Since its creation, our foundation has had a strong environmental interest.  We supported land acquisition through the Nature Conservancy, helped to found the Shaker Lakes Nature Center and supported organizations with environmental programs such as the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.

With the passage of time, our goals have evolved to include programming for urban revitalization and sustainability, environmental education and community health.

The Sears-Swetland Family Foundation has given grants to the following organizations in 2026:

• Alliance for the Great Lakes: Ohio operations
• American Rivers*
• Birthing Beautiful Communities
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio
• Building Hope in the City: urban farming
• Cleveland Institute of Art*
• Cleveland Metroparks: Educational Barge in Lake Erie
• Cleveland Museum of Art: Fine Arts Garden Restoration
• Cleveland Museum of Natural History: Human Health and Evolution Exhibits
• Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
• Cleveland Tree Coalition
• College Now: scholarship support
• Community Workshop: Food for All Euclid
• CWRU School of Medicine: Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health
• Environmental Law and Policy Center
• Footpath Foundation
• Global Cleveland
• Good Power (formerly Alliance for Climate Education): Ohio operations
• Greater Cleveland Food Bank
• Greater Ohio Policy Center
• Great Lakes Science Center
• Habitat for Humanity
• Hathaway Brown School*
• Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland
• Lake Erie Nature and Science Center
• Land Studio
• Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
• Ohio Environmental Council
• OSU Extension Cuyahoga County: Produce Perks
• Preterm
• Red Oak Camps
• Rid-All Farm
• Trust for Public Land: Kerruish Park Project
• University Circle, Inc
• Western Reserve Land Conservancy
• West Side Market: Restoration Capital

Total: $227,500 in grants during 2026

*Trustee Discretionary Grant

Photo of the Cleveland Botanical Gardens Green Corps.