To make the lives of Clevelanders better, now and for generations to come.
A defining feature of The Cleveland Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its mix of large institutional support, scholarship funding, and place-based investments that touch schools, health systems, neighborhood development, and community organizations. Among the largest grants on file are $17,457,798 to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for general support for the Tremont Montessori School and $10,931,225 to Case Western Reserve University for the Oglebay Fellowship Program in the School of Medicine. Those awards sit alongside major support for University Hospitals Health System, including general support and a cardiac surgery fund, showing a consistent emphasis on education and health infrastructure. The foundation also backs intermediary organizations that move resources through the community, such as Jumpstart Inc, Say Yes Cleveland Scholarship Inc, and College Now Greater Cleveland Inc. Its recent giving includes both unrestricted support and named-purpose grants, plus capital and property-oriented work, which fits its role as a community foundation with broad regional reach. The overall pattern points to a funder that supports civic institutions while also underwriting targeted programs for students, patients, and neighborhood residents.
Education is one of the clearest strands in the foundation’s portfolio. It gave $17,457,798 to Cleveland Metropolitan School District for general support for the Tremont Montessori School, and $4,985,787 for continued implementation of the CMSD Equity and Me Learning Series. Higher education and scholarship support is also prominent, including $4,118,681 to College Now Greater Cleveland Inc for a scholarship fund and $4,645,041 to Say Yes Cleveland Scholarship Inc for financial modeling, summer tuition implementation, and scholarships. Health care is another major area: $7,719,273 went to University Hospitals Health System Inc for general support, while $2,689,013 supported Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s Taussig Cancer Research. Community and neighborhood work appears in grants such as $3,507,500 to Famicos Foundation Inc for the MYCOM Youth Development Strategy and Neighborhood Programming, linking youth engagement to neighborhood systems.
Typical grants cluster at a median of $32,091, with a lower quartile of $13,397 and an upper quartile of $87,000, though the recent record also includes very large institutional awards. The foundation operates as a mixed community foundation and makes program-related investments. Recent grants show repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Health System Inc, Jumpstart Inc, Say Yes Cleveland Scholarship Inc, College Now Greater Cleveland Inc, and Famicos Foundation Inc. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. Applications are explicitly open for several active programs, including scholarships, capital grants, the Summer Internship Program, the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund, and the Frank Hadley & Cornelia Ginn Foundation Fund.
$184.2M
$3.3B
$302.8M
$222.3M
Most grants fall between $13K and $87K, with a median of $32K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$32K
75th Percentile
$87K
LILLIAN KURI
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Grantmaking is regional, but the heaviest concentration is in Ohio, with 74% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Cleveland is the main recipient city across the recent grants list, joined by Painesville, Canfield, and other Ohio locations. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Outside Ohio, recent grants also appear in San Francisco, California and Provo, Utah, showing that the foundation’s giving can extend beyond Greater Cleveland when the grant relationship fits its portfolio.
The foundation supports economic development, neighborhood vibrancy and community health, economic mobility, immediate community needs and well-being, arts and cultural equity, affinity fund grantmaking, leadership development, internships and fellowships, and scholarships and education. Recent grants also align with healthcare, youth development, capital projects, and civic information priorities.
The typical grant size is $13,397 at the 25th percentile, $32,091 at the median, and $87,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes much larger awards, such as multimillion-dollar support for schools, universities, hospitals, and scholarship intermediaries.
