<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906 CERT
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>ex99-906cert.txt
<TEXT>
                                                                   EX-99.906CERT

                                 CERTIFICATIONS

Ralph W. Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer, and Frank J. Maresca, Chief
Financial Officer, of Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (the "Registrant"),
each certify to the best of his knowledge that:

1.    The Registrant's periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended
      December 31, 2010 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements
      of section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
      as amended; and

2.    The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
      material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
      the Registrant.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER                     CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.         Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.

/s/ Ralph W. Bradshaw                       /s/ Frank J. Maresca
------------------------------------        -----------------------------------
Ralph W. Bradshaw, President                Frank J. Maresca, Treasurer

Date:  March 8, 2011                         Date:  March 8, 2011

A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, OR OTHER
DOCUMENT AUTHENTICATING, ACKNOWLEDGING OR OTHERWISE ADOPTING THE SIGNATURE THAT
APPEARS IN TYPED FORM WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT
REQUIRED BY SECTION 906, HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND,
INC. AND WILL BE RETAINED BY CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC. AND FURNISHED
TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF UPON REQUEST.

This certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission
solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form
N-CSR filed with the Commission.
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
