James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation
The James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Shaker Heights, Ohio, established in 2008. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation supports various charitable initiatives across education, philanthropy, human services, and community development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.9M
-26.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+22.4% YoY
Grant Count
70
-7.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
+32.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $186K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education initiatives
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking support
- Human services
- Jewish community and cultural organizations
- Arts and cultural institutions
- Emergency relief and resettlement efforts
Recent funding has supported initiatives such as annual fund campaigns, capital campaigns, emergency relief programs, and community resettlement projects.
Grantmaking
The foundation supports a diverse range of organizations and initiatives, with grants distributed across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Grant Range
$5,000
Average Grant
$20,400
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends primarily to Ohio, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $3,934,230
- Total revenues: $268,417
- Total expenses: $1,089,906
- Total giving: $1,062,639
The foundation operates with no employees and maintains a modest revenue base relative to its asset size, indicating reliance on investment returns for grantmaking capacity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,877,263 | $3,934,230 | $4,755,719 |
| Revenue | $251,363 | $268,417 | $489,524 |
| Expenses | $1,308,330 | $1,089,906 | $1,526,624 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,301,354 | $1,062,858 | $1,509,244 |
| Net Investment Income | $245,108 | $260,588 | $727,184 |
| Distributable Amount | $185,995 | $225,162 | $275,681 |
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
222 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Federation of Cleveland ($137,500), Jewish Federation of Cleveland ($101,250), Cleveland Museum of Art ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU OF OHIO CLEVELAND, OH | ANNUAL FUND | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | RICHARD H. ADLER COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE INC NEW YORK, NY | ANNUAL FUND | $2,500 |
| BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH CLEVELAND, OH | 25TH ANNIV COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $2,500 |
| BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH CLEVELAND, OH | ANNUAL FUND | $2,500 |
| BIKUR CHOLIM OF GREATER CLEVELAND CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | ANNUAL FUND | $1,000 |
| CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE WASHINGTON, DC | 2024 ANNUAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY CLEVELAND, OH | TRUSTEE ANNUAL FUND | $15,000 |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART CLEVELAND, OH | LOBBY RENOVATION PROJECT | $100,000 |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART CLEVELAND, OH | ANNUAL FUND | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James Ratner – Vice President/Director
- Susan Ratner – President/Director/Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES RATNER | VP/DIR | 1 | — |
| SUSAN RATNER | PRES/DIR/SEC | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education initiatives • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking support • Human services • Jewish community and cultural organizations • Arts and cultural institutions • Emergency relief and resettlement efforts Recent funding has supported initiatives such as annual fund campaigns, capital campaigns, emergency relief programs, and community resettlement projects.
How do I apply for a grant from James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 74 grants in 2023 • Total giving in 2023: $1,062,639 • Typical award range: $500–$300,000 • Median grant size: $5,000 • Average grant size: $20,400 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Jewish Federation of Cleveland (Campaign for Jewish Needs): $139,500 • United Way of Greater Cleveland (Annual Fund): $50,000 • Cleveland Museum of Art (General Operating Support): $25,000 The foundation supports a diverse range of organizations and initiatives, with grants distributed…
Where does James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends primarily to Ohio, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation award?
In 2024, James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation awarded 70 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $186K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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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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