By the Hand Foundation
By The Hand Foundation is a private foundation based in Rocky River, Ohio. Its website describes its mission as advancing compassion through action by empowering vulnerable populations and protecting animal welfare, including through education, addressing food insecurity and other basic needs, and fostering self-reliance.
By the Hand Foundation at a glance
In short: By the Hand Foundation gave $5.2M across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $864K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,186,717
- +9691.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $864,453
- +12955.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,390
- Total assets
- $22,841,961
- +2341.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to By the Hand Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing lists Cathy Soprano as the contact and requests a letter describing the organization’s charitable purpose. It lists no restrictions on awards and states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Cathy Soprano
Mailing address: 20545 Center Ridge Rd Suite 200, Rocky River, OH 44116
Phone: (440) 201-9441
Website: https://bythehandfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who By the Hand Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cleveland Foundation DAF ($5.1M). Together the top 5 received $5.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 44 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Rocky River, Ohio. Its 2025 filing lists grants to recipients in Ohio and Illinois, including the largest grant to a recipient in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How By the Hand Foundation gives
- Giving grew 9585% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 557% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $53K (2024) to $5.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $5.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Foundation DAF Cleveland, OH | Assistance to the Underprivileged | $5,100,000 |
| United Cerebral Palsy Cleveland, OH | Advance Individuals with Cerebral PA | $64,338 |
| See Attached for Additional Various, OH | See Attached | $13,779 |
| Catholic Extension Society Chicago, IL | Assistance to the Underprivileged | $5,000 |
| Geauga Humane Society Russell TWP, OH | Animal Rescue | $1,800 |
| Salvation Army Cleveland, OH | Assistance to the Underprivileged | $1,800 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s website reports that it and its trustees have donated $3,834,480.72 to charities and to support its mission since January 1, 2019.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $22,841,961 | $24,516,424 | $5,532,313 | $5,186,717 | 6 | $5,452,607 | $1,449,952 | $979,006 |
| 2024 | $935,553 | $397,492 | $317,564 | $52,972 | 8 | $53,172 | $123,419 | $47,817 |
| 2023 | $1,323,106 | $155,933 | $309,029 | $82,368 | 9 | $82,418 | $114,911 | $66,023 |
| 2022 | $1,244,920 | $-6,354 | $210,895 | $53,556 | 10 | $53,756 | $11,047 | $72,909 |
| 2021 | $2,066,226 | $669,501 | $256,009 | $195,548 | 11 | $195,748 | $7,221 | $97,987 |
| 2020 | $1,275,116 | $771,503 | $118,322 | $114,871 | 62 | — | $296,146 | $35,426 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, By the Hand Foundation reported a distributable amount of $979K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to empower vulnerable populations and protect animal welfare by promoting education, addressing food insecurity and other basic needs, and fostering self-reliance. It also states that it aims to support donors and charities and promote education.
The foundation’s website says FastScratch for Charity is available to eligible nonprofit organizations classified as 501(c)(3) charities. It selects a few charities each month to participate, and donor donations may be matched from 25% to 200%. The foundation also says it does not recommend specific charities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported six grants totaling $5,186,717. Grant amounts ranged from $1,800 to $5,100,000, with a median of $9,390. The largest listed grant was $5,100,000 to Cleveland Foundation DAF in Cleveland, Ohio, for “assistance to the underprivileged.” Other listed grants included $64,338 to United Cerebral Palsy in Cleveland, Ohio, for a purpose described as advancing individuals with cerebral palsy; $13,779 to “See Attached for Additional” in Ohio; $5,000 to Catholic Extension Society in Chicago, Illinois, for “assistance to the underprivileged”; and $1,800 each to Geauga Humane Society in Russell Township, Ohio, for “animal rescue,” and Salvation Army in Cleveland, Ohio, for “assistance to the underprivileged.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cathleen Soprano, Christopher Cook, Paul Soprano, Maxwell Trubiano, and Liinda Srneck as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Cathleen Soprano, Linda Srneck, and Chris Cook as members of its board of directors.
By the Hand Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; 4 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cathleen Soprano
Director
Trustee → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$18K (2025)
Christopher Cook
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$5K (2025)
Maxwell Trubiano
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$5K (2025)
Paul Soprano
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$5K (2025)
Liinda Srneck
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert Bensman (2020–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $18K, to Cathleen Soprano (Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about By the Hand Foundation
How much does By the Hand Foundation give each year?
By the Hand Foundation gave $5.2M across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $53K across 8 grants.
What is By the Hand Foundation's typical grant size?
By the Hand Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $9,390, and its average grant was $864,453, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does By the Hand Foundation give grants?
By the Hand Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (3 grants).
Does By the Hand Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on By the Hand Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Assistance to the Underprivileged" (3 grants).
Who are By the Hand Foundation's largest grantees?
By the Hand Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cleveland Foundation DAF ($5,100,000), United Cerebral Palsy ($64,338) and Catholic Extension Society ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is By the Hand Foundation?
By the Hand Foundation reported $22.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $979K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does By the Hand Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to empower vulnerable populations and protect animal welfare by promoting education, addressing food insecurity and other basic needs, and fostering self-reliance. It also states that it aims to support donors and charities and promote education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from By the Hand Foundation?
The 2025 filing lists Cathy Soprano as the contact and requests a letter describing the organization’s charitable purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is By the Hand Foundation's EIN?
By the Hand Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1634929. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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