Yes. Recent grants show repeated support to organizations such as Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Health System Inc, Jumpstart Inc, Say Yes Cleveland Scholarship Inc, College Now Greater Cleveland Inc, and Famicos Foundation Inc across multiple years.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including the Frank Hadley & Cornelia Ginn Foundation Fund, Cleveland Foundation Scholarships, the Summer Internship Program, the LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund, and Capital Grants. The Medical Mutual of Ohio Charitable Foundation program at Cleveland Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Its grants are regional, with 74% of grants going to recipients in Ohio. Cleveland appears most often in the recent grants list, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT | CLEVELAND, OH | $17,457,798 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE TREMONT MONTESSORI SCHOOL |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, OH | $10,931,225 | 2025 | OGLEBAY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE |
| CLEFDNMIDTOWN COLLABORATION CENTER PROJECT | CLEVELAND, OH | $8,500,000 | 2025 | CONSTRUCT & HOLD PROPERTY FOR CLEVELAND FOUNDATION (SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION) |
| UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS HEALTH SYSTEM INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $6,260,501 | 2025 | CARDIAC SURGERY FUND |
| SAY YES CLEVELAND SCHOLARSHIP INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $4,645,041 | 2025 | FINANCIAL MODEL; SUMMER TUITION IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR FALL 2023, SPRING 2024 AND SUMMER 2024 SCHOLARSHIPS |
| JUMPSTART INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $4,604,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLLEGE NOW GREATER CLEVELAND INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $4,118,681 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| ANGELS FOR ANIMALS INC | CANFIELD, OH | $3,748,822 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $2,689,013 | 2025 | TAUSSIG CANCER RESEARCH |
| LAKE ERIE COLLEGE | PAINESVILLE, OH | $2,593,232 | 2025 | PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS IN THE PAINESVILLE COMMUNITY TO ATTEND LAKE ERIE COLLEGE |
| UNIVERSITY IMPACT | PROVO, UT | $2,567,966 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FAMICOS FOUNDATION INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $2,561,516 | 2025 | MYCOM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, SYSTEMS AND PARTNER INTEGRATION PROJECT |
| THE CENTERS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN | CLEVELAND, OH | $2,533,867 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE CENTERS |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $2,279,626 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $2,247,762 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRESS INC DBA CLEVELAND NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRESS | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,878,500 | 2025 | FY25 NEIGHBORHOOD LAND INVESTMENT MODEL STRATEGY |
| LAKE HUMANE SOCIETY | MENTOR, OH | $1,555,495 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PM FOUNDATION INC DBA URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,542,024 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,523,700 | 2025 | MYCOM LEAD AGENCY FOR SUMMER JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS 2024 |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF SAN FRANCISCO THE PENINSULA MARIN & SONOMA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | JCEF/SF PHILANTHROPIC FUND #31311 |
| WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,496,533 | 2025 | TO RESTORE, PROTECT & PRESERVE PROPERTIES IN THE BEDFORD AREA; SPECIFICALLY, TO OPERATE THE RESIDENCE AS A MUSEUM & A CENTER FOR MTGS |
| MUSICAL ARTS ASSOCIATION - THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,354,822 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA |
| EAST 66TH STREET SERVICES INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,332,500 | 2025 | NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS - NEIGHBOR UP 2023-2025 |
| ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,326,950 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,316,840 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CUYAHOGA COUNTY OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,245,515 | 2025 | UPK PROGRAM |
| CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,216,879 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF THE CSU VIKING FUND |
| IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,205,926 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILD CARE RESOURCE CENTER OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY DBA STARTING POINT | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,168,999 | 2025 | ADVANCING OUT-OF- SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN CLEVELAND |
| RAINBOW BABIES & CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,168,275 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE RAINBOW BABIES AND CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION |
| CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,146,172 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANDREWS OSBORNE ACADEMY | WILLOUGHBY, OH | $1,090,135 | 2025 | ORGANIZATION DISBURSEMENT |
| OHIO LOCAL INFORMATION INITIATIVE INC DBA SIGNAL OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,085,250 | 2025 | LOCAL NEWS FOR CLEVELAND |
| CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,083,077 | 2025 | ROLES OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN SUPPORTING CITIES AND REGIONS TO ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CLEVELAND CASE STUDY |
| METROHEALTH FOUNDATION INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $1,047,909 | 2025 | AKRAN BOUTROS HOPE IN ACTION ENDOWMENT |
| LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION (LISC) | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | REESTABLISHING THE LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION CLEVELAND OFFICE |
| CLEVELAND SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND DBA CLEVELAND SIGHT CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $963,389 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | CLEVELAND, OH | $953,261 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER OF NORTHEAST OHIO | INDEPENDENCE, OH | $887,402 | 2025 | PRE4CLE: EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL IN CLEVELAND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ECONOMIC GROWTH FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $842,000 | 2025 | GCP'S EARLY CAREER EXPLORATION |
| JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY HTS, OH | $835,921 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RAINEY INSTITUTE | CLEVELAND, OH | $808,627 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL DISBURSEMENT |
| ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS | CLEVELAND, OH | $770,000 | 2025 | MCC TENANT IMPROVEMENTS |
| HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $739,166 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT/ ANNUAL APPEAL. |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART | CLEVELAND, OH | $737,419 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| URBAN LEAGUE OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $727,371 | 2025 | THIRD YEAR OF OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND ALLIANCE | CLEVELAND, OH | $712,864 | 2025 | ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTION |
| THE REFUGEE RESPONSE DBA RESOURCE CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $683,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR THE TEEN RESPONSE AND POST SECONDARY BRIDGES PROGRAMS |
| CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $635,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $631,850 | 2025 | CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 |
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
$17,457,798GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE TREMONT MONTESSORI SCHOOL
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
$10,931,225OGLEBAY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
CLEFDNMIDTOWN COLLABORATION CENTER PROJECT
$8,500,000CONSTRUCT & HOLD PROPERTY FOR CLEVELAND FOUNDATION (SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION)
SAY YES CLEVELAND SCHOLARSHIP INC
$4,645,041FINANCIAL MODEL; SUMMER TUITION IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR FALL 2023, SPRING 2024 AND SUMMER 2024 SCHOLARSHIPS
GENERAL SUPPORT
ANGELS FOR ANIMALS INC
$3,748,822GENERAL SUPPORT
PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS IN THE PAINESVILLE COMMUNITY TO ATTEND LAKE ERIE COLLEGE
MYCOM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, SYSTEMS AND PARTNER INTEGRATION PROJECT
THE CENTERS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
$2,533,867GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE CENTERS
FY25 NEIGHBORHOOD LAND INVESTMENT MODEL STRATEGY
MYCOM LEAD AGENCY FOR SUMMER JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS 2024
JCEF/SF PHILANTHROPIC FUND #31311
WESTERN RESERVE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$1,496,533TO RESTORE, PROTECT & PRESERVE PROPERTIES IN THE BEDFORD AREA; SPECIFICALLY, TO OPERATE THE RESIDENCE AS A MUSEUM & A CENTER FOR MTGS
GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA
EAST 66TH STREET SERVICES INC
$1,332,500NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS - NEIGHBOR UP 2023-2025
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM INC
$1,326,950GENERAL SUPPORT
CUYAHOGA COUNTY OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD
$1,245,515UPK PROGRAM
IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA
$1,205,926GENERAL SUPPORT
ADVANCING OUT-OF- SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN CLEVELAND
GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE RAINBOW BABIES AND CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
LOCAL NEWS FOR CLEVELAND
CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$1,083,077ROLES OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN SUPPORTING CITIES AND REGIONS TO ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: CLEVELAND CASE STUDY
REESTABLISHING THE LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION CLEVELAND OFFICE
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
$953,261GENERAL SUPPORT
EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER OF NORTHEAST OHIO
$887,402PRE4CLE: EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL IN CLEVELAND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART
$737,419GENERAL SUPPORT
SUPPORT FOR THE TEEN RESPONSE AND POST SECONDARY BRIDGES PROGRAMS
CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024
Current and upcoming funding from Cleveland Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Arts organizations with operating budgets below $300,000 may inquire through the application process.
Deadline: October 2 annually
Who can apply: Applicants generally must be 501(c)(3) public charities or government agencies serving Cuyahoga, Lake and/or Geauga counties. Fiscal sponsorship is permitted when the fiscal sponsor is a 501(c)(3). The foundation generally does not fund individuals, for-profit organizations, endowment campaigns, annual appeals, religious activities, primary travel, certain community services, or capital projects for hospitals, nursing homes or institutions of higher education.
Deadline: Applications are accepted year-round and considered in cycles ending December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 15. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on the applicable deadline.
Who can apply: Programs and organizations must primarily benefit residents of Lyndhurst and contiguous communities or South Euclid-Lyndhurst public schools.
Deadline: March 1 and August 1 annually
Who can apply: Programs must serve children or young people in Greater Cleveland and advance the fund's goals around thriving, resilience and intergenerational poverty.
Deadline: March 1 and August 1 annually
Who can apply: Programs must address basic human needs for people in Greater Cleveland.
Deadline: March 1 and August 1 annually
Who can apply: Organizations must serve and uplift Greater Cleveland's Black community and meet the fund's stated impact priorities.
Deadline: May 11 annually
Who can apply: Projects must be central to the applicant's mission, address a compelling community need, demonstrate broad community benefit and organizational financial stability, and meet applicable LEED or comparable green-building standards. At least 50% of the total campaign goal must have been reached. Capital projects for hospitals, nursing homes and institutions of higher education are not funded.
Deadline: Applications use the general application cycle deadlines.
Who can apply: Organizations must be located in Cuyahoga, Lake or Geauga counties, appoint an intern supervisor, provide meaningful full-time work and learning experiences, and employ the intern for the 11-week term.
Deadline: Application opens in November and closes in January annually.
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