James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation
The James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Its 2025 filing reports 70 grants totaling $1,026,950, supporting organizations and activities that include scholarships, arts and cultural institutions, Jewish community organizations, and community funds.
James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation at a glance
In short: James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation gave $1.0M across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Ohio. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,026,950
- -21.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,671
- -21.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,076,283
- -27.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (11 of 56, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (82% 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 James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3401 Tuttle Road 350, Shaker Heights, OH 44122
Phone: (440) 345-3687
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University Hospitals of Cleveland ($260K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $737K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
383 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 359 grants of 383 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 7% to New York, 5% to Washington, DC, 3% to California, and 2% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 56 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 32% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 712% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $279K (2020) to $1.5M (2022). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals of Cleveland Beachwood, OH | James & Susan Ratner Scholarship | $250,000 |
| Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH | Lobby Renovation Project Fund | $100,000 |
| Park Synagogue Pepper Pike, OH | Operating Support Fund | $60,000 |
| United Way of Greater Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Annual Fund | $35,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Humanitarian Relief in Gaza Fund | $30,938 |
| Playhouse Square Foundation Cleveland, OH | Trustee appeal / chairman's challenge / dazzle challenge fund | $28,500 |
| Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH | Trustee Fund | $25,000 |
| Health Equity Fund of Greater Ohio Akron, OH | Annual Fund | $25,000 |
| J Street Education Fund Washington, DC | Annual Fund | $25,000 |
| MQ Foundation New York, NY | Annual Fund | $25,000 |
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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 | $2,076,283 | $231,778 | $1,032,758 | $1,026,950 | 70 | $1,027,128 | $226,831 | $144,203 |
| 2024 | $2,877,263 | $251,363 | $1,308,330 | $1,301,120 | 70 | $1,301,354 | $245,108 | $185,995 |
| 2023 | $3,934,230 | $268,417 | $1,089,906 | $1,062,639 | 76 | $1,062,858 | $260,588 | $225,162 |
| 2022 | $4,755,719 | $489,524 | $1,526,624 | $1,509,100 | 74 | $1,509,244 | $727,184 | $275,681 |
| 2021 | $5,792,819 | $748,435 | $1,386,890 | $1,366,599 | 93 | $1,366,743 | $232,996 | $349,848 |
| 2020 | $6,431,274 | $181,087 | $294,468 | $278,500 | 22 | — | $166,616 | $322,216 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $144K 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 available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. These include a scholarship, museum and theater-related support, annual funds, humanitarian relief, and community initiatives.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the work supported: the Cleveland Museum of Art says it seeks to bring the pleasure and meaning of art to a broad audience; Playhouse Square Foundation describes a mission centered on performing arts, arts education, and strengthening the region’s economic vitality; and United Way of Greater Cleveland says it connects community resources to improve lives and create impact. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland describes work to promote the well-being, continuity, security, and unity of the Jewish community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 70 grants totaling $1,026,950. Grants ranged from $500 to $250,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest reported grant was $250,000 to University Hospitals of Cleveland for the James & Susan Ratner Scholarship. Other notable grants included $100,000 to the Cleveland Museum of Art for a lobby renovation project fund; $60,000 to Park Synagogue for operating support; $35,000 to United Way of Greater Cleveland for its annual fund; and $30,938 to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for a humanitarian relief in Gaza fund. Other grants included $28,500 to Playhouse Square Foundation, $25,000 each to Health Equity Fund of Greater Ohio, J Street Education Fund, MQ Foundation, Musical Arts Association, and New Israel Fund, and $25,000 to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s trustee fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James Ratner as vice president and director, and Susan Ratner as president, director, and secretary.
James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation is led by Susan Ratner, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan Ratner
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Ratner
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation
How much does James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation give each year?
James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation gave $1.0M across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 70 grants.
What is James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation's typical grant size?
James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $14,671, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation give grants?
James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (7%) and District of Columbia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (25 grants), New York, NY (10 grants), Pepper Pike, OH (7 grants) and Washington, DC (5 grants).
Does James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (42 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation's largest grantees?
James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University Hospitals of Cleveland ($260,000 across 2 grants), Cleveland Museum of Art ($125,000 across 2 grants) and Park Synagogue ($104,207 across 7 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation?
James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $144K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. These include a scholarship, museum and theater-related support, annual funds, humanitarian relief, and community initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation's EIN?
James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8004503. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does James and Susan Ratner Family 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-susan-ratner-family-foundation-morg_0abef8980c1e4176b624500e2c2f1e39
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208004503_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-and-susan-ratner-family-foundation-morg_0abef8980c1e4176b624500e2c2f1e39},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 James and Susan Ratner Family 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.
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