Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Inspiring greater connection with the natural world.

$5+ million

in grant funding

4300%

ROI

Countless

visitors experience a reimagined museum

The Mission

For more than 100 years, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has been recognized as one of the finest natural history museums in North America. The Museum hosts more than 300,000 total visitors and 70,000 students throughout the year in support of its mission to inspire, through science and education, a passion for nature, the protection of natural diversity, the fostering of health, and leadership to a sustainable future.

The Challenge

As our planet faces an ecological tipping point, the Museum believes that understanding science and appreciating our interconnectedness with nature are key to the survival of all life on Earth. Through a bold transformation, the Museum sought to reimagine their campus, galleries, and visitor experience to inspire in local and global audiences an enduring sense of connection with the natural world, while empowering them with the tools to secure a healthy future. Their strategic plan, provided a roadmap for responding to our rapidly changing world and maximizing investment in the Museum through a multimillion-dollar campaign. Amidst pandemic-induced programming disruption (specifically, for in-person events) and industry-wide staffing challenges, the Museum continued to innovate through enhanced digital channels and virtual events. However, the tremendous opportunity to advance their broader reinvention plans would require thoughtful external partnerships.

The Journey

The partnership between the Museum and Grants Plus spans more than a decade. Early work centered mostly around providing additional capacity for grant writing. As the Museum embarked on its broader transformational goals, the partnership evolved to encompass strategic guidance, thought partnership, and federal grant writing. Recent priorities include grant seeking support for the Museum’s Transforming the World of Discovery campaign and federal grant writing for funding opportunities through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. By aligning the grant seeking expertise of Grants Plus with the Museum’s strategic plan, the collaboration is helping to transform the Museum into a bold and innovative space for the next century.

The Results

By partnering with Grants Plus, the Museum secured over $5M in grant funding to support the transformation of the Museum experience for future generations.

From groundbreaking new exhibits to programs that expand community access, the Museum remains well positioned to be a local, national, and global leader in science, education, conservation, and community building. Furthermore, the introduction of new world-class concepts will continue to redefine how we view the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world in ways that are meaningful, exciting, and accessible for all.

““The partnership with Grants Plus has been instrumental in realizing our vision for the future. Together, we’re not just dreaming about a deeper connection to the natural world—we’re actively building it.”

Julia Ross

Senior Director of Philanthropy and External Relations, Cleveland Museum of Natural History

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