The Abington Foundation
The Abington Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio, established in 1983. The foundation was created to support the values championed by its founders, David Knight Ford and Elizabeth Kingsley Brooks Ford, and their descendants. The foundation serves Cuyahoga County, Ohio, with a mission to promote education, health care, economic independence, and cultural activities in the region.
Key facts about The Abington Foundation
- EIN
- 34-1404854
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,986,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 75
- Average grant
- $26,487
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (11 of 74, 2024)
- Total assets
- $35,507,737
- Primary geography
- Ohio (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applications will be accepted from organizations based in Cuyahoga County. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Abington Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Abington Foundation's 75 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (97%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (61 grants), Parma, OH (2 grants) and Chagrin Falls, OH (2 grants). 3% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "For Program Support in 2024" (3 grants).
Is The Abington Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 74 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 120% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Abington Foundation
- How to evaluate The Abington Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Abington Foundation with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$35.5M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+31.3% YoY
Grant Count
75
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+22.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Abington Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Abington Foundation seeks to partner with non-profit organizations that serve primarily low-income populations in Cuyahoga County. The foundation values racial equity and supports efforts to address the negative impacts of systemic racism on health, educational, and economic outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
Primary Focus:
Education — The foundation has a central focus on programs that advance and transform urban education, as well as programs to promote literacy and provide access to quality early childhood education.
Additional Interests:
Pathways to Economic Independence — Programs that move individuals and families along pathways to economic independence, including job readiness, access to employment, family stability, financial literacy, and technology training for careers in the future economy.
Healthcare — Programs that increase access to healthcare for elderly and other vulnerable populations.
Cultural Activities — Support for local cultural institutions and historic landmarks in Greater Cleveland, especially those providing education programming and school residencies that support learning and social-emotional development.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Abington Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Abington Foundation serves Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Applications are accepted from organizations based in Cuyahoga County, with limited consideration for organizations outside the region only if invited by a Trustee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 75 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $35,507,737
- Total Annual Giving: $1,986,500 (based on most recent IRS Form 990)
- Median Grant Amount: $20,000
- Average Grant Amount: $24,700
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $35,507,737 | $33,513,413 | $30,831,158 |
| Revenue | $3,111,669 | $397,605 | $950,005 |
| Expenses | $2,307,202 | $1,798,663 | $1,974,618 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,207,029 | $1,711,523 | $1,776,646 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,011,487 | $747,056 | $1,127,735 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,842,096 | $1,576,968 | $1,639,180 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
342 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Abington Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Cleveland Zoological Society ($250,000), The Centers for Families and Children ($215,000 across 2 grants), Lake View Cemetery Foundation ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CLEVELAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY Cleveland, OH | FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PRIMATE FOREST IN 2024-25 | $250,000 |
| THE CENTERS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN Cleveland, OH | OVER TWO YEARS, FOR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO RENOVATE CLEVELAND CHRISTIAN HOME TO SERVE AS THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY CHILD WELLNESS CAMPUS AND WELCOME CENTER | $200,000 |
| LAKE VIEW CEMETERY FOUNDATION Cleveland, OH | OVER TWO YEARS FOR PHASE III OF THE RESTORATION OF THE GARFIELD MEMORIAL | $150,000 |
| URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL Cleveland, OH | OVER TWO YEARS, TO CONSTRUCT AN ATHLETIC CENTER IN 2024-25 | $125,000 |
| THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND Cleveland, OH | OVER TWO YEARS FOR A NEW HEADQUARTERS | $75,000 |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CARE INC DBA NEIGHBORHOOD FAMILY PRACTICE Cleveland, OH | TO EXPAND SERVICES AT A NEW SITE IN 2024 | $75,000 |
| THE METROHEALTH FOUNDATION Cleveland, OH | FOR THE MOBILE CLINIC OUTREACH PROGRAM IN 2024 | $50,000 |
| BIRTHING BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITIES Cleveland, OH | TO CONSTRUCT A BIRTH CENTER IN 2024-25 | $45,000 |
| SUPPORT CENTER FOR CHILD ADVOCATES Philadelphia, PA | TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS IN FY25 | $30,000 |
| MUSICAL ARTS ASSOCIATION Cleveland, OH | FOR EDUCATION CONCERTS AND MUSIC RESOURCES FOR CMSD STUDENTS IN 2024-25 | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- David Knight Ford — Trustee (founder)
- Donald Ford — Trustee
- Allen H Ford — Life Trustee
David Knight Ford was born in Cleveland in 1894, graduated from Yale University in 1915, and served in the armed forces during World War I. He was a founder of Lubrizol Corporation and served as a member of its board of directors and as a trustee of the Lubrizol Foundation. Elizabeth Kingsley Brooks Ford became a founder and first president of the Cleveland Area League for Nursing, now known as the Ohio League for Nursing.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope Murphy | Trustee | 2 | — |
| John Ford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Sarah Ford Whitener | Trustee | 2 | — |
| David Ford Jr | Vice Pres, Sec'y, Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Charles K Ford PHD | President | 2 | — |
| Ned Ford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Lise Ford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Leslie Ford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Ted Ford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Chloe Peeples | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Dylan Ford | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Nate Ford | Trustee | 2 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Abington Foundation fund?
The Abington Foundation seeks to partner with non-profit organizations that serve primarily low-income populations in Cuyahoga County. The foundation values racial equity and supports efforts to address the negative impacts of systemic racism on health, educational, and economic outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). **Primary Focus:** **Education** — The foundation has a central focus on programs that advance and transform urban education, as well as programs to promote l…
How do I apply for a grant from The Abington Foundation?
Applications will be accepted from organizations based in Cuyahoga County. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Abington Foundation make grants?
The Abington Foundation serves Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Applications are accepted from organizations based in Cuyahoga County, with limited consideration for organizations outside the region only if invited by a Trustee.
What size grants does The Abington Foundation award?
In 2024, The Abington Foundation awarded 75 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Abington Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Abington 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 The Abington Foundation's EIN?
The Abington Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1404854. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Abington Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.