Fairfax Foundation
The Fairfax Foundation is a private family foundation located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Established in 1986, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and serves as a grantmaking entity supporting charitable organizations primarily in the Greater Cleveland community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.6M
-47.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.6M
+5924.7% YoY
Grant Count
56
+366.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$82K
+1191.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fairfax Foundation reported a distributable amount of $168K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is inspired by the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. Primary funding interests include:
- Mental illness research
- Support for organizations serving the disadvantaged
- Christian organizations and churches
- Education
- Health initiatives
The foundation typically gives to pre-selected organizations rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications. Grant requests should include the organization's tax exemption letter and description of intended use of funds. There are no application deadlines.
Grant Range
$5,000
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While the foundation primarily supports organizations in the Greater Cleveland area, grants are made to recognized charitable organizations without geographic restrictions. Recent giving patterns show distribution across multiple states including Ohio, New York, Connecticut, and Michigan, with approximately 28% of grants remaining in the foundation's home state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,631,554
- Total Revenues: $2,245,807
- Total Expenses: $4,698,829
- Total Giving: approximately $3.5 million
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $5,041,960
- Total Revenues: $3.6 million
- Total Expenses: $91,800
- Total Giving: $76,600
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Grants and contributions: $1,874,367
- Investment income and dividends: $190,463
The foundation has zero liabilities and operates with no employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,631,554 | $5,041,960 | $1,532,486 |
| Revenue | $2,245,807 | $3,601,308 | $199,215 |
| Expenses | $4,698,829 | $91,834 | $219,168 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,614,947 | $76,600 | $70,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $345,401 | $90,723 | $206 |
| Distributable Amount | $168,113 | $121,335 | $76,160 |
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
98 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hathaway Brown School ($750,000), Urban Community School ($750,000), Urban Squash Cleveland ($750,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HATHAWAY BROWN SCHOOL SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | GENERAL | $750,000 |
| TREES WATER & PEOPLE FORT COLLINS, CO | GENERAL | $215,000 |
| URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $750,000 |
| URBAN SQUASH CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $750,000 |
| UNIVERSITY SCHOOL HUNTING VALLEY, OH | GENERAL | $750,000 |
| HOWARD HANNA CHILDREN'S PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| CSU FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| GIVEWELL LAKELAND, FL | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FORT COLLINS, CO | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| VIVE WELLNESS DENVER, CO | GENERAL | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Joseph Latona - Trustee
- Joseph Juster - Trustee
- Martine V. Conway - Trustee
- Gerald A. Conway - Donor
- Martine V. Conway - Donor
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOE LATONA | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JOSEPH JUSTER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: Fairfax Foundation 100 N. Main Street, Suite 412 Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Phone: 440-318-1219
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Fairfax Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is inspired by the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. Primary funding interests include: • Mental illness research • Support for organizations serving the disadvantaged • Christian organizations and churches • Education • Health initiatives The foundation typically gives to pre-selected organizations rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
How do I apply for a grant from Fairfax Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 14 grants in 2024, totaling approximately $3.5 million • Recent notable grants include $750,000 each to Urban Squash Cleveland, Hathaway Brown School, and Urban Community School • Historical grants include $10,000 to Urban Community School, $10,000 to Hathaway Brown School, $5,000 to Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and $5,000 to Alzheimer's Association **Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000 - $13,000 • Giving ra…
Where does Fairfax Foundation make grants?
While the foundation primarily supports organizations in the Greater Cleveland area, grants are made to recognized charitable organizations without geographic restrictions. Recent giving patterns show distribution across multiple states including Ohio, New York, Connecticut, and Michigan, with approximately 28% of grants remaining in the foundation's home state.
What size grants does Fairfax Foundation award?
In 2024, Fairfax Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $4.6M — an average of about $82K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Fairfax Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Fairfax Foundation reported a distributable amount of $168K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Fairfax Foundation's EIN?
Fairfax Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1553708. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fairfax Foundation'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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