The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation is a corporate foundation established in 1962 and based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is part of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., a major player in the mining and steel industry. The foundation has been a dedicated resource for charitable giving activities in the United States for over 60 years, with a focus on supporting social sustainability initiatives across numerous communities.
Key facts about The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation
- EIN
- 31-1284344
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,313,828
- Grants made (2024)
- 178
- Average grant
- $29,853
- Median grant
- $12,136
- Total assets
- $6,936,569
- Primary geography
- Ohio (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation's 178 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (41%), Indiana (19%) and District of Columbia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (26 grants), Toledo, OH (11 grants), Valparaiso, IN (8 grants) and Middletown, OH (5 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation gives
- 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+20%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (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 Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.9M
-24.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.3M
-17.3% YoY
Grant Count
178
-13.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
-4.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $424K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation strives to have a positive impact in the areas where Cleveland-Cliffs operates by partnering with and investing in non-profit organizations that:
- Enhance educational opportunities, including mining and related technology and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)
- Protect and improve the environment
- Promote human health through health and human services, youth activities, safety, and support for the underserved
- Support vibrant communities through local infrastructure, environmental initiatives, community activities, and cultural institutions
Grantmaking
The foundation made grants totaling approximately $3.5 million in 2024, with 131 grants distributed. Recent notable grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports communities across multiple U.S. states and cities where Cleveland-Cliffs operates, including:
- Ohio (primary focus, including Cleveland)
- Michigan (including Detroit)
- Illinois (including Chicago)
- Pennsylvania
- Indiana
- Additional states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 178 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,936,569
- Total Revenues: $3,764,684
- Total Expenses: $4,053,690
- Total Giving: Approximately $3.5 million
Historical Data:
- Assets (2019): Over $9 million
- Foundation Expenses (2019): $5,818,514
- Foundation Revenue (2019): $6,646,330
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,936,569 | $9,122,763 | $9,721,732 |
| Revenue | $3,764,684 | $6,646,330 | $6,186,114 |
| Expenses | $4,053,690 | $5,818,514 | $8,859,886 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,273,828 | $6,423,208 | $6,802,325 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,752,684 | $2,176,274 | $178,028 |
| Distributable Amount | $424,419 | $531,680 | $663,906 |
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
800 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include National Fish and Wildlife ($800,000), College Now Greater Cleveland ($472,000), American Online Giving Foundation ($459,857).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $800,000 |
| COLLEGE NOW GREATER CLEVELAND Cleveland, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $472,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Newark, DE | GENERAL SUPPORT | $459,857 |
| UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA Valparaiso, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $175,000 |
| DUNELAND YMCA INC Chesterton, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| FOOD BANK OF NORTHWEST INDIANA Merrillville, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $104,000 |
| ASM MATERIALS EDUCATION Materials Park, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FDN PHILANTHROP Cleveland, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK Cleveland, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| INDIANA DUNES ENVIRONMENTAL Chesterton, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2021 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa J Benedict | Executive Director | 30 | — |
| Anna D Ediger | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Denise M Caruso | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| James D Graham | Chairman & Trustee | 1 | — |
| Brian K Bishop | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Traci L Forrester | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Maurice D Harapiak | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to support educational and community initiatives. Recent activity includes donations to educational institutions and support for youth and healthy communities programs in areas where Cleveland-Cliffs operates.
The Cleveland-Cliffs FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation fund?
The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation strives to have a positive impact in the areas where Cleveland-Cliffs operates by partnering with and investing in non-profit organizations that: • Enhance educational opportunities, including mining and related technology and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) • Protect and improve the environment • Promote human health through health and human services, youth activities, safety, and support for the underserved • Support vibrant communities throug…
How do I apply for a grant from The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation?
The foundation made grants totaling approximately $3.5 million in 2024, with 131 grants distributed. Recent notable grants include: • College Now Greater Cleveland: $472,000 (2024) • American Online Giving Foundation: $459,857 (2024) • United Way of Northwest Indiana: $175,000 (2024) **Sons and Daughters Scholarship Program** The foundation offers a competitive scholarship awarding $3,000 annually for a maximum of four years while enrolled in an undergraduate institution. The program is adminis…
Where does The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports communities across multiple U.S. states and cities where Cleveland-Cliffs operates, including: • Ohio (primary focus, including Cleveland) • Michigan (including Detroit) • Illinois (including Chicago) • Pennsylvania • Indiana • Additional states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virg…
What size grants does The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation award?
In 2024, The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation awarded 178 grants totaling $5.3M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $424K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.