Cedar Fair Charities focuses its giving on direct assistance to people, with a heavy emphasis on emergency/disaster relief and supportive programming for seriously ill children. The foundation makes a small number of very large grants, repeatedly funding a few national partners rather than many small local groups. Its distinctive profile is concentrated, programmatic support for crisis response (via the American Red Cross) and recreational/therapeutic services for children facing serious health challenges (via A Kid Again).
Highly concentrated: few, very large grants; repeat funding to the same national partners; priority on emergency assistance and child‑wellness programs rather than broad diversified giving.
Cedar Fair Charities Inc concentrates its giving on direct assistance to people, especially emergency and disaster relief and support for children facing serious illness. The largest recent grants go to the American Red Cross in Cleveland, including a $2,652,000 award in 2025 after $1,607,200 in 2024 and $1,506,750 in 2023. That repeated support is matched by another core relationship with A Kid Again in Columbus, which received $384,775 in 2024, $333,000 in 2025, and $150,000 in 2023. The pattern suggests a funder that favors sustained support for a small set of partners rather than a broad spread of one-off grants. The foundation’s portfolio also includes assistance tied to local and regional charities, with grants extending to organizations serving families, health-related causes, education, and community relief. Recent awards to Erie County Community Foundation in Sandusky, Prayers from Maria in Rocky River, JDRF chapters, and Feeding America show that its giving reaches multiple types of direct-service work. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to use cash, donations, and assistance-to-people awards as practical tools for channeling support into immediate needs.
Emergency response is a defining part of Cedar Fair Charities Inc’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $2,652,000 to the American Red Cross in Cleveland for assistance to people, following $1,607,200 in 2024 for charitable donation support. The same partner also received a $1,506,750 grant in 2023 for amusement park support. Children’s health and family support is another clear area. A Kid Again in Columbus received $384,775 in 2024 for donation support, $333,000 in 2025 for assistance to people, and $150,000 in 2023 in cash. Health-related giving also reached JDRF Michigan and Northern Ohio Chapter in Southfield and JDRF Mid Atlantic Chapter in Hagerstown. Food access appears as well. Feeding America in Chicago received $30,863 in 2024, $30,807 in 2025, and $30,785 in 2023, showing a repeated relationship rather than a single grant.
Cedar Fair Charities Inc gives at a relatively high midrange for its portfolio: the 25th percentile grant is $15,000, the median is $30,807, and the 75th percentile is $97,500. The recent record shows a concentrated approach, with the same organizations appearing across multiple years, including the American Red Cross, A Kid Again, Feeding America, Prayers from Maria, and several JDRF chapters. Its structure and behavior point to direct charitable grantmaking rather than program-related investments or support to individuals. The grant list also shows multiple award types, including cash, donation, charitable donation, assistance to people, and amusement park tickets.
$3.1M
$685K
$3.1M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $15K and $98K, with a median of $31K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$31K
75th Percentile
$98K
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Notable grantees: American Red Cross, A Kid Again
Grantmaking is regional and heavily concentrated in the United States. Ohio receives a large share of awards, with 52% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state, but the foundation also gives often in Pennsylvania, the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Cleveland, Columbus, Sandusky, Rocky River, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Mansfield. Grants also reached Southfield, Hagerstown, Washington, DC, Ashland, and Kissimmee.
Its giving centers on direct assistance to people, with repeated support for emergency and disaster relief, children facing serious illness, food access, and other community support work. The recent grants list shows recurring funding for the American Red Cross, A Kid Again, Feeding America, and JDRF chapters.
Its grant sizes are clustered around a meaningful middle range: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $30,807, and the 75th percentile is $97,500. The recent record also includes several very large grants, including $2,652,000 and $1,607,200 to the American Red Cross.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including the American Red Cross in Cleveland, A Kid Again in Columbus, Feeding America in Chicago, Prayers from Maria in Rocky River, and JDRF chapters in Michigan, Northern Ohio, and the Mid Atlantic region.
