An independent, nonpartisan research center focused on the health and human services sector in Ohio. We transform data into progress by connecting people and organizations, producing research, data analysis, policy analysis, and convening to improve community conditions and quality of life for Ohioans.
The Center for Community Solutions channels its grantmaking through the AIDS Funding Collaborative, with a clear emphasis on HIV/AIDS-related services and prevention in Cuyahoga County. Its active programs include responsive grants, catalyst grants, targeted grants by invitation, and small discretionary grants for sponsorships or short-term projects, all tied to the county’s HIV response. Recent grants show a strong operating-support pattern in Greater Cleveland and nearby Ohio communities. The City Club of Cleveland received $98,381 in 2024 for general operating support, while Circle Health Services received $50,000 the same year. Other grants support organizations such as the LGBT Community Ctr of Grtr Cle, Planned Parenthood of Gr Ohio, University Settlement, and Equality Ohio, indicating a mix of health services, community organizations, and policy-focused nonprofits. Across the recent list, the foundation’s funding sits inside a broader public-health and human-services frame, with HIV care and prevention as the most specific recurring thread. The foundation’s stated focus areas also include behavioral health, maternal and infant health, Medicaid, older adults, poverty and safety net, public policy research and advocacy, and data analysis and community health indicators. Its philosophy tags point to general operating support, unrestricted core support, flexible funding, and organizational stability.
HIV/AIDS response is the most visible program area. Through the AIDS Funding Collaborative, The Center for Community Solutions supports HIV care and support services, HIV prevention, and community-led, neighborhood-based HIV programming in Cuyahoga County. The collaborative also uses catalyst grants for innovative and intensive HIV-related work in neighborhoods and networks with the highest rates of HIV. The foundation also backs general operating support for health and human-services organizations. Circle Health Services received $50,000 in 2024 for general operating support, and Planned Parenthood of Gr Ohio received $25,000 in 2024 for the same purpose. That pattern suggests a preference for strengthening organizations rather than funding only single projects. Community infrastructure appears in the grant list as well. University Settlement received $25,000 in 2024, and the City Club of Cleveland received $98,381 in 2024, both as general operating support. These awards fit a portfolio that supports service delivery, convening, and civic capacity alongside direct health programming.
$15K
$33.7M
$3.2M
$3.4M
Most grants fall between $15K and $25K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Typical grants cluster around the mid-range: the p25 is $15,000, the median is $20,000, and the p75 is $25,000. The recent list also includes smaller discretionary awards under $5,000 and one larger operating grant of $98,381, showing that the foundation mixes standard support levels with a few outliers. The recent grants list includes repeated recipients across 2023 and 2024, including Planned Parenthood of Gr Ohio, We Think 4 a Change, Ministry of Hope, Ursuline Piazza, Project Lift, and the LGBT Community Ctr of Grtr Cle. The foundation is a public charity, and its grantmaking is local. Unsolicited applications are accepted for several AFC grant programs, while targeted grants are by invitation.
Grantmaking is concentrated entirely in Ohio, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state’s recipient pool. The strongest city concentration is Cleveland, where recipients include The City Club of Cleveland, Circle Health Services, the LGBT Community Ctr of Grtr Cle, Project Lift, Str8 Positive, Thrive for Change, and University Settlement. Other Ohio recipient locations include Akron, Columbus, Chagrin Falls, Shaker Heights, and Bedford Heights. The active AFC programs focus on Cuyahoga County and Greater Cleveland, including neighborhood-level HIV work.
Its active grant programs center on HIV/AIDS-related services and prevention in Cuyahoga County, including Ryan White-aligned HIV care and support services, HIV prevention, and community-led, neighborhood-based HIV programming. The broader organizational focus also includes behavioral health, maternal and infant health, Medicaid, older adults, poverty and safety net, and public policy research and advocacy.
Typical grant sizes are $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also show smaller discretionary awards under $5,000 and a larger operating grant of $98,381.
Yes, several AFC programs accept unsolicited applications, including Responsive Grants, Catalyst Grants, and Small Discretionary Grants. Targeted Grants are by invitation.
The foundation gives locally, and 100% of recent grants went to recipients in Ohio. Cuyahoga County and Greater Cleveland are the main geographic focus of the AFC programs.
The recent list shows repeat support for several organizations across 2023 and 2024, including Planned Parenthood of Gr Ohio, We Think 4 a Change, Ministry of Hope, Ursuline Piazza, Project Lift, and the LGBT Community Ctr of Grtr Cle. That indicates recurring support is common alongside one-time awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Center for Community Solutions that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Available to not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) agencies and governmental organizations in Cuyahoga County. Preference is given to organizations not previously funded with responsive or targeted grants.
Deadline: Rolling basis throughout the year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE OHIO POVERTY LAW CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $98,381 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CIRCLE HEALTH SERVICES | CLEVELAND, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GR OHIO | AKRON, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT | CLEVELAND, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WE THINK 4 A CHANGE | AKRON, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THRIVE FOR CHANGE | CLEVELAND, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STR8 POSITIVE | CLEVELAND, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LGBT COMMUNITY CTR OF GRTR CLE | CLEVELAND, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINISTRY OF HOPE | SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| URSULINE PIAZZA | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PROJECT LIFT | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RAINBOW BABIES & CHILDRENS HOSPITAL | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,336 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| APPLEWOOD CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,336 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LGBT COMMUNITY CTR OF GRTR CLE | CLEVELAND, OH | $26,040 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GR OHIO | AKRON, OH | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GINN FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WE THINK 4 A CHANGE | AKRON, OH | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EQUALITY OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $21,700 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PROJECT LIFT | CLEVELAND, OH | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINISTRY OF HOPE | SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CUYAHOGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY | CHAGRIN FALLS, OH | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| URSULINE PIAZZA | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BRENDA GLASS MULTIPURPOSE TRAUMA | BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| APPLEWOOD CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,034 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RAINBOW BABIES & CHILDRENS HOSPITAL | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,034 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
THE OHIO POVERTY LAW CENTER
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CIRCLE HEALTH SERVICES
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WE THINK 4 A CHANGE
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THRIVE FOR CHANGE
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
STR8 POSITIVE
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MINISTRY OF HOPE
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
URSULINE PIAZZA
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PROJECT LIFT
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
RAINBOW BABIES & CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
$5,336GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GINN FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WE THINK 4 A CHANGE
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PROJECT LIFT
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MINISTRY OF HOPE
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CUYAHOGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
URSULINE PIAZZA
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BRENDA GLASS MULTIPURPOSE TRAUMA
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
RAINBOW BABIES & CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
$5,034GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
