Cleveland Museum of Art Launches $600M Fundraising Campaign

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) announced a $600 million fundraising campaign, 'For the Benefit of All the People,' to ensure its long-term sustainability. As of the public launch, the museum has secured $351.5 million in cash and over $128.5 million in art commitments, reaching nearly 80% of its goal. The campaign is the largest in CMA history and the largest by a cultural organization in Ohio. Director William M. Griswold cited rising operating costs, evolving audience expectations, and the need for permanent funding streams as drivers. The campaign supports endowed staff positions, special exhibitions, educational programs, collection stewardship, the Ingalls Library and Museum Archives, digital innovation (e.g., ArtLens), and capital improvements. Since January 2023, the internal phase raised funds; the public phase coincides with the museum's 110th anniversary. Every board trustee contributed, with a $25 million gift from former chair Ellen Stirn Mavec sparking a $100 million challenge. The largest single gift is $40 million. The campaign aligns with a 2023 strategic plan. CMA remains one of the few major encyclopedic museums with free admission. In 2025, it welcomed over 800,000 visitors and achieved a record 31,000 member households. The museum's last capital campaign in 2016 funded a renovation by Rafael Viñoly.