The Sauerland Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1994 and granted tax-exempt status in December 1995. Based in Milford, Ohio, the foundation operates as a non-operating private foundation making grants on an ongoing basis to support charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.8M
+46.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+56.9% YoY
Grant Count
51
+21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+29.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sauerland Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on a wide range of charitable purposes including:
- Environment and natural resources
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Science
- Public safety and crime prevention
- Community and economic development
- Housing development
- Human services
- Education
- Arts and culture
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated significant growth in grantmaking activity, increasing from 18 awards in 2020 to 51 awards in 2024.
Grant Range
$3,000 to $250,000
Average Grant
$34,286
Review Cycle
- Accepts applications
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Sauerland Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofits in Ohio, with particular emphasis on Cincinnati and Cleveland. The foundation also has some national reach, supporting initiatives across multiple U.S. states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $28,789,296
- Total revenue: $11,372,595
- Total grants and contributions: $10,803,593
- Investment income and dividends: $447,452
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $121,550
- Total expenses: $2,301,993
- Total liabilities: $0
Giving Rate: 7.9% of assets
Historical Asset Growth: The foundation has experienced significant growth, with assets increasing from approximately $3 million in 2015 to $28.8 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,789,296 | $19,720,854 | $8,384,157 |
| Revenue | $11,372,595 | $12,778,606 | $5,275,924 |
| Expenses | $2,301,993 | $1,441,449 | $661,456 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,260,589 | $1,440,200 | $660,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $447,452 | $154,917 | $132,239 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,829,643 | $1,004,700 | $506,362 |
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
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cleveland Museum of Art ($250,000), Friends of Breakthrough ($250,000), Friends of Intergenerational School ($115,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $20,000 |
| ACLU OF OHIO FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | DONATION | $50,000 |
| ACTION ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL EULESS, TX | DONATION | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DC | DONATION | $40,000 |
| BAKER HUNT ART CENTER COVINGTON, KY | DONATION | $20,000 |
| CARDINAL LAND CONSERVANCY MILFORD, OH | DONATION | $40,000 |
| CHANGING GEARS CINCINNATI, OH | DONATION | $20,000 |
| CINCINNATI WORKS CINCINNATI, OH | DONATION | $60,000 |
| CLEVELAND ANIMAL PROTECTIVE LEAGUE CLEVELAND, OH | DONATION | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION H&V CLEVELAND, OH | DONATION | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by three trustees: John, Paul, and Robert Sauerland, sons of Franz L. Sauerland and Elizabeth Ellen (Ivins) Sauerland.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN SAUERLAND | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| PAUL SAUERLAND | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ROBERT SAUERLAND | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 600 Falls Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Phone: (440) 247-2881
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sauerland Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on a wide range of charitable purposes including: • Environment and natural resources • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Science • Public safety and crime prevention • Community and economic development • Housing development • Human services • Education • Arts and culture
How do I apply for a grant from Sauerland Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $2,260,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 51 (2024) • Grant range: $3,000 to $250,000 • Median grant size: $30,000 • Average grant size: $34,286 **Application Process:** • Rolling basis with no fixed deadlines • Accepts applications • Each application is evaluated individually based on charitable purpose **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Cleveland Museum of Art: $250,000 • Friends of Breakthrough: $250,000 • Rid-All Foundation: $100,000 **Historical Growth:** The fo…
Where does Sauerland Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofits in Ohio, with particular emphasis on Cincinnati and Cleveland. The foundation also has some national reach, supporting initiatives across multiple U.S. states.
What size grants does Sauerland Foundation award?
In 2024, Sauerland Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sauerland Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sauerland Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sauerland Foundation's EIN?
Sauerland Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1787952. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sauerland Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Ge Aerospace Foundation
NORWALK, CT
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
CINCINNATI, OH
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,408
Total Given
$184.4M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Duke Energy Foundation
CHARLOTTE, NC
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
The Cigna Group Foundation
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Assets
$127.2M
Grants
4,075
Total Given
$14.1M
Johnson Charitable Gift Fund
CINCINNATI, OH
Assets
$383.4M
Grants
742
Total Given
$46.3M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
Arthur J Gallagher Foundation
ROLLING MEADOWS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
2,692
Total Given
$1.6M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Sauerland Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities