The Cynthia Parker Matthews Family Foundation concentrates its giving locally in the Cleveland–Akron area, making a small number of large general‑support grants to organizations that provide children’s health care, animal welfare and public science/education, and neighborhood social services. Grants are typically unrestricted and appear to support established local institutions—both secular (children’s hospital, aquarium, humane society) and faith‑linked community services (St. Martin de Porres).
A defining feature of The Cynthia Parker Matthews Family Foundation Fka Matthews Family Foundation is its pattern of repeated, high-dollar general-support grants to a small group of established nonprofits. In 2024, Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation and Humane Society of Summit County each received $400,000, while Shedd Aquarium received $300,000; those same organizations also appeared in 2023 with similarly large awards. That repeat pattern shows a foundation that backs ongoing institutional capacity rather than one-off projects. Its grantmaking reaches across pediatric health care, animal welfare, informal science education, and neighborhood social services. The largest recent awards also include St Martin De Porres in Cleveland, which received $418,000 in 2023 and $282,000 in 2024, and Providence House in Cleveland, which received $100,000 in 2023 and $105,000 in 2024. The foundation’s recipients are largely Ohio-based, but the portfolio also includes select out-of-state institutions such as Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. The grants are labeled general support, suggesting broad operating-use funding for organizations with established roles in their communities.
Children’s health care is one of the foundation’s clearest funding areas. Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation received $400,000 in 2024 and another $400,000 in 2023, indicating an ongoing relationship with pediatric health services in Northeast Ohio. Animal welfare is another recurring theme. Humane Society of Summit County received $400,000 in 2024 after a $310,000 grant in 2023, placing it among the foundation’s largest beneficiaries. The foundation also supports informal learning and culture. Shedd Aquarium received $300,000 in both 2023 and 2024, and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis received $132,000 in 2024 after a $36,000 grant in 2023. Both fit a pattern of support for public-facing educational or cultural institutions. Neighborhood services appear as well through St Martin De Porres in Cleveland, which received $418,000 in 2023 and $282,000 in 2024.
$2.1M
$31.6M
$4.9M
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $183K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$183K
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Concentrated, high‑dollar general‑support grants to a small set of repeat local grantees rather than many small awards; funding is place‑based (Cleveland/Akron area) and favors established institutions.
Notable grantees: Akron Children's Hospital Foundation, Humane Society of Summit County, St. Martin de Porres, Shedd Aquarium
Typical grant size is concentrated at the high end: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $50,000, and the p75 is $183,000. Recent awards show a mix of very large general-support grants and a smaller set of $10,000 grants. The repeated appearances of the same recipients in 2023 and 2024 point to continuing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The foundation is a private family foundation, and the grants are structured as general support rather than project-specific awards. All recent grants in the provided data went to U.S. recipients.
Grantmaking is heavily centered in Ohio, which accounts for 53% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s hometown state of giving. Cleveland and Akron appear repeatedly, along with Twinsburg, Hudson, Ravenna, Kent, Gates Mills, and Peninsula. Outside Ohio, the foundation also gave to recipients in Chicago, Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Woodland Hills, Chattanooga, New Orleans, Fort Myers, and Alexandria. Every recent grant in the data went to a U.S. recipient.
The recent grants point to four main areas: pediatric health care, animal welfare, public science and informal learning, and neighborhood social services. Named recipients include Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation, Humane Society of Summit County, Shedd Aquarium, and St Martin De Porres, all funded with general-support grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024. Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation received $400,000 in each year, Humane Society of Summit County received $310,000 in 2023 and $400,000 in 2024, and Shedd Aquarium received $300,000 in both years.
The grant-size distribution is relatively high: p25 is $10,000, median is $50,000, and p75 is $183,000. Recent awards range from $10,000 grants to several grants at $300,000 to $418,000.
Ohio is the top state by grant count, with 53% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Ohio recipients include organizations in Cleveland, Akron, Twinsburg, Hudson, Ravenna, Kent, Gates Mills, Peninsula, and Cincinnati-area communities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | AKRON, OH | $500,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF SUMMIT COUNTY | TWINSBURG, OH | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OF FORENSIC NURSES FOUNDATION | ELKRIDGE, MD | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| RAINN | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE | CLEVELAND, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| GROUND FORCE HUMANITARIAN AID | LAFAYETTE, LA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| RESOURCE | CLEVELAND, OH | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ENCORE CHAMBER MUSIC INSTITUTE | GATES MILLS, OH | $62,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION OF INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $52,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| QUINCY QUEST FOUNDATION | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CLEVELAND FOOD BANK | CLEVELAND, OH | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF SUMMIT COUNTY | TWINSBURG, OH | $450,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | AKRON, OH | $425,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION OF INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $127,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE | CLEVELAND, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ENCORE CHAMBER MUSIC INSTITUTE | GATES MILLS, OH | $62,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CAJUN RELIEF FOUNDATION | LAFAYETTE, LA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RESOURCE | CLEVELAND, OH | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GARY SINESE FOUNDATION | WOODLAND HILLS, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| QUINCY QUEST FOUNDATION | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RAINN | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BACK TO THE WILD | CASTALIA, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | AKRON, OH | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF SUMMIT COUNTY | TWINSBURG, OH | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ST MARTIN DE PORRES | CLEVELAND, OH | $282,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION OF INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $132,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE | CLEVELAND, OH | $105,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| QUINCY QUEST FOUNDATION | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| GARY SINESE FOUNDATION | WOODLAND HILLS, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CAJUN RELIEF FOUNDATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC RAILROAD | PENINSULA, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ENCORE CHAMBER MUSIC INSTITUTE | GATES MILLS, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CLEVELAND FAMILY CENTER FOR MISSING CHILDREN | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PORTAGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE | RAVENNA, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ST MARTIN DE PORRES | CLEVELAND, OH | $418,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | AKRON, OH | $400,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF SUMMIT COUNTY | TWINSBURG, OH | $310,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| HUDSON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HUDSON, OH | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| RAPE ABUSE & INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| PROVIDENCE HOUSE | CLEVELAND, OH | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OF FORENSIC NURSES FOUNDATION
$200,000GENERAL
GENERAL
GROUND FORCE HUMANITARIAN AID
$100,000GENERAL
RESOURCE
$75,000GENERAL
ENCORE CHAMBER MUSIC INSTITUTE
$62,000GENERAL
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
$60,000GENERAL
QUINCY QUEST FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
CLEVELAND FOOD BANK
$40,000GENERAL
MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
ENCORE CHAMBER MUSIC INSTITUTE
$62,000GENERAL
CAJUN RELIEF FOUNDATION
$60,000GENERAL
RESOURCE
$60,000GENERAL
GARY SINESE FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
QUINCY QUEST FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$10,000GENERAL
BACK TO THE WILD
$5,000GENERAL
ST MARTIN DE PORRES
$282,000GENERAL
QUINCY QUEST FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
GARY SINESE FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
CAJUN RELIEF FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL
CUYAHOGA VALLEY SCENIC RAILROAD
$10,000GENERAL
ENCORE CHAMBER MUSIC INSTITUTE
$10,000GENERAL
CLEVELAND FAMILY CENTER FOR MISSING CHILDREN
$10,000GENERAL
MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
PORTAGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
$10,000GENERAL
ST MARTIN DE PORRES
$418,000GENERAL
HUDSON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$150,000GENERAL