The Nella Durinda Levenhagen Foundation appears focused on supporting Jewish institutions and infrastructure, making a single large, unrestricted grant to another philanthropic entity. Its giving is directed at strengthening Jewish programs or intermediaries rather than project-specific or secular causes. The foundation favors sizable general operating support that enables grantees flexibility.
Highly concentrated: a single large ($250,000) grant to one grantee, emphasizing unrestricted/general support to a Jewish-focused organization; appears donor-directed rather than broadly diversified.
A single $250,000 general support grant to Two Foundation stands out in the Nella Durinda Levenhagen Foundation’s recent giving, showing a preference for large, flexible awards rather than narrowly earmarked project grants. The foundation’s 2025 grants also point to a strong interest in Jewish institutions and related infrastructure, alongside a few targeted community and service programs. Its larger awards were paired with several $50,000 and $25,000 grants, suggesting a concentrated portfolio with a small number of recipients. The foundation has backed a range of organizations that serve both community infrastructure and direct services. Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries received support for its men’s shelter program, while New Directions and Vocational Guidance Services each received general support. Life Act also received general support, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History was funded for its Human Health Evolutionary Program. That mix indicates a funder that is comfortable supporting both operating needs and specific programs. The foundation is a private foundation with $7,033,537 in assets and $450,000 in annual grants given. Its recent grants all went to U.S. recipients, with Cleveland and Chagrin Falls appearing repeatedly among the recipient locations.
Jewish philanthropic infrastructure appears to be a central theme. The largest recent grant went to Two Foundation for general support of the organization, reinforcing a preference for intermediary or institutional support. The foundation also funds direct service work. Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries received $50,000 to support its men’s shelter program, linking the foundation to homelessness services for men. Health-related programming is another clear area. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History received $50,000 for its Human Health Evolutionary Program, showing support for research, education, or public programming tied to human health evolution. General operating support is used for several organizations, including Life Act, New Directions, and Vocational Guidance Services, which points to a willingness to fund organizational sustainability rather than only project costs.
The recent grant set is tightly clustered around a few sizes: a $250,000 award at the top, three $50,000 grants, and two $25,000 grants. That pattern suggests a concentrated grantmaking approach rather than many small awards. The foundation is a private foundation, not a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. The recent grants list shows repeat support within the same year’s portfolio, but the data provided does not show multi-year repeat grantees. Most awards are general support, with a smaller share tied to specific programs.
$450K
$7M
$7.5M
$462K
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Notable grantees: Two Foundation
All recent grants in the data went to U.S. recipients. Cleveland, OH appears multiple times, including grants to Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and New Directions. Chagrin Falls, OH also appears more than once through Two Foundation and Life Act. The recipient distribution shows 100% of grants in the U.S., and the provided data indicates 0% of grants to recipients in Ohio as a share of the foundation’s overall grantmaking, even though several named grantees are Ohio-based.
Its recent grants show support for Jewish philanthropic infrastructure, direct service providers, and community organizations. Examples include general support for Two Foundation, a men’s shelter program at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, and the Human Health Evolutionary Program at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
The recent grant list is centered on a few amounts: one $250,000 grant, three $50,000 grants, and two $25,000 grants. That makes the portfolio look concentrated, with a clear top award and several mid-sized and smaller awards.
Yes. The recent grants include general support for Two Foundation, Life Act, New Directions, and Vocational Guidance Services. That pattern shows a meaningful portion of the foundation’s giving goes to unrestricted or operating support.
The recent grants all went to U.S. recipients. Cleveland, OH and Chagrin Falls, OH appear repeatedly among recipient locations, with Cleveland showing up for service and cultural organizations and Chagrin Falls appearing in the grants to Two Foundation and Life Act.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Cleveland, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Life Act | Chagrin Falls, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | LifeAct Endowment Fund |
| Two Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Hopewell Therapeutic Farm | Chagrin Falls, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| The Centers | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Fieldstone Farm | Chagrin Falls, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Effective Leadership Academy | Warrensville Hts, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Magnolia Clubhouse | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Vocational Guidance Services | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Cuyahoga County Public Library | Parma, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Front Line Service | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Girls Hope Boys Hope | Garfield Heights, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| University School | Hunting Valley, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| New Directions | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Open Doors | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Courage to Caregivers | Chagrin Falls, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Life Act | Chagrin Falls, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | General Support of the Organization |
| Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | Support the Youth Resiliency Program |
| Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | Support the Guardianship Services Program |
| Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | Support the Mens Shelter Program |
| Two Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | General Support of the Organization |
| Life Act | Chagrin Falls, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support of the Organization |
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Cleveland, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | Support Human Health Evolutionary Program |
| Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries | Cleveland, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | Support Mens Shelter Program |
| New Directions | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support of the Organization |
| Vocational Guidance Services | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support of the Organization |
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
$100,000General Support of the Organization
Hopewell Therapeutic Farm
$50,000General Support of the Organization
The Centers
$30,000General Support of the Organization
Fieldstone Farm
$30,000General Support of the Organization
Cuyahoga County Public Library
$30,000General Support of the Organization
Front Line Service
$30,000General Support of the Organization
Girls Hope Boys Hope
$30,000General Support of the Organization
University School
$30,000General Support of the Organization
New Directions
$30,000General Support of the Organization
Open Doors
$30,000General Support of the Organization
Courage to Caregivers
$30,000General Support of the Organization
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
$50,000Support Human Health Evolutionary Program
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries
$50,000Support Mens Shelter Program
New Directions
$25,000General Support of the Organization