit new-to-us organizations, to help us determine how well their missions align with ours.

The Foundation's early giving patterns reflected Mr. Eaton's belief that what makes a city great is the quality and diversity of its institutions. He was a founder of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and a sustainer of the Cleveland City Club, both of which are Cleveland landmarks. In later life, he donated land to the fledgling Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (now the Cuyahoga Valley National Park). 

Since Mr. Eaton's death in 1979, the Foundation has focused its support on newer organizations that have arisen to meet community needs in innovative ways, such as Community Shares of Greater Cleveland, Countryside Conservancy, and Hard-Hatted Women. We have also been pivotal supporters of Cleveland Opera and other arts institutions during their formative years. Recently, we were one of the first supporters of Edwin’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute.

As philanthropists, one of our greatest satisfactions is watching these newer, less-known organizations grow and become effective institutions whose work changes the face of our community.  Consequently, we do not typically give to better-known, established organizations with a broad base of support and strong funding from large foundations.

While a preponderance of our grants are made to organizations in Cleveland and northeast Ohio, we are committed to the support of both Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs (http://pugwash.org/), which Mr. Eaton helped fund, and the Pugwash Park Commission (http://thinkerslodge.org/), which maintains and enhances the historic properties where the Conferences were born, and where significant peace-related and climate action activities are currently taking place.