Cardinal Charitable Foundation
Cardinal Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Kirtland Hills, Ohio. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, primarily in Ohio, including a university, arts organization, school foundation, and organizations serving health and community needs.
Cardinal Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Cardinal Charitable Foundation gave $123K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Ohio. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $122,579
- -25.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,211
- -12.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,876,538
- -4.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cardinal Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 8890 Cardinal Drive, Kirtland Hills, OH 44060
Phone: (440) 463-4779
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cardinal Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was John Carroll University ($47K). Together the top 10 received $106K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 92 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 11% to recipients in Tennessee, and 4% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Cardinal Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 30% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 68% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $72K (2021) to $174K (2022). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $123K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John Carroll University University Heights, OH | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $47,000 |
| Playhouse Square Cleveland, OH | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| St Judes Memphis, TN | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| Kirtland Country Club Caddie Program Willoughby, OH | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $7,579 |
| St Huberts Kirtland Hills, OH | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $7,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Garfield Endowed Scholarship Cleveland, OH | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Deepwood Foundation Mentor, OH | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| American Red Cross Washington, DC | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Jack Gives Back Bay Village, OH | Unrestricted Operating Funds | $4,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cardinal Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,876,538 | $72,065 | $152,478 | $122,579 | 17 | $123,454 | $34,350 | $180,646 |
| 2024 | $1,956,951 | $69,403 | $191,084 | $164,231 | 20 | $165,151 | $36,069 | $156,004 |
| 2023 | $2,078,632 | $43,617 | $140,498 | $117,979 | 19 | $123,122 | $33,240 | $143,346 |
| 2022 | $2,175,513 | $86,639 | $198,300 | $173,964 | 20 | $185,256 | $66,699 | $157,078 |
| 2021 | $2,287,174 | $58,554 | $109,680 | $71,826 | 16 | $89,051 | $35,675 | $169,005 |
| 2020 | $2,338,300 | $180,238 | $131,558 | $111,829 | 18 | — | $164,697 | $128,512 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cardinal Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $181K 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
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for organizations including John Carroll University, whose mission is to inspire people to learn, lead, and serve; Deepwood Foundation, which says it empowers people with developmental disabilities through support, advocacy, grants, and resources; and Shaker Schools Foundation, which says it supports students through community resources, educational opportunities, and assistance.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $122,579. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $47,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Its largest listed grants were $47,000 to John Carroll University, $10,000 each to Playhouse Square and St Judes, and $7,579 to Kirtland Country Club Caddie Program. The listed grants were reported for unrestricted operating funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael A Keresman as president, Elizabeth A Keresman as vice president, and Katelyn A Keresman and Jaclyn M Klemenc as trustees.
Cardinal Charitable Foundation is led by Michael A. Keresman, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael A. Keresman
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jaclyn M. Klemenc
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katelyn A. Keresman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth A. Keresman
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jocelyn E. Keresman (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.
Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Charitable Foundation
How much does Cardinal Charitable Foundation give each year?
Cardinal Charitable Foundation gave $123K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $164K across 20 grants.
What is Cardinal Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Cardinal Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,211, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cardinal Charitable Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Cardinal Charitable Foundation give grants?
Cardinal Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (6 grants).
Does Cardinal Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Cardinal Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Cardinal Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Cardinal Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include John Carroll University ($47,000), Playhouse Square ($10,000) and St Judes ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cardinal Charitable Foundation?
Cardinal Charitable Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $123K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $181K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Cardinal Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cardinal Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cardinal Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Cardinal Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-5131853. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Cardinal Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cardinal Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Brandon Family Foundation
Cleveland Heights, OH
Assets
$313K
Grants
9
Total Given
$29K
The Catherine L & Edward a Lozick Foundation
Pepper Pike, OH
The foundation’s 2023 grants supported health care, public safety, education, youth, and community organizations, primarily in Ohio, with a small share going to Florida. It awarded 13 grants totaling $95,255, ranging from $1,000 to $51,255 (median $2,500), but it dissolved on December 31, 2023. It accepted only requests from preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
13
Total Given
$95K
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Gould Inc Foundation Co Thomas N Rich
Rocky River, OH
The foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, including food banks, human services, youth programs, animal care, hospice, and public broadcasting. In 2025, it gave $1,000–$50,000 per grant, with a median of $5,000; most funding went to Ohio, followed by Arizona and Iowa. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
37
Total Given
$276K
Murphy Family Foundation
Solon, OH
The Murphy Family Foundation primarily funds nonprofit programs addressing poverty in greater Cleveland, especially food assistance, shelter, and educational support for disadvantaged people. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000; applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, and the foundation’s application guidelines describe how to apply.
Assets
$6.5M
Grants
83
Total Given
$451K
The Sam J Frankino Foundation
Cleveland, OH
The Sam J. Frankino Foundation supports healthcare, human services, education, environmental initiatives, arts and culture, and community development, with Ohio as its primary focus and some funding elsewhere in the U.S. and internationally. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts requests through a Letter of Inquiry process; the website requires an LOI before a full application.
Assets
$48.6M
Grants
83
Total Given
$3.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cardinal Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cardinal-charitable-foundation-morg_e49af030aa064173b691bf383b8be3e8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_815131853_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cardinal Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cardinal-charitable-foundation-morg_e49af030aa064173b691bf383b8be3e8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Cardinal Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Cardinal Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?