Diamond Improvement Grant

Thank you for your interest in Cleveland Guardians Charities.

Established in 1989, Cleveland Guardians Charities (CGC) is a self-sustaining charitable organization that concentrates on creative partnerships with select organizations in the community. Through fundraising, CGC provides the opportunity to jointly create and execute educational and recreational opportunities. These programs help young people learn to play the game of baseball, develop necessary life skills, learn responsibility, and develop confidence to face today's hurdles. Since 1989, CGC has donated more than $12 million to youth-oriented agencies and organizations of Northeast Ohio. CGC has established relationships with several local organizations that focus on youth education and youth recreation.

The purpose of the Diamond Improvement Grant is to assist in local league funding, programming, and the renovation of playing fields. All grants and grant amounts will be approved by Cleveland Guardians Charities' Board of Directors.

Cleveland Guardians Charities (CGC) receives numerous requests for funding. Special consideration will be given to:

  • Organizations whose mission is to expand and improve the quality of youth baseball and softball programs and increase participation.
  • Existing groups who have demonstrated success or have generated matching funds for baseball/softball programs.

In order to be considered for support, all organizations must target youth and meet the following criteria:

  • Assistance will be given to projects that significantly expand baseball or softball programs with achievable and measurable objectives within a specific timeframe, including a detailed action plan followed by evaluation reports.
  • The grant application and requested materials must be completed and comply with all CGC Terms and Conditions. (For example: Projects must acknowledge CGC support on all public statements/documents, as well as be audited as required by CGC.)

DISBURSEMENT GUIDELINES

  • All successful applicants must sign the Letter of Agreement prior to receiving funds from CGC.
  • No multi-year commitments will be considered unless there are circumstances where it is determined that a significant impact can be made through a multi-year commitment.
  • Successful grant applications may only be awarded partial funding. For those tangible or one-time capital improvements, on-premise signage and/or naming opportunities (ie. restoration projects) must be provided.
  • Successful applicants must file a self-assessment Post Grant Report (PDF) with Cleveland Guardians Charities within 90 days after the completion of the project. The final report shall evaluate the success of the project and include the budget that itemizes how funds were utilized.
  • Organizations who have received funding from CGC in previous years must re-submit a proposal each year to be eligible for repeat grants.
  • Future funding requests will not be considered from organizations with outstanding Post Grant Reports.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The Diamond Improvement Grant application process for 2024 is now closed. Groups who submitted applications ahead of the November 15th deadline will be notified of the CGC Boardā€™s decisions. Please check back in the fall of 2024 for more information on the following yearā€™s grant application process.