The Brian & Gretchen Colleran Foundation concentrates relatively large, targeted grants primarily in the greater Cleveland/Northeast Ohio area, favoring land conservation, regional institutions, and community service providers. Grants are often for general operating support or a specific high-impact asset (e.g., real property) and include both civic/cultural organizations and local service nonprofits. The mix suggests a local philanthropic focus with occasional national/political giving (e.g., youth civic engagement).
A single real-property gift anchors the Brian & Gretchen Colleran Foundation’s recent giving: $1,094,280 to National Areas Land Conservancy for land conservation in Moreland Hills. That transaction reflects a pattern of large, targeted support for Northeast Ohio organizations, often through general operating support and occasionally through an in-kind asset transfer. The foundation’s recent grants also show substantial backing for University Hospitals in Shaker Heights and the Cleveland Animal Protective League in Cleveland, alongside continuing support for regional cultural and civic institutions. Their portfolio is local in practice and concentrated in Ohio recipients, but it is not limited to one type of institution. Health care, animal welfare, historical preservation, education, and community-serving nonprofits all appear in the recent grant list. The foundation also supports entities tied to open-space protection and the Cleveland-area civic ecosystem, with several gifts aimed at ongoing organizational stability rather than project-only funding. In the most recent filings, general operating support is the dominant funding mechanism, especially for established local organizations that serve the greater Cleveland region.
Land conservation is a defining theme. In 2025, the Brian & Gretchen Colleran Foundation gave $1,094,280 to National Areas Land Conservancy for a gift of real property, linking its largest recent award to permanent open-space protection in Northeast Ohio. Healthcare is another clear priority. The foundation provided $300,000 to University Hospitals for general operating expenses, indicating support for institutional capacity rather than a restricted project. Community-serving cultural and education organizations also appear in the grant list. Western Reserve Historical Society received $100,000 in 2025 for general operating expenses, while Gilmour Academy received $59,816 in 2024 for general operating expenses. These grants point to a mix of preservation, education, and regional enrichment. Local service organizations round out the portfolio. Cleveland Animal Protective League received $200,000 for general operating expenses, showing that animal welfare is part of the foundation’s giving alongside other civic priorities.
$1.4M
$26K
$310K
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $44K and $125K, with a median of $60K.
25th Percentile
$44K
Median
$60K
75th Percentile
$125K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small number of organizations — including at least one very large real-property gift — with a mix of repeat funding to local institutions and one-off grants. Grants skew toward general operating support rather than restricted project funding.
Notable grantees: National Areas Land Conservancy, University Hospitals, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland Animal Protective League, Turning Point USA
Recent grants are relatively large: p25 is $43,750, median grant size is $59,908, and p75 is $125,000. The foundation’s giving pattern mixes one-time gifts with repeat support; Western Reserve Historical Society, Hunting Valley Foundation, and The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School each appear in more than one year. Most awards are structured as general operating support, with one notable real-property transfer among the largest gifts. The foundation also accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry through a General Grantmaking process that uses an LOI-to-invited-full-proposal workflow.
The foundation gives entirely within the United States in the recent sample, and 100% of grants went to recipients in Ohio. Most awards land in the Cleveland/Northeast Ohio area, including Cleveland, Shaker Heights, Chagrin Falls, Gates Mills, and Moreland Hills. Moreland Hills received the largest recent grant through National Areas Land Conservancy, while Cleveland appears repeatedly across grantees such as the Cleveland Animal Protective League and Western Reserve Historical Society. The geographic pattern is strongly local rather than statewide or national.
Recent grants show support for land conservation, healthcare, animal welfare, historical and cultural institutions, education, and community-serving nonprofits. Examples include a real-property gift to National Areas Land Conservancy, operating support for University Hospitals, and operating support for Cleveland Animal Protective League and Western Reserve Historical Society.
Yes. Western Reserve Historical Society received grants in both 2024 and 2025, Hunting Valley Foundation received grants in both years, and The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School also appears in both 2024 and 2025. That suggests ongoing relationships with some recipients.
The grant-size distribution is relatively high for a local foundation: p25 is $43,750, median grant size is $59,908, and p75 is $125,000. Recent awards include both mid-sized operating grants and a much larger real-property transfer.
The active General Grantmaking program uses an LOI-to-invited-full-proposal process, and it accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry. The program description says it supports nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio, with priority areas including senior health, children’s education, wildlife, and services for seniors and individuals with developmental disabilities.
Its recent grants are concentrated in Ohio, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the state. Cities and areas appearing in the recent grant list include Cleveland, Shaker Heights, Chagrin Falls, Gates Mills, and Moreland Hills.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Brian & Gretchen Colleran Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations in Northeast Ohio whose work aligns with one or more of the foundation's focus areas and mission to cultivate community enrichment. The site states that each LOI is reviewed to determine eligibility.
Deadline: No deadline stated; inquiries may be submitted at any time.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Areas Land Conservancy | Moreland Hills, OH | $1,094,280 | 2025 | Gift of Real Property. |
| Western Reserve Historical Society | Cleveland, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | General operating expenses. |
| Turning Point USA | Phoenix, AZ | $100,000 | 2025 | General operating expenses. |
| Hunting Valley Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $75,000 | 2025 | General operating expenses. |
| Cathedral of St John | Cleveland, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | General operating expenses. |
| The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | General operating expenses. |
| NPower Services | Chagrin Falls, OH | $2,500 | 2025 | General operating expenses. |
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Cleveland, OH | $1,000,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| University Hospitals | Shaker Heights, OH | $300,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Cleveland Animal Protective League | Cleveland, OH | $300,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Cleveland Animal Protective League | Cleveland, OH | $200,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Western Reserve Historical Society | Cleveland, OH | $100,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Western Reserve Historical Society | Cleveland, OH | $100,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Hunting Valley Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $60,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Gilmour Academy | Gates Mills, OH | $59,816 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Friends of Breakthrough Schools | Cleveland, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Chagrin Valley Upland Society Inc | Chagrin Falls, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Village Project | Bay Village, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Chagrin Valley Beagles | Newbury, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Mayo Society | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Hunting Valley Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Gilmour Academy | Gates Mills, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
| Church of the Redeemer | Hudson, OH | $4,500 | 2024 | General operating expenses. |
National Areas Land Conservancy
$1,094,280Gift of Real Property.
Western Reserve Historical Society
$100,000General operating expenses.
Turning Point USA
$100,000General operating expenses.
Hunting Valley Foundation
$75,000General operating expenses.
Cathedral of St John
$50,000General operating expenses.
The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School
$10,000General operating expenses.
NPower Services
$2,500General operating expenses.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
$1,000,000General operating expenses.
University Hospitals
$300,000General operating expenses.
Western Reserve Historical Society
$100,000General operating expenses.
Western Reserve Historical Society
$100,000General operating expenses.
Hunting Valley Foundation
$60,000General operating expenses.
Gilmour Academy
$59,816General operating expenses.
Chagrin Valley Upland Society Inc
$50,000General operating expenses.
The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School
$25,000General operating expenses.
Village Project
$15,000General operating expenses.
Chagrin Valley Beagles
$10,000General operating expenses.
The Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School
$10,000General operating expenses.
Mayo Society
$5,000General operating expenses.
Hunting Valley Foundation
$5,000General operating expenses.
Gilmour Academy
$5,000General operating expenses.
Church of the Redeemer
$4,500General operating expenses.