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.
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
In 2023, the foundation awarded $1,694,500 across its focus areas:
How to Apply
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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
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 |
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
250 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 include Lake View Cemetery Foundation ($150,000), The City Club of Cleveland ($75,000), Neighborhood Health Care Inc Dba Neighborhood Family Practice ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CLEVELAND, OH | FOR THE SLAM DUNK PROGRAM FOR K-2 STUDENTS IN EAST CLEVELAND CITY SCHOOLS IN 2024-25 | $20,000 |
| DANCING CLASSROOMS NORTHEAST OHIO PARMA, OH | FOR DANCE RESIDENCY PROGRAMMING IN CMSD SCHOOLS IN 2023-24 | $15,000 |
| MUSICAL ARTS ASSOCIATION CLEVELAND, OH | FOR EDUCATION CONCERTS AND MUSIC RESOURCES FOR CMSD STUDENTS IN 2024-25 | $25,000 |
| THE LESBIAN GAY BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH IN 2025 | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND CULTURAL GARDENS FEDERATION CLEVELAND, OH | TO CREATE AN EDUCATOR'S GUIDE FOR THE CLEVELAND CULTURAL GARDENS | $3,000 |
| SMART DEVELOPMENT INC CLEVELAND, OH | FOR THE COMMUNITY FIRST PROGRAM IN 2024 | $20,000 |
| LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE THROUGH CIVIL LEGAL AID IN 2024 | $20,000 |
| YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED CLEVELAND, OH | TO SUPPORT THE JOBS FOR OHIOS GRADUATES PROGRAM IN 2024-25 | $20,000 |
| LAKE VIEW CEMETERY FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | OVER TWO YEARS FOR PHASE III OF THE RESTORATION OF THE GARFIELD MEMORIAL | $150,000 |
| EDWINS LEADERSHIP & RESTAURANT INSTITUTE CLEVELAND, OH | FOR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN FY24 | $20,000 |
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,500 to $250,000 • Priority is given to requests for specific programs or projects • Organizations are discouraged from submitting requests for endowment, sponsorships, seminars, or general operating support • Preference is also given to organizations and activities that were supported by the founders during their lifetimes **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2023, the foundation awarded $1,694,500 across its focus areas: • Cultural Activ…
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 June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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