The Thomas & Lisa Mandel Family Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life in Northeast Ohio, providing large, project-focused grants to regional federation-style organizations. Grants are aimed at sustaining community services and initiatives run by umbrella Jewish institutions rather than many small charities. The foundation shows a preference for making sizable, targeted awards to a small number of local Jewish organizations.
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants (including repeat funding) focused on regional Jewish federations/umbrella organizations, primarily project support rather than broad, diversified giving.
The Thomas & Lisa Mandel Family Foundation’s giving is organized around Jewish communal infrastructure in Northeast Ohio, with repeated project support for federation-style institutions and related service organizations. The largest recent grant in the data is $500,000 to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for project support, followed by a $408,000 award to the Jewish Community Board of Akron for project support. Those grants fit a pattern of funding umbrella organizations that coordinate community services, rather than a wide spread of smaller, unrelated charities. Recent awards also show the foundation backing institutions that extend Jewish communal life and adjacent civic services in Akron, Cleveland, and beyond. Case Western Reserve University received both general support and project support, while the Jewish Community Centers Association received multiple grants across different years. Temple Israel in Akron and Stewart’s Caring Place in Copley each appear more than once in the recent grants list, suggesting continued attention to specific local institutions. The foundation’s grantmaking is local in scope, and the recent record is concentrated in Ohio, with some awards to organizations in New York and Pennsylvania.
A major theme is Jewish community capacity in Akron and Cleveland. The Jewish Community Board of Akron received multiple project-support grants, including $305,000 in 2024 and $125,000 in 2023, while the Jewish Federation of Cleveland received $50,000 in 2023 for project support. These awards point to support for institutions that coordinate communal services and programming. The foundation also funds Jewish communal organizations beyond Northeast Ohio. The Jewish Community Centers Association received $200,000 in 2024 for project support, $100,000 in 2025 for general support, and $100,000 in 2023 for project support. Syracuse University received $100,000 in 2024 for project support and $50,000 in 2025 for project support. Its broader local portfolio includes education, health-related support, and civic amenities. Case Western Reserve University received $200,000 in 2024 for general support, and Stewart’s Caring Place received $125,000 in 2023 and $62,500 in both 2024 and 2025 for project support.
$2.3M
$46.8M
$5.3M
$3M
Most grants fall between $1K and $66K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$66K
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Notable grantees: Jewish Community Board of Akron, Jewish Federation of Cleveland
Grant size is skewed toward mid-sized and larger awards: the p25 is $1,000, the median is $15,000, and the p75 is $66,250. The recent grants list also shows several awards at $100,000 or more, alongside many smaller project-support grants. The pattern suggests a mix of anchor gifts and smaller targeted awards. The foundation appears to support the same organizations across multiple years, including the Jewish Community Board of Akron, the Jewish Community Centers Association, Temple Israel, Stewart’s Caring Place, and the United Way of Summit & Medina Mandel Community Center. That repeat pattern is consistent with ongoing, project-based support rather than one-time funding. The foundation is a family foundation, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
The grants are overwhelmingly local, with 86% going to recipients in Ohio. Akron and Cleveland account for many of the named recipients, including the Jewish Community Board of Akron, Temple Israel in Akron, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Outside Ohio, the recent grants list includes New York, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants show a strong focus on Jewish communal institutions and related community-serving organizations, especially in Akron and Cleveland. Recipients include the Jewish Community Board of Akron, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the Jewish Community Centers Association, and Temple Israel, along with institutions such as Case Western Reserve University and Stewart’s Caring Place.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once across the recent grants list, including the Jewish Community Board of Akron, the Jewish Community Centers Association, Temple Israel, Stewart’s Caring Place, and the United Way of Summit & Medina Mandel Community Center. That repeated pattern suggests ongoing support rather than isolated gifts.
The typical grant size data shows a p25 of $1,000, a median of $15,000, and a p75 of $66,250. Recent awards range from small project-support grants to larger commitments such as $500,000 and $408,000, indicating a wide spread in grant size.
Most grants go to recipients in Ohio, which accounts for 86% of the grants in the data. Akron and Cleveland are the most visible recipient cities, with additional grants to a smaller number of organizations in New York and Pennsylvania.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Community Board of Akron | Akron, OH | $408,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| United Way of Summit & Medina Mandel Community Cen | Akron, OH | $200,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Community Centers Association | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Temple Israel | Akron, OH | $75,100 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Stewart's Caring Place | Copley, OH | $62,500 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation | Akron, OH | $45,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Peninsula, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Akron Community Foundation | Akron, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Summit Artspace | Akron, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| University Circle Incorporated | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Victim Assistance Program | Akron, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Leadership Akron | Akron, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Goodwill Industries of Akron Inc | Akron, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| Open Tone Music | Akron, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Witan | Akron, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland | Beachwood, OH | $2,387 | 2025 | Project Support |
| Lakeside Partners I | CLEVELAND, OH | $195 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| Foundation Investments of Ohio | CLEVELAND, OH | $119 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FIO PE LLC | CLEVELAND, OH | $61 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| Chester Capital | CLEVELAND, OH | $40 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| Simon Charitable Private | CLEVELAND, OH | $28 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Federation of Cleveland | Clevealand, OH | $500,000 | 2024 | Project Suppport |
| Jewish Community Board of Akron | Akron, OH | $305,000 | 2024 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| United Way of Summit & Medina Mandel Community Cen | Akron, OH | $200,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Community Centers Association | New York, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| Temple Israel | Akron, OH | $70,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Stewart's Caring Place | Copley, OH | $62,500 | 2024 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| Akron Civic Theatre | Akron, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Greater Akron Amenities Inc | Akron, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Hillel at Kent State University | Kent, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Old Trail School | Bath, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park | Peninsula, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Victim Assistance Program' | Akron, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Salvation Army The | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | Project Support |
| Foundation Investments of Ohio | CLEVELAND, OH | $289 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FIO PE LLC | CLEVELAND, OH | $82 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| Lakeside Partners I | CLEVELAND, OH | $54 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| Chester Capital | CLEVELAND, OH | $19 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FIO RE LLC | CLEVELAND, OH | $11 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| Simon Charitable Private | CLEVELAND, OH | $4 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF SUMMIT & MEDINA MANDEL COMMUNITY CEN | AKRON, OH | $200,000 | 2023 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY BOARD OF AKRON | AKRON, OH | $125,000 | 2023 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| STEWART'S CARING PLACE | COPLEY, OH | $125,000 | 2023 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, OH | $100,000 | 2023 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY BOARD OF AKRON | AKRON, OH | $100,000 | 2023 | PROJECT SUPPORT |
United Way of Summit & Medina Mandel Community Cen
$200,000Project Support
Case Western Reserve University
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Temple Israel
$75,100Project Support
PROJECT SUPPORT
Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation
$45,000Project Support
Open Tone Music
$5,000Project Support
Witan
$5,000Project Support
Lakeside Partners I
$195GENERAL
Foundation Investments of Ohio
$119GENERAL
FIO PE LLC
$61GENERAL
Chester Capital
$40GENERAL
Simon Charitable Private
$28GENERAL SUPPORT
Case Western Reserve University
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Temple Israel
$70,000Project Support
Akron Civic Theatre
$50,000Project Support
Greater Akron Amenities Inc
$50,000Project Support
Salvation Army The
$10,000Project Support
Foundation Investments of Ohio
$289GENERAL
FIO PE LLC
$82GENERAL
Lakeside Partners I
$54GENERAL
Chester Capital
$19GENERAL
FIO RE LLC
$11GENERAL
Simon Charitable Private
$4GENERAL SUPPORT
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
$100,000PROJECT SUPPORT