To learn more about these funds, or to make a restricted gift, please contact Kimberlee Jones, Director of Philanthropy, at [email protected] or 216.321.5935 ext. 223.
Nature Center at Shaker Lakes Fund
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes established an endowment fund at The Cleveland Foundation in 1999 to help provide sustained operating support for the organization. Donations specifically designated to this fund are invested, and a percentage of the revenue from those investments directly supports the Nature Center’s mission and its programs. These donations serve as a living legacy, ensuring that the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes exists in perpetuity.
Leadership Fund in Honor of Kay Carlson
The Leadership Fund in Honor of Kay Carlson recognizes President & CEO Kay Carlson for her outstanding 15+ years of service to the organization. The Nature Center seeks to raise $3 million for the Leadership Fund.
The endowed fund, held at The Cleveland Foundation, will support the position of President & CEO in perpetuity, thereby allowing more funds to be allocated toward the Nature Center’s exceptional educational programs and the habitats and trails that make them possible. Through this fund, Nature Center Friends and Supporters have an opportunity to acknowledge Ms. Carlson for her incredible leadership and accomplishments during her tenure.
Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center Endowment Foundation
Early supporters of the Nature Center had the foresight to create the Shaker Lakes Regional Nature Center (SLRNC) Endowment Foundation to establish consistent funding and long-term security for the Nature Center. Since its founding in 1981, the Endowment Foundation has distributed over $2 million to the Nature Center. Donations specifically designated for the SLRNC Endowment Foundation are strategically invested and managed by its own Board of Trustees, who annually allocate a percentage of the revenue from those investments to the Nature Center for daily operations, guaranteeing one source of unrestricted income each year.
The Barber Habitat Restoration Fund
This fund was created in 2014 to ensure the continued health of the Nature Center’s diverse habitats and sustain its status as a National Environmental Education Study Area and an Audubon Important Bird Area. The Barber family established the fund to honor their mother, Kathleen Barber, who devoted herself to the conservation of the Shaker Parklands and served as a founding trustee of the Nature Center. Donations to the Barber Habitat Restoration Fund support comprehensive habitat restoration activities to enhance our outdoor classroom.
The Jean Eakin Fund
Established in Jean’s memory, this fund was created with The Cleveland Foundation and is designated for bird education, research, and habitat enhancement. Since its establishment in 2008, the Jean Eakin fund has continued to ensure that thousands of visitors have the opportunity to view birds in their natural surroundings.
The Jenny Goldman Memorial Outreach Fund
The Jenny Goldman Fund was established in 2005 in memory of Jenny Goldman, a young naturalist and devoted volunteer with the Nature Center. Jenny’s wondrous spirit and joy for nature live on through this vital fund at The Cleveland Foundation, which supports the Nature Center's environmental education programs for hundreds of Cleveland school children each year.