The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Established in 1962, it supports nonprofit organizations and projects in communities where Cleveland-Cliffs operates, with a focus on education, the environment, and healthy and vibrant communities.
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation at a glance
In short: The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation gave $3.8M across 154 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), top state Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,774,625
- -29.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 154
- -13.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,511
- -17.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $6,700,646
- -3.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Organizations may submit a letter of inquiry through the foundation’s online grants system to request consideration for a full proposal. Only organizations invited to submit a full proposal may use the full application. Requests must be submitted through the online portal. The foundation’s stated exclusions include grants to individuals, trips and associated costs, political causes and campaigns, form-letter requests, loans or investments, grants to cover operating deficits, and certain organizations, including those that are not IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations, subject to stated exceptions for some schools, libraries, and public-safety organizations. It also excludes specified discriminatory organizations and certain religious groups.
- Review Cycle
- The website listed August 31, 2026, for fall letters of inquiry and September 11, 2026, for invited full applications; both dates have passed. The foundation’s 2025 filing says deadline dates are typically March 1, June 1, and September 1.
- Deadline
- The website listed August 31, 2026, for fall letters of inquiry and September 11, 2026, for invited full applications;…
- Contact
Application contact: Melissa Benedict
Mailing address: 200 Public Square Suite 3300, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (513) 425-2543
Website: https://clevelandcliffs.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was College Now Greater Cleveland ($500K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,018 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 898 grants of 1,018 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it invests in communities where Cleveland-Cliffs operates. In 2025, 47% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 16% to Indiana, 11% to Washington, DC, 10% to Delaware, and 7% to Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 154 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation gives
- 51% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 44% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 335% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $1.2M (2020) to $6.8M (2022). In 2025 it made 154 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| College Now Greater Cleveland Cleveland, OH | General Support | $490,000 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Washington, DC | General Support | $400,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Newark, DE | General Support | $369,388 |
| Duneland YMCA Inc Chesterton, IN | General Support | $125,000 |
| Greater Cleveland Food Bank Cleveland, OH | General Support | $100,500 |
| ASM Materials Education Foundation Materials Park, OH | General Support | $100,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic Fdn Philanthrop Cleveland, OH | General Support | $100,000 |
| Atrium Medical Ctr Foundation Middletown, OH | General Support | $75,000 |
| YMCA of Marquette County Marquette, MI | General Support | $75,000 |
| Great Lakes Historical Society Toledo, OH | General Support | $62,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,700,646 | $6,040,092 | $3,220,079 | $3,774,625 | 154 | $3,774,625 | $3,228,092 | $1,126,968 |
| 2024 | $6,936,569 | $3,764,684 | $4,053,690 | $5,313,828 | 178 | $5,273,828 | $1,752,684 | $424,419 |
| 2023 | $9,122,763 | $6,646,330 | $5,818,514 | $6,423,208 | 205 | $6,423,208 | $2,176,274 | $531,680 |
| 2022 | $9,721,732 | $6,186,114 | $8,859,886 | $6,795,088 | 214 | $6,802,325 | $178,028 | $663,906 |
| 2021 | $12,752,009 | $3,147,684 | $7,276,138 | $5,734,330 | 267 | $5,740,649 | $144,526 | $619,516 |
| 2020 | $13,826,196 | $313,147 | $1,098,931 | $1,186,232 | 6 | — | $277,510 | $458,482 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s focus areas are education, the environment, and healthy and vibrant communities. Its website describes education funding as including skill-building such as STEM, workforce preparation, and employment opportunities. Environmental support includes land and water restoration, green spaces, and sustainable communities and natural areas. Healthy and vibrant community work includes services and opportunities for underserved populations, healthy-lifestyle and disease-prevention programs, and community-improvement initiatives led by arts, cultural, and civic institutions.
Examples of organizations supported in 2025 illustrate the range of grantees. College Now Greater Cleveland says its mission is to increase postsecondary educational attainment through college and career advising, financial aid counseling, and scholarship and retention services. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation describes its work as advancing conservation through partnerships and science-based programs. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank says it provides nutritious food and essential resources to neighbors facing hunger. ASM Materials Education Foundation describes its mission as developing materials-science content and hands-on instruction to inspire and empower students and teachers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 154 grants totaling $3,774,625. Grants ranged from $250 to $490,000, with a median grant of $10,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $490,000 to College Now Greater Cleveland, $400,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, $369,388 to American Online Giving Foundation, and $125,000 to Duneland YMCA. Other notable awards included $100,500 to Greater Cleveland Food Bank, $100,000 each to ASM Materials Education Foundation and Cleveland Clinic Foundation Philanthropy, and $75,000 each to Atrium Medical Center Foundation and YMCA of Marquette County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James D. Graham as chairman and trustee, Melissa J. Benedict as executive director, and Charles T. Walker as treasurer. Listed trustees also include Anna P. Ediger, Patrick M. Bloom, Kimberly A. Floriani, and Traci L. Forrester. Anna P. Ediger and Marissa C. Alfano are listed as secretaries; the filing notes that Ediger’s secretary term ended December 8, 2025, and Forrester’s trustee term ended July 14, 2025.
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation is led by Melissa J. Benedict, Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Melissa J. Benedict
Executive Director
Executive Director & Secretary → Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James D. Graham
Chairman & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Traci L. Forrester
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna P. Ediger
Secretary & Trustee
Secretary → Secretary & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick M. Bloom
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly A. Floriani
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles T. Walker
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marissa C. Alfano
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Brian K. Bishop (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Denise M. Caruso (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Maurice D. Harapiak (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Doug O. Mitterholzer (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Gregory A. Hoffbauer (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph C. Alter (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Kirk W. Reich (2020) — Chairman & Trustee
- Former: R. Christopher Cebula (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Renee S. Filiatraut (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Scott M. Lauschke (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Stephanie S. Bisselberg (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Terry G. Fedor (2020) — Trustee
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 The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation
How much does The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation give each year?
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation gave $3.8M across 154 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.3M across 178 grants.
What is The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's typical grant size?
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $24,511, across 154 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation give grants?
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's top state is Ohio, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Indiana (16%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (22 grants), Toledo, OH (11 grants), Middletown, OH (8 grants) and Valparaiso, IN (6 grants).
Does The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (154 of 154) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's largest grantees?
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include College Now Greater Cleveland ($500,000 across 2 grants), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation ($400,000) and American Online Giving Foundation ($369,388), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation?
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation reported $6.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation fund?
The foundation’s focus areas are education, the environment, and healthy and vibrant communities. Its website describes education funding as including skill-building such as STEM, workforce preparation, and employment opportunities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation?
Organizations may submit a letter of inquiry through the foundation’s online grants system to request consideration for a full proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's EIN?
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1284344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF 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 The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-cleveland-cliffs-foundation-morg_fe4919b0045640c1ae4251f25e47bd36
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311284344_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-cleveland-cliffs-foundation-morg_fe4919b0045640c1ae4251f25e47bd36},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 The Cleveland-Cliffs 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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