News

More than 40 high school students from across the District recently learned what it is like to be a philanthropist when they approved 22 grant proposals seeking funding from the Get More Opportunities Fund.  

“It was always a goal of mine to have a voice in my community,” said Roberto, a 12th grader at Lincoln-West School of Science and Medicine.  

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $20 million-dollar to the District last fall. The CMSD School Board along with CEO Eric Gordon decided that students should be the ones to determine how the money is spent.

During the second round of Get More Opportunities grant approvals last month, high school students from across the district first learned about how to make a pitch. 

 Ariana Smith, City Club of Cleveland Educational Engagement Manager, and an entrepreneur talked to the students about effective communication and how to convince others to vote for the grants they deem worthy of being funded.

All CMSD scholars, educators, CMSD parents and caregivers are invited to share their ideas on how the funding can be creatively used. If you have a vision of how the educational experience of a school, building, department, or division can be advanced, you are encouraged to share your idea. No idea is too big or small for consideration.

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is giving CMSD $20 million that will be used to broaden students’ horizons, strengthen support for staff and principals, and make improvements that benefit the District and community. 

The gift from Scott’s foundation is the largest private donation CMSD has received in at least two decades and might be its largest private donation ever. The award came as a surprise to the District, which did not ask the foundation for money.