Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation
The Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation is a supporting organization of the Cleveland Foundation, based in Cleveland, Ohio. Established in 1994, it operates exclusively for the benefit of and to carry out the charitable and educational functions of the Cleveland Foundation. The organization is a designated 501(c)(3) public charity.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$44.3M
+9.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+3.1% YoY
Grant Count
89
-7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+11.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of, and to carry out the charitable and educational functions of the Cleveland Foundation.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Nonprofit Human Services
- Poverty Alleviation
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $7,000 to $200,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization primarily funds activities in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $44,257,403
- Total Revenue: $3,173,733
- Total Expenses: $2,734,128
- Net Income: $439,605
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $40,483,181
- Total Revenue: $1,261,924
- Total Expenses: $2,624,283
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $44,257,403 | $40,483,181 | $37,217,207 |
| Revenue | $3,173,733 | $1,261,924 | $2,575,722 |
| Expenses | $2,734,128 | $2,624,283 | $2,321,685 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,173,733 | $1,261,924 | $2,575,722 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Help Foundation Inc ($150,000), Joseph's Home ($125,000), Cleveland Kids Book Bank ($105,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A PLACE 4 ME COLLABORATIVE CLEVELAND, OH | YOUTH HOMELESSNESS FOOD AND WELLNESS | $10,000 |
| ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN HIGHLAND HILLS, OH | FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES: HELPING FAMILIES THRIVE | $45,000 |
| ADOPTION NETWORK CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | FAMILY AND YOUTH PROGRAMS: FAMILY TIES | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS NORTHEAST OHIO CHAPTER CLEVELAND, OH | GREATER CLEVELAND CHAPTER - GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| AMERICA SCORES CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | AMERICA SCORES CLEVELAND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| AMERICANS MAKING IMMIGRANTS SAFE (AMIS) CLEVELAND HTS, OH | IMMIGRANT DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| BELIEVE IN DREAMS CLEVELAND, OH | GROWING THE DREAM | $15,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTHEAST OHIO CLEVELAND, OH | HEALTHY LIFESTYLES SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR UNDER-RESOURCED YOUTH IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY | $17,500 |
| BUILDING HOPE IN THE CITY CLEVELAND, OH | THE HOPE CENTER - ONGOING SUPPORT TO CREATE A THRIVING COMMUNITY | $18,000 |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY CLEVELAND, OH | THE MILDRED S. HIGLEY HONOR FUND (END129300) AT THE MANDEL SCHOOL OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sharon Higley Watts is listed as the Principal Officer.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHARON HIGLEY WATTS | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DOUG WANG | FIRST VICE PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| PATRICIA NOBILI | VICE PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JEFF LINTON | VICE PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| BRIAN BROADBENT | VICE PRESIDENT & TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| GINGER F MLAKAR | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| ANTHONY GATTUSO | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation fund?
The organization is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of, and to carry out the charitable and educational functions of the Cleveland Foundation. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Nonprofit Human Services • Poverty Alleviation
How do I apply for a grant from Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $7,000 to $200,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The organization made grants totaling $2,218,705 in 2024. Recent documented grants include: • $145,000 to Habitat for Humanity - Greater Cleveland for Affordable Homeownership (2023-2024) • Grant to Journey Center for Safety and Healing (2023) **Application Status:** As of 2026, the Higley Fund supporting organization is sunsetting and is no longer accepting grant applications. The Fund will be restructuri…
Where does Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation make grants?
The organization primarily funds activities in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation award?
In 2024, Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation awarded 89 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation's EIN?
Higley Fund of the Cleveland Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1784955. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Higley Fund of the Cleveland 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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