The Heller Family Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish life, communal institutions, and Israel-related causes, with strong support for local Cleveland synagogues, day schools, Jewish education and cultural exchange programs. It also funds Holocaust remembrance, arts partnerships (including Israel cultural collaborations), and occasional higher-education and health causes. Grants include capital and campaign support as well as program and leadership-level gifts, indicating both community-building and strategic investment in flagship institutions.
J David & Rebecca Heller Family Foundation’s largest recent grants show a strong mix of emergency response and Jewish communal investment: it gave $545,000 in 2024 and $530,000 in 2023 to Jewish Federation of Cleveland for the SHIN-SHINIM, Ukraine emergency relief fund and campaign. That same pattern appears in its support for institutions that shape Jewish life in Greater Cleveland, from a $375,000 capital campaign gift to Jewish Family Experience to six-figure support for Park Synagogue and the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. The foundation also funds cultural and educational links to Israel, including a $500,000 grant to the Cleveland Museum of Art for collaborative program development with the Israel Museum. Smaller grants extend the same priorities into synagogues, day schools, rabbinical training, adult learning, and health-oriented community support. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on Jewish community infrastructure, Israel-related programming, and selected campaign or leadership gifts for institutions with deep local significance.
A major thread in the foundation’s giving is emergency relief tied to the Jewish community. In 2024, it awarded $545,000 to Jewish Federation of Cleveland for the SHIN-SHINIM, Ukraine emergency relief fund and campaign, following a $530,000 grant for the same purpose in 2023. Cultural exchange is another clear area: the Cleveland Museum of Art received $500,000 in 2024 for collaborative program development between CMA and the Israel Museum. Jewish education and adult learning also appear repeatedly, including $40,000 to Partners in Torah of Cleveland Inc for general support and $20,000 to Rabbinical College of Telshe Inc for general support. The foundation also backs community institutions such as Green Road Synagogue, where a $12,000 grant in 2024 supported gardens.
Typical grants cluster around modest institutional support: the p25 size is $10,000, median is $12,000, and p75 is $20,000. The recent record also shows larger leadership, campaign, and capital gifts above that range, including six-figure awards and one very large emergency-relief grant. Some recipients appear in multiple years, such as Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Momentum Unlimited Inc, Gross Schechter Day School, University School, and Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School, suggesting repeat support rather than one-time giving only. The foundation is a family foundation and does not fund individuals. It also does not make program-related investments. The grants data provided does not show an application process.
$1.1M
$7.9M
$1.6M
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$20K
MOZELLE JACKSON
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Moderately concentrated: a mix of several large multi-year or multi-grant investments (notably in the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and cultural partners) alongside many smaller recurring gifts to local Jewish schools, synagogues, and service groups; gives both capital/campaign support and program/leadership-level gifts, primarily focused regionally with selected national/international Jewish causes.
Notable grantees: Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Cleveland Museum of Art, Jewish Family Experience, United States Holocaust Memorial Council, Park Synagogue
Giving is heavily concentrated in Ohio, with 74% of grants to recipients in the headquarters state and Ohio also the top state by grant count. Cleveland is the most visible city in the record, with grants to Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Chabad of University Circle, and Green Road Synagogue. Other Ohio recipient locations include University Heights, Pepper Pike, Beachwood, Cleveland Heights, Wickliffe, Hunting Valley, and Lyndhurst. Outside Ohio, grants also went to New York, Washington, DC, Maryland, and Michigan.
Its grants center on Jewish life and communal institutions, Jewish education and adult learning, Israel-related programs and cultural exchange, Holocaust remembrance, and selected health and community support. Recent recipients include Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Cleveland Museum of Art, United States Holocaust Memorial Council, Partners in Torah of Cleveland Inc, and Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
The recent grant distribution is centered on smaller institutional gifts: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $12,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. Larger awards do appear, including six-figure grants for campaign, leadership, and emergency-relief needs.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Jewish Federation of Cleveland in 2023 and 2024, Momentum Unlimited Inc in 2023 and 2024, Gross Schechter Day School in 2023 and 2024, University School in 2023 and 2024, and Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in 2023 and 2024.
Ohio receives 74% of grants, and it is also the top state by grant count. Cleveland and nearby Ohio communities such as University Heights, Pepper Pike, Beachwood, Cleveland Heights, Wickliffe, Hunting Valley, and Lyndhurst appear repeatedly in the recipient list.
