A Transformational Moment for Our Rowing Community
- Cleveland Rowing Foundation
- Dec 19
- 2 min read
We are excited to share meaningful news about a transformational moment for the Cleveland Rowing Foundation — one that directly strengthens our shared rowing home and our ability to serve this community.
CRF has received a $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor, the largest single contribution in the organization’s history. This extraordinary investment reflects deep belief in our mission and in the power of rowing, river access, and community to shape Cleveland’s future.
At its core, this gift reflects a deep belief in what CRF represents — not just as a facility, but as a shared home for rowing, connection, and opportunity along the Cuyahoga River.
Why This Gift Matters
This contribution allows CRF to significantly reduce long-standing financial obligations tied to the Rivergate property. By relieving the organization of major fixed costs, the gift creates stability and flexibility — freeing up resources that can be reinvested directly into our programs, operations, and people.
Most importantly, we are committed to passing those savings along to the entire boathouse community. This gift is not about accumulation; it’s about access. It’s about lowering barriers, strengthening existing programs, and ensuring that rowing remains something people can grow into — and stay with — for years to come.
A Gift That Also Strengthens Our Foundation
This moment also came with an opportunity to strengthen CRF structurally.
As part of this gift, CRF worked closely with its member organizations to update governance in a way that better positions the foundation for growth, partnership, and long-term sustainability. These changes were thoughtfully considered and approved unanimously by our affiliated rowing organizations — WRRA, Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll University, Cleveland State University, St. Joseph Academy, and St. Ignatius High School — on Friday, December 12.
This alignment matters. It ensures that CRF can continue to serve the needs of its member organizations while also expanding its ability to grow community programming, pursue future fundraising, and invest responsibly in the riverfront we all share.
Looking Ahead
We see this gift as a vote of confidence — in our athletes, our coaches, our volunteers, our partner organizations, and everyone who walks through our doors.
It’s a meaningful step forward, and one that allows us to focus less on constraint and more on possibility:
Expanding access
Supporting participation
Strengthening the boathouse as a welcoming, inclusive home for rowing
Planning for a future where the river is more active, more accessible, and more connected to the community.
We’re incredibly grateful — and excited to continue building this next chapter together. More details will be shared in the weeks ahead, but for now, we wanted you to hear this first and know how deeply this moment is rooted in supporting you, our rowing community.