Me & FJ Callahan Foundation
The ME & FJ Callahan Foundation is a private foundation that supports nonprofit organizations, primarily in Northeast Ohio. Its website describes it as a Cleveland-based family foundation, founded in 1968 by Francis Joseph “Joe” Callahan and Mary Elizabeth Callahan; its 2024 filing lists its location as Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
Me & FJ Callahan Foundation at a glance
In short: Me & FJ Callahan Foundation gave $2.9M across 71 grants in 2024 (avg $41K), mostly in Ohio. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,915,000
- +42.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 71
- +10.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $41,056
- +28.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $22,543,226
- -8.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (18 of 71, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Me & FJ Callahan Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit the one-page application through the foundation’s application process. The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website for forms and materials and says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The application page listed September 30, 2026, which had passed as of October 2, 2026.
- Deadline
- The application page listed September 30, 2026, which had passed as of October 2, 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Timothy J Callahan
Mailing address: 100 N Main Street Ste 410, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Phone: (216) 245-4150
Website: https://callahanfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Me & FJ Callahan Foundation
Who Me & FJ Callahan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Cleveland Orchestra ($850K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
246 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 220 grants of 246 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it supports nonprofit organizations operating in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga and Lake counties in Ohio. Its 2024 grants were concentrated in Ohio, which received 95% of grant dollars; Maryland received 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 71 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Me & FJ Callahan Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 71 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $50K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 146% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 239% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2021) to $2.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 71 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Cleveland Orchestra Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $850,000 |
| Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $700,000 |
| The Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $175,000 |
| Cleveland Institute of Music Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $158,000 |
| United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD | General Operations | $150,000 |
| University Circle Incorporated Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $125,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Cleveland International Film Festival Cleveland, OH | General Operations | $45,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Me & FJ Callahan Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $22,543,226 | $1,402,511 | $3,460,277 | $2,915,000 | 71 | $3,112,668 | $1,069,306 | $1,301,825 |
| 2023 | $24,600,992 | $1,098,547 | $2,575,478 | $2,045,201 | 64 | $2,218,156 | $781,265 | $1,279,407 |
| 2022 | $26,077,923 | $854,981 | $1,767,436 | $1,312,500 | 56 | $1,465,372 | $565,817 | $1,317,113 |
| 2021 | $26,707,010 | $959,033 | $1,694,661 | $1,183,700 | 55 | $1,354,247 | $643,619 | $1,404,332 |
| 2020 | $27,249,586 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Me & FJ Callahan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support higher education, the arts and social services in Northeast Ohio. It considers capital projects, general operating support and project-specific funding. A separate allocation supports organizational and leadership development, including strategic planning, succession planning, executive leadership coaching and development, and fundraising leadership and development.
Its website identifies education—with an emphasis on access to higher education and K–12 special-needs support—social services emphasizing healthcare access for disadvantaged populations or extended independent living, and arts organizations with innovative audience engagement and outreach as current focus areas.
Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Case Western Reserve University describes itself as a research-oriented university with strengths across health, engineering, arts and sciences, law, management and social work. The Cleveland Institute of Music says it empowers talented classical music students to fulfill their potential. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History describes its work as inspiring a passion for nature and supporting natural diversity, health and a sustainable future. The Cleveland Museum of Art says it serves as both a distinguished comprehensive art museum and a principal civic and cultural institution in Northeast Ohio.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 71 grants totaling $2,915,000. Individual grants ranged from $2,500 to $850,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards included $850,000 to The Cleveland Orchestra, $700,000 to Case Western Reserve University, $175,000 to The Cleveland Clinic, $158,000 to the Cleveland Institute of Music and $150,000 to the United States Naval Academy. The filing listed general operations as the purpose for each of these grants. The foundation’s website reported that it awarded a record $3.4 million in grants in 2025.
The website says grant recipients are selected in June and December. Applicants must submit a one-page application, with one-inch margins and a minimum 12-point font. The opening paragraph should identify the organization and its mission, the people it serves generally and the people who would be served by the grant, the amount requested and the proposed use of funds. The file name should include the organization name, round, “application” and “Callahan Foundation.” The application submitter must be the foundation’s first and only point of contact; the foundation says not to email or call with questions and that it will request additional information from applicants advanced to a full proposal round. The filing lists no award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Timothy J. Callahan as president, Nancy Callahan as treasurer and Connie Richards as secretary.
Me & FJ Callahan Foundation is led by Timothy J. Callahan, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Timothy J. Callahan
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$231K (2021) → $242K (2024)
Connie Richards
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Callahan
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $242K, to Timothy J Callahan (President).
Frequently asked questions about Me & FJ Callahan Foundation
How much does Me & FJ Callahan Foundation give each year?
Me & FJ Callahan Foundation gave $2.9M across 71 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 64 grants.
What is Me & FJ Callahan Foundation's typical grant size?
Me & FJ Callahan Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $41,056, across 71 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Me & FJ Callahan Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Me & FJ Callahan Foundation give grants?
Me & FJ Callahan Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (56 grants), Lakewood, OH (3 grants) and Chargin Falls, OH (2 grants).
Does Me & FJ Callahan Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Me & FJ Callahan Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (71 of 71) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Me & FJ Callahan Foundation's largest grantees?
Me & FJ Callahan Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Cleveland Orchestra ($850,000), Case Western Reserve University ($700,000) and The Cleveland Clinic ($175,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Me & FJ Callahan Foundation?
Me & FJ Callahan Foundation reported $22.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Me & FJ Callahan Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support higher education, the arts and social services in Northeast Ohio. It considers capital projects, general operating support and project-specific funding. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Me & FJ Callahan Foundation?
Submit the one-page application through the foundation’s application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Me & FJ Callahan Foundation's EIN?
Me & FJ Callahan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0164320. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Me & FJ Callahan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/me-and-fj-callahan-foundation-morg_05daa30c4ee945e2b6995c7852c9a550
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510164320_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Me \& FJ Callahan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/me-and-fj-callahan-foundation-morg_05daa30c4ee945e2b6995c7852c9a550},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Me & FJ Callahan 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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