Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation
The Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation is a Cleveland, Ohio–based public charity that makes grants to support the charitable, educational, and religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. It was formed in 1998.
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation gave $511K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $51K), mostly in Ohio. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $511,000
- -30.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $51,100
- -23.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $20,527,998
- +1.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 25701 Science Park Drive, Cleveland, OH 44122-7302
Phone: (216) 593-2900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University Hospitals Health Systems Inc ($200K). Together the top 10 received $511K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 50 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 15% to Maryland, and 7% to Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $43K first-time, $35K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $371K (2019) to $1.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $511K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals Health Systems Inc Cleveland, OH | Harrington Discovery Institute Brain Health | $200,000 |
| Players Philanthropy Fund Towson, MD | Cleveland Curricular Collaboration with Peace Literacy Institute | $75,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Community Security Initiative, Donor Advised Fund | $50,000 |
| Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland, OH | Scholarships | $36,000 |
| Berea College Berea, KY | Scholarships | $35,000 |
| Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland Ohio Pepper Pike, OH | Chesed Center, Dementia Care Navigation, Emergency Financial Assistance | $35,000 |
| United Way of Greater Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Campaign | $35,000 |
| Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network Inc Cleveland, OH | Student Engagement Program | $25,000 |
| Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage Beachwood, OH | Degenerate! Hitler's War on Modern Art | $10,000 |
| Youth Opportunities Unlimited Cleveland, OH | Internship Program | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,527,998 | $604,687 | $627,996 | $511,000 | 10 | $604,687 |
| 2024 | $20,251,244 | $626,839 | $854,570 | $738,500 | 11 | $626,839 |
| 2023 | $19,670,864 | $2,987,368 | $1,200,317 | $1,108,000 | 11 | $526,615 |
| 2022 | $16,844,177 | $180,923 | $893,624 | $826,300 | 10 | $164,662 |
| 2021 | $17,878,106 | $167,986 | $450,927 | $415,000 | 8 | $167,986 |
| 2019 | $1,338,029 | $531,798 | $395,844 | $371,109 | 11 | $113,111 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its mission is to further the charitable, educational, and religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. It describes its program as grants to 501(c)(3) organizations supporting those purposes.
Its 2025 grants included support for brain health research, scholarships, community security, social services, student engagement, internships, and an arts exhibition. These are purposes listed for individual grants, not a separate statement of the foundation’s overall focus.
Among its grantees, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland describes itself as serving the greater Cleveland Jewish community and Jews worldwide through collaborative services and work across four strategic pillars. Berea College says it transforms the lives of students and families by admitting students of high promise and low means. United Way of Greater Cleveland describes its role as coordinating community resources to improve lives and create impact at scale. Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland says it provides individuals and families with solutions to face life’s challenges, while Youth Opportunities Unlimited says it equips teens and young adults with skills and experiences to thrive in the workforce and in life.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $511,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $35,000.
The largest listed grants were $200,000 to University Hospitals Health Systems for the Harrington Discovery Institute Brain Health and $75,000 to Players Philanthropy Fund for a Cleveland curricular collaboration with the Peace Literacy Institute. Other notable grants included $50,000 to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for its Community Security Initiative, $36,000 to the Cleveland Institute of Art for scholarships, and $35,000 each to Berea College for scholarships, Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland for its Chesed Center, dementia care navigation, and emergency financial assistance, and United Way of Greater Cleveland for its campaign.
The foundation says grantees generally must sign and return a grant award letter specifying the grant’s terms, use of funds, period of performance, and reporting requirements. It generally requests written reports within 6–9 months of the grant award and conducts site visits in selected cases.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kim M. Pesses as president and trustee; Michael Meisel and Peter Meisel as vice presidents and trustees; and Marilyn M. Bedol, Zachary T. Paris, Judy Willensky, and Jason A. Wuliger as trustees. Matthew Kaliff is listed as secretary. Mozelle Jackson is listed as treasurer through March 18, 2025, and Kari Blumenthal as treasurer starting June 5, 2025.
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation is led by Kim M. Pesses, President & Trustee on every filing since 2019; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kim M. Pesses
President & Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Willensky
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn M. Bedol
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Meisel
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Meisel
Vice President & Trustee
Trustee → V. President, 2021
V. President → Vice President & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zachary T. Paris
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason A. Wuliger
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kari Blumenthal
Treasurer Starting
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer Starting, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Kaliff
Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mozelle Jackson
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Meisel
Vice President
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mindee Fredman
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellyn Lefko
Assistant Treasurer Starting
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Ann Garson (2021–2024) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Cole Pesses (2022–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Alan D. Gross (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Barry Reis (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Logan Pesses (2021–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Alison Meisel (2019–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Barbara Meisel (2019) — Vice President
- Former: Jessica Bruder (2019) — Assistant Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation
How much does Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation give each year?
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation gave $511K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $739K across 11 grants.
What is Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $35,000, and its average grant was $51,100, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation that year got $43K on average.
Where does Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation give grants?
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (15%) and Kentucky (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (6 grants).
Does Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University Hospitals Health Systems Inc ($200,000), Players Philanthropy Fund ($75,000) and Jewish Federation of Cleveland ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation?
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation reported $20.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $605K.
What does Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to further the charitable, educational, and religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. It describes its program as grants to 501(c)(3) organizations supporting those purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation?
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation's EIN?
Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1583883. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Meisel & Pesses Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/meisel-and-pesses-family-foundation-morg_980c38c10cd8483ca9e9bca490f5931b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311583883_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Meisel \& Pesses Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/meisel-and-pesses-family-foundation-morg_980c38c10cd8483ca9e9bca490f5931b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Meisel & Pesses 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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