About Us

Lithuanian Center, Inc., also known as Lietuviu Sodyba, was formed in December 1982 by the initial Trustees – Dr. Antanas Butkus, Dr. Henrikas Brazaitis, Dr. Algis Cepulis, Alfa Juodikis, Pranas Razgaitis and Bronius Snarskis. The bylaws state that the purpose of the organization were to support charitable and educational purposes within the IRS 501 c 3 code, and to engage in the development of programs in the low and moderate income housing field. Upon applying for HUD financing, Lithuanian Center Inc. was required to find a sponsoring organization which had been in existence for a longer period of time. The Lithuanian Human Services Council of the Lithuanian Community, Inc. agreed to be the sponsoring organization. The HUD loan was granted in December 1983, and an 83 unit low and moderate income building for the elderly was built in Willoughby, Ohio. In December 2014 the trustees of Lithuanian Center Inc. sold the building and paid off the mortgage.

The current Board of Trustees of Lithuanian Center, Inc. continue the working according to the mission set forth in the bylaws. A portion of the profits from the sale of the property has been used to establish the Cleveland Lithuanian Development Fund, “Plėtra“, which will provide grants for Lithuanian educational and charitable purposes to benefit and strengthen the Cleveland Lithuanian community.

We invite you to visit this website‘s Grants page, where you can find information and forms for grant applications.

Our Strategy

Our mission is to strengthen and expand the Lithuanian community in greater Cleveland. We achieve this mission through the following strategies:

1. Funding Grants – To provide financial support for projects which best meet the goals and criteria laid out in these guidelines and the LCI Bylaws.
2. Expanding – by inviting new grant applicants; publicizing our work through various media outlets including our own website, newsletter, emails, through grant recipients and speaking engagements; and developing partnerships with other local funders, community based organizations and other resource providers.
3. Demonstrating – Showcasing success stories through our website, publications and community.

Our Goals

1. Stimulate and support projects designed and implemented by Lithuanian community groups, primarily, but not exclusively in the greater Cleveland area, which address Lithuanian community issues in regard to the educational cultural, religious and charitable needs of the Lithuanian community.
2. Support opportunities to develop community leadership, organizational capacity and build community capacity. Grants are not generally given to supplant or otherwise replace existing funding resources for existing Lithuanian community organizations and activities. Rather, grants shall be given to expand, upgrade or otherwise grow and strengthen such activities and institutions within the Lithuanian community.