Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation
The Samuel H. and Maria Miller Foundation is a private family foundation established in November 1985 and based in Cleveland, Ohio. The foundation honors the legacy of Samuel Henry Miller (1921-2019), a renowned Cleveland businessman and philanthropist who served as co-chairman emeritus of Forest City Realty Trust, Inc. The foundation is led by family members and longtime associates who continue Miller's legacy of strategic, proactive philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$119.4M
+5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.3M
+42.5% YoY
Grant Count
46
+7.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$138K
+33.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides grants primarily for:
- Education (particularly nursing leadership)
- Healthcare and medical services
- Jewish and interfaith causes
- Social services
- Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches and organizations
- Children's services
- The arts
The foundation is known for supporting healthcare, education, and religious organizations, with particular emphasis on the Cleveland area and Northeast Ohio region.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates as a private family foundation making grants to preselected charitable organizations only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Grant Range
$500 to $1,000,000
Average Grant
amount: $111,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in:
- Cleveland, Ohio and the Northeast Ohio region
- Ohio (primary focus)
- District of Columbia
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $119,398,268
- Total giving: $6,329,000
- Revenue: $12,727,634
- Expenses: $6,631,278
- Net income: $6,096,356
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $113,237,248
- Total revenues: $2,035,939
- Total expenses: $4,870,173
The foundation's total assets have grown significantly from $36.7 million in 2011 to $119.4 million in 2024. Annual giving has grown from $3.9 million in 2020 to $10.5 million in 2022.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $119,398,268 | $113,237,248 | $116,071,482 |
| Revenue | $12,727,634 | $2,035,939 | $4,891,901 |
| Expenses | $6,631,278 | $4,870,173 | $5,928,438 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,342,301 | $4,449,585 | $5,273,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,427,314 | $1,843,336 | $4,211,463 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,056,170 | $5,103,759 | $5,300,896 |
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
218 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cleveland Clinic - Pledge 7m ($2,200,000), Parma Hospital Foundation ($700,000), Case Western Reserve University- Hearing and Speech ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS CLEVELAND, OH | FIRE ALARM PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| ASHBROOK CENTER ASHLAND, OH | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| BENJAMIN ROSE INSTITUTE CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| BOYS HOPE - GIRLS HOPE CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY- HEARING AND SPEECH CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $500,000 |
| CITY MISSION CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC - FRANCIS PAYNE BOLTON SCHOOL OF NURSING CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $250,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC - PLEDGE 7M CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $2,200,000 |
| CLEVELAND FOODBANK INC CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL | $135,000 |
| COAR PARMA, OH | GENERAL | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gabrielle Miller — President, Trustee
- Eleanor Fanslau — Treasurer, Trustee
- Bradley Knapp — Trustee
Contact is available through Eleanor Fanslau, Treasurer, at the Cleveland address.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GABRIELLE MILLER | PRESIDENT, TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ELEANOR FANSLAU | TREASURER, TRUSTEE | 24 | — |
| BRADLEY KNAPP | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| KIMBERLY SCOTT | SECRETARY, TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| ABRAHAM MILLER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported several notable initiatives:
The Diocese of Cleveland Emergency Assistance Fund received a $500,000 donation from the foundation
Diocese of Cleveland Emergency Assistance Fund receives $500,000 donationThe Cleveland Jewish News received grant support, with the organization's digital archive renamed in honor of the late Sam Miller
Miller Foundation supports CJN through grant; digital archive renamed inThe Lillian and Betty Ratner Montessori School received a four-year grant award for a literacy program
Ratner School receives four-year grant award from Miller Foundation for literacyThe foundation continues to make strategic grants to healthcare institutions, educational organizations, and religious institutions throughout the Cleveland region.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation fund?
The foundation provides grants primarily for: • Education (particularly nursing leadership) • Healthcare and medical services • Jewish and interfaith causes • Social services • Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches and organizations • Children's services • The arts The foundation is known for supporting healthcare, education, and religious organizations, with particular emphasis on the Cleveland area and Northeast Ohio region.
How do I apply for a grant from Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $500 to $1,000,000 • Average grant amount: $111,000 • Median grant amount: $25,000 to $32,500 • Annual giving: $6.3 million (2024) **Application Process:** The foundation operates as a private family foundation making grants to preselected charitable organizations only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. **Recent Grant Activity:** According to 2023 data, the foundation made 49 grants totaling approximately $2.99 million. Nota…
Where does Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation make grants?
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in: • Cleveland, Ohio and the Northeast Ohio region • Ohio (primary focus) • District of Columbia • New York
What size grants does Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation award?
In 2024, Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation awarded 46 grants totaling $6.3M — an average of about $138K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation's EIN?
Samuel H & Maria Miller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1482231. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Samuel H & Maria Miller 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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