Examples include $545,000 to Jewish Federation of Cleveland for SHIN-SHINIM, Ukraine emergency relief fund and campaign, $500,000 to Cleveland Museum of Art for collaborative program development between CMA and Israel Museum, and $135,000 to United States Holocaust Memorial Council for Leadership Circle, national patron level support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $590,000 | 2026 | 2025 CAMPAIGN |
| BOCA RATON REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC | BOCA RATON, FL | $100,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL SUPPORT OF TOPPEL FAMILY PLACE |
| MOMENTUM UNLIMITED INC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $100,000 | 2026 | CLEVELAND COMMUNITY TRIP |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $100,000 | 2026 | DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY & SECURITY - KAPLAN FOUNDATION FUND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL COUNCIL | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | MUSEUM TEACHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF CLEVELAND | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $37,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHABAD OF EAST BOCA INC | BOCA RATON, FL | $36,000 | 2026 | BUILDING FUND |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | PROJECT INTERCHANGE - UNIVERSITY DEANS AND VPS |
| JEWISH EDUCATION CENTER OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH - CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BORDERS - EDUCATORS MISSION TO POLAND |
| JEWISH FAMILY EXPERIENCE | UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH | $19,800 | 2026 | SPEAKER SERIES |
| UNIVERSITY SCHOOL | HUNTING VALLEY, OH | $16,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE | CLEVELAND, OH | $12,000 | 2026 | GARDENS |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,405,500 | 2025 | UKRAINE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, ETHIOPIA, SHINIM FUND AND ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $360,000 | 2025 | STEPHEN M. ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ANNUAL FUND |
| AISH GLOBAL | CLIFTON, NJ | $250,000 | 2025 | DOV BER INITIATIVE |
| JOSEPH AND FLORENCE MANDEL JEWISH DAY SCHOOL | BEACHWOOD, OH | $48,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| PARTNERS IN TORAH OF CLEVELAND INC | UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OFEQ INSTITUTE INC | WICKLIFFE, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RABBINICAL COLLEGE OF TELSHE INC | WICKLIFFE, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH EDUCATION CENTER OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH - CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BORDERS - EDUCATORS MISSION TO POLAND |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY INC | BOCA RATON, FL | $15,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CAMPAIGN |
| GROSS SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $14,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NAALEH CLEVELAND INC | LYNDHURST, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YESHIVA DERECH HATORAH | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEONARD AND SUSAN FUCHS MIZRACHI SCHOOL | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HEBREW ACADEMY OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PARK SYNOGOGUE | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | IN HONOR OF VALUABLE CONSTITUENT |
| BIKUR CHOLIM | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF CLEVELAND | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH RESOURCE CENTER | ANN ARBOR, MI | $7,200 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $545,000 | 2024 | SHIN-SHINIM, UKRAINE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND AND CAMPAIGN |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART | CLEVELAND, OH | $500,000 | 2024 | COLLABRATE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN CMA AND ISRAEL MUSEUM |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $72,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PARTNERS IN TORAH OF CLEVELAND INC | UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OFEQ INSTITUTE INC | WICKLIFFE, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RABBINICAL COLLEGE OF TELSHE INC | WICKLIFFE, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS |
| UNIVERSITY SCHOOL | HUNTING VALLEY, OH | $18,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOMENTUM UNLIMITED INC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $18,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GROSS SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $16,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOSEPH AND FLORENCE MANDEL JEWISH DAY SCHOOL | BEACHWOOD, OH | $12,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE | CLEVELAND, OH | $12,000 | 2024 | GARDENS |
| ADOPTION NETWORK CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YESHIVA DERECH HATORAH | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HEBREW ACADEMY OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEONARD AND SUSAN FUCHS MIZRACHI SCHOOL | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
ANNUAL SUPPORT OF TOPPEL FAMILY PLACE
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$100,000DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY & SECURITY - KAPLAN FOUNDATION FUND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
CHABAD OF EAST BOCA INC
$36,000BUILDING FUND
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH - CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BORDERS - EDUCATORS MISSION TO POLAND
JEWISH FAMILY EXPERIENCE
$19,800SPEAKER SERIES
GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE
$12,000GARDENS
JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND
$1,405,500UKRAINE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, ETHIOPIA, SHINIM FUND AND ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$360,000STEPHEN M. ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ANNUAL FUND
OFEQ INSTITUTE INC
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH - CLASSROOMS WITHOUT BORDERS - EDUCATORS MISSION TO POLAND
YESHIVA DERECH HATORAH
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PARK SYNOGOGUE
$10,000IN HONOR OF VALUABLE CONSTITUENT
JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF AMERICA
$7,500GENERAL SUPPORT
JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND
$545,000SHIN-SHINIM, UKRAINE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND AND CAMPAIGN
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART
$500,000COLLABRATE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN CMA AND ISRAEL MUSEUM
OFEQ INSTITUTE INC
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE
$12,000GARDENS
ADOPTION NETWORK CLEVELAND
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YESHIVA DERECH HATORAH
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT