The Oatey Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of sizable, locally focused awards that strengthen Cleveland’s cultural institutions and community-serving organizations. Recent grants show a clear tilt toward arts and music organizations (museums and orchestra) alongside community development and youth services. The foundation tends to support established, place-based nonprofits and makes repeat grants to a few core partners.
Concentrated, high-dollar local grants with repetition to core grantees rather than many small gifts; few recipients receive most of the funding each year.
Oatey Foundation’s recent giving is marked by repeated general-support grants to a small set of Cleveland-area institutions, with the largest award going to the Cleveland Orchestra at $110,000 in 2024. The pattern is not broad or program-specific; it centers on established local nonprofits that carry cultural, health, and community roles in the region. Two of the clearest examples are Community West Foundation, which received $100,000 in 2024 after a matching $100,000 grant in 2023, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, which received $62,500 in both 2024 and 2023. Those repeat awards point to a funder that leans on long-standing partners rather than one-time project bets. The foundation also uses flexible support for organizations serving Cleveland through arts, social services, and community infrastructure, including Metrohealth Foundation, Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, and Cleveland Water Alliance. Across the recent grants list, the giving profile suggests a locally focused funder that backs organizational stability through unrestricted or general support rather than narrowly targeted project funding.
Arts and culture appear prominently in the foundation’s grant list. In 2024, it gave $62,500 to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum for general support, and it also awarded $20,000 to Beck Center for the Arts in 2023. Music is a separate thread within that cluster: the Cleveland Orchestra received $110,000 in 2024, the largest recent grant on file. Beyond arts institutions, the foundation supports community services and health-related organizations. Metrohealth Foundation received $50,000 in both 2024 and 2023, while the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland received $35,000 in 2023 and $25,000 in 2024. Youth-focused work is also present through Youth Challenge, which received $80,000 in 2024 and $30,000 in 2023.
Oatey Foundation’s typical grant size sits around a few thousand dollars, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $5,250, and a p75 of $20,000. The recent grant list shows a different upper tier as well, with several six-figure and high-five-figure awards to core partners. Its giving is repeated rather than one-off in several cases: Community West Foundation, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, Metrohealth Foundation, Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, Youth Challenge, Living Waters for the World, and YMCA of Greater Cleveland each appear in more than one year. The foundation is a grantmaker, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. Grants in the recent list are described as general support.
$1.1M
$6.7M
$1.9M
$642K
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 87% of grants go to recipients in OH.
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Notable grantees: Community West Foundation, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, Cleveland Orchestra, Youth Challenge
Giving is overwhelmingly local: 87% of grants go to recipients in Ohio, and the top state by grant count is OH. Cleveland appears most often among recipient cities, with other awards landing in Westlake, Beachwood, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Chagrin Falls, Highland Hills, and Macedonia. The recent grants list also includes a smaller number of grants outside Ohio, including Spring Hill, Tennessee; East Moline, Illinois; and Jackson, Wyoming. Across the recipient-country distribution, all 63 grants went to U.S. organizations.
The recent grants show a mix of Cleveland arts and culture institutions, community development intermediaries, youth services, and health-related organizations. Named recipients include the Cleveland Orchestra, Community West Foundation, Metrohealth Foundation, and Youth Challenge, all funded with general support.
Yes, but most of its giving stays in Ohio. The recipient distribution shows 87% of grants to Ohio organizations, while the recent list also includes grants to organizations in Tennessee, Illinois, and Wyoming.
The foundation’s typical grant size is modest relative to its larger awards: p25 is $5,000, the median is $5,250, and p75 is $20,000. Recent grants also include larger general-support awards to longstanding partners.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Community West Foundation, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, Metrohealth Foundation, Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, Youth Challenge, Living Waters for the World, and YMCA of Greater Cleveland.
