Through three Big Bets for America gatherings since November 2025, commitments surpassing $450 million have been secured to broaden prospects for communities across the nation and foster greater prosperity ahead.
$350 million pledged today by private, public, and philanthropic entities at the Big Bets America: Cleveland gathering, joined by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and NBC TODAY Weather and Feature Anchor Al Roker, among additional figures.

The Rockefeller Foundation announced today that commitments totaling more than $450 million in philanthropic, private, and public sector funding have been secured to expand opportunities for communities nationwide through its Big Bets for America series over the past seven months. This total encompasses over $350 million pledged in Cleveland to support underserved populations and drive prosperity throughout the city, Ohio, and further afield. Revealed at the Foundation's third event, Big Bets for America: Cleveland, which convened over 400 leaders to pinpoint and expand innovative solutions to key national issues, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and NBC Today Weather and Feature Anchor Al Roker, this substantial pledge underscores a collective belief that lasting advancement amid swift economic and technological shifts demands cross-sector collaboration at significant scale.

"Marking 250 years of America presents a remarkable chance to consider the nation's achievements through unified efforts and to renew that commitment. The obstacles confronting American workers and communities are substantial, yet the determination to overcome them is equally strong," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "Big Bets for America rests on the idea that assembling the appropriate individuals around critical issues accelerates progress from discussion to action beyond what isolated efforts achieve. The outcomes in Oklahoma City, Baltimore, and now Cleveland, from new partnerships and mobilized resources to identified solutions, demonstrate how such events can ignite meaningful change for those most in need."

Placing Major Wagers on America's Path Forward:

Big Bets for America: Cleveland marked the third installment in the series, which began in November 2025 in Oklahoma City and continued in April 2026 in Baltimore, where the Foundation also unveiled a three-year, $100 million Big Bet on Good Jobs for America. Across the three events, The Rockefeller Foundation has achieved the following:

Convened 1,200 leaders from policy, philanthropy, business, and nonprofit sectors to identify, advance, and expand ambitious responses to pressing economic issues in underinvested areas.
Secured more than $450 million to assist individuals across the United States in achieving the American Dream, including over $350 million dedicated to expanding opportunities in Cleveland and Ohio.
Allocated nearly $105 million to initiate a Good Jobs for America approach aiding distressed regions in linking people to quality employment amid economic shifts; enhance education and childcare in Maryland; and equip governments with tools for responsible AI use in public services.

The hallmark of Big Bets for America across these cities lies in both the magnitude of pledges and the diverse alliances formed. In Cleveland, sports team owners collaborated with workforce nonprofits, state agencies partnered with AI innovators, and philanthropic groups joined community organizers, recognizing that challenges for workers and families exceed any single sector's capacity. The Foundation structured these events on the principle that progress demands unconventional partners tackling shared problems together.

Hosting Big Bets for America in Cleveland:

Cleveland holds particular significance for The Rockefeller Foundation, as John D. Rockefeller established his initial enterprise there in 1859 and later co-founded Standard Oil in the city, paving the way for the Foundation's creation.

More than 150 years later, Cleveland continues to value creativity, resolve, and drive. With premier institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, and the Cleveland Foundation, the nation's first community foundation, the city serves as a testing ground for scalable concepts. Cleveland has demonstrated proactive investment in neighborhoods, job connections for residents, and coalition-building for inclusive growth, making it an ideal venue for Big Bets for America.

Key announcements from Big Bets for America: Cleveland include:

Governor DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Tressel, and JobsOhio Unveil $300 Million Experiential Learning Effort to Tackle Talent Shortages and Enhance Career Exposure. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and JobsOhio introduced the JobsOhio Experiential Learning Initiative, a decade-long $300 million program developed by JobsOhio to bolster the state's supply of skilled technical workers. It targets employer needs in sectors like advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy and chemicals, financial services, food and agribusiness, healthcare, logistics, and technology. JobsOhio projects demand for an additional 540,000 STEM and technical professionals over ten years, with technicians comprising 43 percent of that need. Approximately 25,000 Ohio residents are anticipated to benefit via technician pathways.
The Cleveland Foundation Reveals $13 Million Pledge from the Wellman Family, KeyBank Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation to the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Endowment Fund. The Cleveland Foundation, alongside the Wellman family, KeyBank Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation, announced fresh contributions to the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Endowment Fund, advancing a major economic strategy to convert vacant industrial sites into opportunities. The Wellman family contributed $10 million, KeyBank Foundation $2 million, and The Rockefeller Foundation $1 million to address employment barriers in distressed areas by preparing sites for employers offering quality jobs. The fund has been renamed the Samuel T. Wellman Site Readiness Fund in recognition.
Cleveland Housing Investment Fund Secures $10 Million Commitment: Huntington Bank provided a $10 million investment to the Cleveland Housing Investment Fund (CHIF), managed by LISC Fund Management, LLC. This expands financing for affordable housing in modest-income communities, spurring activity in underinvested neighborhoods. CHIF has supported over 200 affordable homes since March 2025, and with this pledge, it has reached more than half its $100 million target.
MSCHF Reveals New Permanent Public Art Installation: In honor of America's 250th anniversary, MSCHF announced a major permanent public artwork on Cleveland's waterfront to elevate the city as a cultural and tourism hub. The project, beginning later this summer and completing in two to three years, involves collaboration with the City of Cleveland, Destination Cleveland, and North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation. It extends MSCHF's participatory art approach to public spaces and represents an investment in the tens of millions, funded by participants nationwide.
Stemuli Introduces Internship Program for Cleveland-Area Students: AI firm Stemuli and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) launched a partnership placing students at the forefront of the AI economy. Starting this summer, CMSD interns will create, operate, and launch AI-native businesses within Founder Tycoon, Stemuli's simulation platform. Participants will gain AI literacy, earn recognized credentials, and link education to workforce pathways.
Center for Energy Workforce Development Establishes Ohio Energy Workforce Consortium: The Center for Energy Workforce Development announced the Ohio Energy Workforce Consortium (OHEWC) to address rising energy sector hiring needs through talent pipeline development. OHEWC joins CEWD's network spanning more than 20 states.

Perspectives from participants at Big Bets for America: Cleveland:

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: "We aim for Ohioans to reach their full potential, and this $300 million commitment from JobsOhio forms part of the state's strategy for a skilled workforce ready for future opportunities. The program prepares individuals for well-paying roles while blending academic study with practical experience."
First Lady of Ohio Fran DeWine: "Reading unlocks success for children, enabling them to thrive. Through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio, 64 percent of Ohio kids receive free books, with 27 million mailed since 2019. Kindergarten readiness scores are rising, and children are improving as readers, students, and individuals."
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb: "Cleveland has long excelled at building, innovating, and renewing itself. Big Bets for America delivered strong support for our residents, neighborhoods, and outlook. These pledges in workforce development, housing, site readiness, and new technologies represent investments in opportunity. Converting ambitious concepts into results and sustaining the city's progress defines the Cleveland ERA."