Its grantmaking is regional, with 52% of grants going to recipients in Ohio. Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, and recent recipients are spread across cities including Cleveland, Columbus, Sandusky, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Mansfield.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Red Cross | Cleveland, OH | $2,737,000 | 2026 | Assistance to people |
| A Kid Again | Columbus, OH | $225,000 | 2026 | Assistance to people |
| Eric County Community Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $55,000 | 2026 | Assistance to People |
| Council on Intl Educational Exchange | South Portland, ME | $30,000 | 2026 | Assistance to People |
| Breakthrough T1D Mid Atlantic Chapter | Hagerstown, MD | $15,000 | 2026 | Assistance to People |
| Eagles Autism Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $13,799 | 2026 | Assistance to People |
| Sandusky Fire Department | Sandusky, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | Assistance to the Fire Department |
| Spina Bifida Association | Alexandria, VA | $5,000 | 2026 | Assistance to People |
| The Childrens Heart Foundation | Northbrook, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | Assistance to People |
| Cancer Support Community | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | Assistance to People |
| Give Kids the World | Kissimmee, FL | $1,500 | 2026 | Assistance to People |
| American Red Cross | Cleveland, OH | $2,652,000 | 2025 | Assistance to people |
| A Kid Again | Columbus, OH | $333,000 | 2025 | Assistance to people |
| Eric County Community Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $95,000 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| Prayers from Maria | Rocky River, OH | $84,000 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| JDRF Michigan and Northern Ohio Chapter | Southfield, MI | $55,250 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| Eagles Autism Foundation | Philadelphia, PA | $36,201 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| Feeding America | Chicago, IL | $30,807 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| North Central State College | Mansfield, OH | $22,500 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| JDRF Mid Atlantic Chapter | Hagerstown, MD | $15,000 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| Council on Intl Education Exchange | South Portland, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| Hanover Education Foundation | Ashland, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | Assistance to People |
| American Red Cross | Cleveland, OH | $1,607,200 | 2024 | Charitable donation |
| A Kid Again | Columbus, OH | $384,775 | 2024 | Donation |
| Erie County Community Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $100,000 | 2024 | Donation |
| JDRF Michigan and Northern Ohio | Southfield, MI | $40,000 | 2024 | Donation |
| Feeding America | Chicago, IL | $30,863 | 2024 | Donation |
| Prayers from Maria | Rocky River, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | Donation |
| Northern Central State College | Mansfield, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | Donation |
| CIEE | South Portland, ME | $15,000 | 2024 | Donation |
| RVA Walk | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | Donation |
| Give Kids the World Village | Washington, DC | $1,500 | 2024 | Donation |
| American Red Cross | Cleveland, OH | $1,506,750 | 2023 | Amusement Park |
| A Kid Again | Columbus, OH | $150,000 | 2023 | Cash |
| Erie County Community Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $100,000 | 2023 | Cash |
| Prayers from Maria Foundation | Rocky River, OH | $36,000 | 2023 | Cash |
| Feeding America | Chicago, IL | $30,785 | 2023 | Cash |
| North Central State College | Mansfield, OH | $22,400 | 2023 | Amusement Park Tickets |
| Council on Int'l Education Exchange | Portland, ME | $15,000 | 2023 | Cash |
| JDRF Mid- Atlantic Chapter | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | Cash |
| Give the Kids the World Village | Kissimmee, FL | $1,500 | 2023 | Cash |
| Foundation for Fireland | Sandusky, OH | $900 | 2023 | Amusement Park Tickets |
American Red Cross
$2,737,000Assistance to people
Eric County Community Foundation
$55,000Assistance to People
Council on Intl Educational Exchange
$30,000Assistance to People
Breakthrough T1D Mid Atlantic Chapter
$15,000Assistance to People
Eagles Autism Foundation
$13,799Assistance to People
Sandusky Fire Department
$10,000Assistance to the Fire Department
The Childrens Heart Foundation
$5,000Assistance to People
Give Kids the World
$1,500Assistance to People
American Red Cross
$2,652,000Assistance to people
Eric County Community Foundation
$95,000Assistance to People
Prayers from Maria
$84,000Assistance to People
Eagles Autism Foundation
$36,201Assistance to People
North Central State College
$22,500Assistance to People
Council on Intl Education Exchange
$15,000Assistance to People
Hanover Education Foundation
$10,000Assistance to People
American Red Cross
$1,607,200Charitable donation
Erie County Community Foundation
$100,000Donation
JDRF Michigan and Northern Ohio
$40,000Donation
Prayers from Maria
$25,000Donation
Northern Central State College
$20,000Donation
CIEE
$15,000Donation
RVA Walk
$5,000Donation
Give Kids the World Village
$1,500Donation
Erie County Community Foundation
$100,000Cash
Prayers from Maria Foundation
$36,000Cash
North Central State College
$22,400Amusement Park Tickets
Council on Int'l Education Exchange
$15,000Cash
Give the Kids the World Village
$1,500Cash
Foundation for Fireland
$900Amusement Park Tickets