The recent grants are described as general support. The foundation’s philosophy tags also point to general operating support, unrestricted support, and core or organizational support.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA | CLEVELAND, OH | $110,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY WEST FOUNDATION | WESTLAKE, OH | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUTH CHALLENGE | WESTLAKE, OH | $80,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM | CLEVELAND, OH | $62,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| METROHEALTH FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIVING WATERS FOR THE WORLD | SPRING HILL, TN | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DIVERSITY CENTER OF NE OHIO | BEECHWOOD, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CUYAHOGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FDN | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE TURN | NORTH OLMSTED, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN | HIGHLAND HILLS, OH | $9,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JACKSON HOLE SKI AND SNOW CLUB | JACKSON, WY | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OHIO INVENTION LEAGUE 2023 | MACEDONIA, OH | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICA SCORES CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,750 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JDRF GOLF CLASSIC | EAST MOLINE, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NAACP CLEVELAND BRANCH - UNITED BLACK FUND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW AVENUES TO INDEPENDENCE | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BUSINESS ADVISORS OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN REDCROSS OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND COUNCIL ON WORLD AFFAIRS | CLEVELAND, OH | $3,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTH COAST COMMUNITY HOMES | CLEVELAND, OH | $3,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY WEST FOUNDATION | WESTLAKE, OH | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM | CLEVELAND, OH | $62,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| METROHEALTH FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND WATER ALLIANCE | CLEVELAND, OH | $40,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIVING WATERS FOR THE WORLD | SPRING HILL, TN | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUTH CHALLENGE | WESTLAKE, OH | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS | LAKEWOOD, OH | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN REDCROSS OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELIZA JENNINGS HONORING THE LEGACYGROWING TO SERVE | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JDRF GOLF CLASSIC | EAST MOLINE, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HEALTH NETWORK FOUNDATION | CHAGRIN FALLS, OH | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JACKSON HOLE SKI AND SNOW CLUB | JACKSON, WY | $8,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER CLEVELAND FOODBANK | CLEVELAND, OH | $7,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICA SCORES CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,250 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRONT INTERNATIONAL | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAVALIERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW AVENUES TO INDEPENDENCE | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UCP OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INVENTION LEAGUE | BAY VILLAGE, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NAACP CLEVELAND BRANCH - UNITED BLACK FUND | CLEVELAND, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA
$110,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY WEST FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YOUTH CHALLENGE
$80,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
$62,500GENERAL SUPPORT
METROHEALTH FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LIVING WATERS FOR THE WORLD
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER CLEVELAND
GENERAL SUPPORT
DIVERSITY CENTER OF NE OHIO
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CUYAHOGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FDN
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE TURN
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA OF GREATER CLEVELAND
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN
$9,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JACKSON HOLE SKI AND SNOW CLUB
$8,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OHIO INVENTION LEAGUE 2023
$6,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICA SCORES CLEVELAND
$5,750GENERAL SUPPORT
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JDRF GOLF CLASSIC
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NAACP CLEVELAND BRANCH - UNITED BLACK FUND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW AVENUES TO INDEPENDENCE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BUSINESS ADVISORS OF CLEVELAND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN REDCROSS OF GREATER CLEVELAND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CLEVELAND COUNCIL ON WORLD AFFAIRS
$3,500GENERAL SUPPORT
NORTH COAST COMMUNITY HOMES
$3,500GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY WEST FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
$62,500GENERAL SUPPORT
METROHEALTH FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CLEVELAND WATER ALLIANCE
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SALVATION ARMY OF GREATER CLEVELAND
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LIVING WATERS FOR THE WORLD
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YOUTH CHALLENGE
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN REDCROSS OF GREATER CLEVELAND
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ELIZA JENNINGS HONORING THE LEGACYGROWING TO SERVE
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JDRF GOLF CLASSIC
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HEALTH NETWORK FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA OF GREATER CLEVELAND
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JACKSON HOLE SKI AND SNOW CLUB
$8,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GREATER CLEVELAND FOODBANK
$7,500GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICA SCORES CLEVELAND
$5,250GENERAL SUPPORT
FRONT INTERNATIONAL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAVALIERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW AVENUES TO INDEPENDENCE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UCP OF GREATER CLEVELAND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INVENTION LEAGUE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NAACP CLEVELAND BRANCH - UNITED BLACK FUND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT