Friends of CMNH | Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Support through service, research, and education.

Friends of CMNH is the official name for the volunteer group created by the recent merger of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Women’s Committee and Kirtlandia Society. The two groups share a mission to support and advance the Museum within the community by providing responsible management of natural-history-focused events, social gatherings, and student research programs.

Friends of CMNH activities include:

An array of curator presentations, outdoor adventures in our region, and seasonal social gatherings that enrich members’ understanding of the natural sciences
Fundraising to help maintain the Museum’s operations
Supporting the Kirtlandia Research Internship Program (Donald S. Dean Research Program) which sponsors interns to assist curators with scientific research
Assisting the Museum’s Board of Directors and administration in attaining immediate and long-term goals

To learn more about our programming, please visit the Friends of CMNH Facebook page. Our projects encourage personal growth, include fun learning experiences, and always benefit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Member responsibilities

All members are encouraged to attend our three group meetings each year.

Friends of CMNH membership dues start at $25 in addition to any Museum membership category. Annual membership dues support start-up expenses for special events and fundraisers. Not a Museum member yet?

Become a member today.

Interested members can take a more active role engaging with our Leadership Circle. This group plans and implements Friends of CMNH activities and fundraising.

Interested in Joining Friends of CMNH?

We welcome new members into our group throughout the year. If you would enjoy expanding your knowledge of the natural world and are seeking a unique way of meeting people with similar interests, Friends of CMNH offers many wonderful opportunities.

To join Friends of CMNH, use the online form. Our Membership Team will be in touch to process your application.

Join Friends of CMNH

We also accept printed forms mailed with a check. Send completed forms to:

Friends of CMNH
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle
Cleveland, OH 44106-1767

Don’t forget to join Friends of CMNH on Facebook and follow our latest adventures!

Our History

Established in 1940 as the Cleveland Museum of Natural History Women's Committee, Friends of CMNH has played an integral role in volunteer, fundraising, and event-sponsorship efforts, with contributions of more than $1.75 million since its inception.

The Kirtlandia Society was organized in 1976 to support the research and educational goals of the Museum. The group was named in honor of doctor and naturalist Jared Potter Kirtland (1793–1877), who founded the Cleveland Academy of Natural Sciences, a predecessor of the Museum.