Community Foundation of Cleveland
The Community Foundation of Cleveland and Bradley County (also known as the Community Foundation of Ocoee Region) is a public, nonprofit community foundation headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee. Founded in 2009, the organization connects donors with causes that matter by facilitating ethical stewardship of philanthropic resources and serving the Cleveland and Bradley County communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.5M
+12.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+94.7% YoY
Grant Count
49
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
+86.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To strengthen and enrich the community through engaged philanthropy that serves donors, builds permanent endowment, promotes effective grant making and stimulates community collaborations.
Primary Goals:
- Identify, inform, and guide donors and potential donors to make strong positive impact on community needs
- Serve as a premiere marketplace for knowledge regarding Bradley County nonprofit organizations and community needs
- Strengthen and prepare nonprofit organizations to better meet community needs
Funding Focus Areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation offers multiple ways for donors to give, including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Cleveland and Bradley County, Tennessee, though grantmaking also extends to Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total assets: $15,459,155
- Total revenues: $4,176,362
- Total expenses: $3,013,438
- Total giving: $2,577,564
Organization Status:
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- IRS ruling year: 2009
- EIN: 26-2101084
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,459,155 | $13,735,924 | $9,305,705 |
| Revenue | $4,176,362 | $5,160,553 | $3,399,548 |
| Expenses | $3,013,438 | $1,802,716 | $2,000,254 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $688,265 | $860,922 | $481,304 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
192 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Tn at Chattanooga ($765,000), City Fields ($175,176), Trousdale School ($124,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HIGHLANDS HIGHLANDS, NC | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $10,000 |
| AMERICA'S CHARITIES CHANTILLY, VA | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $6,799 |
| ATS BRIDGEBUILDERS CLEVELAND, TN | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $10,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF POLK COUNTY BENTON, TN | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE OCOEE REGION CLEVELAND, TN | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $11,000 |
| BRADLEY CLEVELAND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, TN | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $60,500 |
| BROAD STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CLEVELAND, TN | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $65,500 |
| CHATTANOOGA FOOD BANK CHATTANOOGA, TN | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $10,500 |
| CITY FIELDS CLEVELAND, TN | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $175,176 |
| CLEVELAND FAMILY YMCA CLEVELAND, TN | DONOR ADVISED DISTRIBUTIONS | $70,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Lisa Geren – President
Cathy Barrett – Staff contact for foundation inquiries
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRITNEY COOKE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| THOMAS ARRENDALE | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| KATHRYN BOX | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHAD ESLINGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BEN CHANDLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ART RHODES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACK SHEEHAN | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| RICK PLATZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BOBBY LUDWIG | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| PAM CAPRARA | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| DAN HOWELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LISA HUMPHRES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JORDIA WALLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LISA GEREN | PRESIDENT | 40 | $82,340 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Community Foundation of Cleveland fund?
**Mission:** To strengthen and enrich the community through engaged philanthropy that serves donors, builds permanent endowment, promotes effective grant making and stimulates community collaborations. **Primary Goals:** • Identify, inform, and guide donors and potential donors to make strong positive impact on community needs • Serve as a premiere marketplace for knowledge regarding Bradley County nonprofit organizations and community needs • Strengthen and prepare nonprofit organizations to b…
How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation of Cleveland?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $15,459,155 (2024) • Total giving: $2,577,564 (2024) • Typical award range: $5,148–$800,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • City Fields: $175,176 (Donor Advised Distributions) • The Trousdale School: $124,000 (Donor Advised Distributions) • Buffalo Bill Center of the West: $75,624 (Donor Advised Distributions) **Giving Mechanisms:** The foundation offers multiple ways for donors to give, including: • Donor-advised funds • Planned giving options • Unrestricted…
Where does Community Foundation of Cleveland make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Cleveland and Bradley County, Tennessee, though grantmaking also extends to Virginia and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Community Foundation of Cleveland award?
In 2024, Community Foundation of Cleveland awarded 49 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $46K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Community Foundation of Cleveland's EIN?
Community Foundation of Cleveland's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2101084. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Community Foundation of Cleveland's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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