Simon Family Foundation
Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Simon Family Foundation is a public charity formed in 1994. Its stated purpose is to further the charitable, educational, and religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.
Simon Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Simon Family Foundation gave $563K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Ohio. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $562,500
- +21.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $33,088
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $9,718,744
- +4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (2 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (62% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Simon 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 Simon Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish Federation of Cleveland ($103K). Together the top 10 received $468K.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 64 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio (62%), New York (14%), Arizona (10%), Massachusetts (8%), and Connecticut (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Simon Family Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 17 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $38K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $184K (2021) to $563K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $563K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Cleveland Cleveland, OH | 2026 campaign for jewish needs; 2025 campaign for jewish needs; holocaust survivors initiative | $103,000 |
| Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland Ohio Pepper Pike, OH | Chesed center; dementia care navigation; domestic violence legal advocacy, emergency financial assistance, forward focus, hebrew shelter home; memory cafe; shuttle on the go | $90,000 |
| American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc New York, NY | General Support | $60,000 |
| Jewish Community Association of Greater Pheonix Scottsdale, AZ | PJ Library Program and Security Needs | $55,000 |
| Metrohealth Foundation Inc Cleveland, OH | Food as Medicine | $50,000 |
| Greater Cleveland Food Bank Inc Cleveland, OH | General Support | $25,000 |
| Undue Medical Debt Boston, MA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH | Adorning ritual: jewish ceremonial art from jewish museum, New York and rose iron works and art deco | $20,000 |
| Dignity Grows Inc Hartford, CT | General Support | $20,000 |
| Facing History and Ourselves Inc Boston, MA | Contemporary antisemitism initiative and cleveland curricular collaboration with peace literacy institute | $20,000 |
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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 | $9,718,744 | $509,301 | $726,550 | $562,500 | 17 | $27,539 |
| 2024 | $9,283,807 | $506,066 | $663,230 | $465,000 | 15 | $30,082 |
| 2023 | $9,165,571 | $465,819 | $459,254 | $265,500 | 11 | $5,137 |
| 2022 | $8,958,316 | $440,204 | $618,391 | $545,500 | 12 | $12,552 |
| 2021 | $9,381,496 | $437,843 | $222,098 | $183,500 | 9 | $21,651 |
| 2020 | $8,795,252 | $131,549 | $542,422 | $513,000 | 15 | $16,095 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to further the charitable, educational, and religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Its filing describes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in support of those purposes.
Grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range represented among 2025 recipients. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland says it seeks to promote the well-being, continuity, security, and unity of its community and Jews worldwide. The Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland says it helps individuals and families face life’s challenges. MetroHealth Foundation says it supports the MetroHealth System’s work toward a healthier community, while Greater Cleveland Food Bank says it provides food and essential resources to neighbors facing hunger.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $562,500. Grant amounts ranged from $8,500 to $103,000, with a median of $20,000.
The largest reported grants included $103,000 to Jewish Federation of Cleveland for campaign and Holocaust survivors initiatives; $90,000 to Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland for programs including dementia care navigation, domestic violence legal advocacy, and emergency financial assistance; $60,000 to American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee for general support; $55,000 to Jewish Community Association of Greater Phoenix for its PJ Library program and security needs; and $50,000 to MetroHealth Foundation for Food as Medicine. Other reported grants included $25,000 each to Greater Cleveland Food Bank for general support and Undue Medical Debt for general support, and $20,000 each to Cleveland Museum of Art, Dignity Grows, Facing History and Ourselves, Shoes and Clothes for Kids, and Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland.
The foundation’s filing says grantees are generally required to sign and return a grant award letter specifying terms, use of funds, grant period, and reporting requirements. It generally requests written reports within 6–9 months of a grant and conducts site visits in selected cases.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robyn Brenner, Ellen S. Chernikoff, Robert Simon, Lawrence R. Chernikoff, Kim Pesses, Paula Schwartz, Harvey A. Siegel, Michael Slomak, and Jay Chernikoff as trustees. Ellen S. Chernikoff is listed as president, and Robert Simon as vice president. Mozelle Jackson is listed as treasurer through June 10, 2025.
The 2024 filing states that Ellen Chernikoff, Jay Chernikoff, Lawrence Chernikoff, and Robert Simon have family relationships, and that Ellen Chernikoff and Robert Simon have a business relationship. It also states that the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the supported organization, holds a majority of member voting power; donor members collectively hold a minority.
Simon Family Foundation is led by Ellen S. Chernikoff, Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen S. Chernikoff
Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harvey A. Siegel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Chernikoff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Pesses
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence R. Chernikoff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Slomak
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula Schwartz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Simon
Trustee & Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robyn Brenner
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kari Blumenthal
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mozelle Jackson
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mindee Fredman
Secretary
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abigail Stadlin
Assistant Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Ann M. Garson (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Barry Reis (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Fran Doris (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jessica Bruder (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Lisa Chernikoff (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Nancy Hoffner (2020) — Assistant Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Simon Family Foundation
How much does Simon Family Foundation give each year?
Simon Family Foundation gave $563K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $465K across 15 grants.
What is Simon Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Simon Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $33,088, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Simon Family Foundation that year got $38K on average.
Where does Simon Family Foundation give grants?
Simon Family Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (14%) and Arizona (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (7 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Simon Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 41% of Simon Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Simon Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Simon Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish Federation of Cleveland ($103,000), Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland Ohio ($90,000) and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Simon Family Foundation?
Simon Family Foundation reported $9.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $509K.
What does Simon Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to further the charitable, educational, and religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Its filing describes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in support of those purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Simon Family Foundation?
Simon Family Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Simon Family Foundation's EIN?
Simon Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1808584. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Simon Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Simon Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/simon-family-foundation-morg_5a3691672c2e41c9b8d81d5b95605419
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_341808584_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Simon Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/simon-family-foundation-morg_5a3691672c2e41c9b8d81d5b95605419},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Simon 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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