The Cleveland Foundation
The Cleveland Foundation is the world's first community foundation and one of the largest today. Established in 1914 by Frederick Harris Goff, a lawyer and banker at the Cleveland Trust Company, the foundation was created to provide a lasting and impactful way for people to give back to their community. Unlike one-time donations, gifts to the Cleveland Foundation are invested to grow over time and meet changing community needs across generations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3B
+11.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$184.2M
+23.7% YoY
Grant Count
1,016
+5.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$181K
+17.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: A vibrant Northeast Ohio where no Clevelander is left behind.
Mission: To make the lives of Clevelanders better, now and for generations to come, by working together with donors to build community endowment, address needs through grantmaking, and provide leadership on key community issues.
Program Areas:
- Arts & Culture
- Economic & Workforce Development
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human Services
- Leadership Development
- Neighborhood Revitalization & Engagement
- Philanthropic Sector
- Youth Development
The foundation's grantmaking approach combines two strategies: approximately half of grants authorized are directed by the board toward strategic initiatives and community-responsive requests addressing vital community needs, while the other half are directed by donors through various trusts and funds.
Grantmaking
The Cleveland Foundation operates multiple funding mechanisms and initiatives:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Cleveland Foundation primarily serves residents of Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties in Greater Cleveland, Ohio. The foundation also maintains grantmaking activity in other regions including New York and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,285,560,340
- Total Revenues: $302,815,178
- Total Expenses: $222,320,279
- Annual Grants: More than $100 million
Historical Financial Data (2023):
- Revenue: $370 million
- Expenses: $186 million
- Total Assets: $2.94 billion
- Total Liabilities: $362 million
The foundation maintains a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,285,560,340 | $2,940,696,456 | $2,479,675,814 |
| Revenue | $302,815,178 | $370,353,894 | $234,720,202 |
| Expenses | $222,320,279 | $185,847,869 | $160,647,426 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $126,933,834 | $68,917,538 | $75,346,645 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
12 open opportunities from The Cleveland Foundation
Affiliated Funds- Frank Hadley Ginn & Cornelia Root Ginn Foundation Grants
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION
Amount
US $2,500 - US $15,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Cleveland Black Futures Fund
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Cleveland Foundation Grants
THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Angels for Animals Inc ($3,748,822), Andrews Osborne Academy ($1,090,135), American Heart Association ($582,456).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A KID AT ART FOR THE HEART INC CHARDON, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| A PLACE 4 ME COLLABORATIVE CLEVELAND, OH | A PLACE 4 ME CAPACITY BUILDING | $80,000 |
| A VISION OF CHANGE INC CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $115,000 |
| ABC READ CLEVELAND, OH | READING IS FREEDOM | $20,000 |
| ABILITY WORKS SANDUSKY, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ABRAHAM J AND PHYLLIS KATZ CORD BLOOD FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $202,989 |
| ACCELERATOR FOR AMERICA LOS ANGELES, CA | NATIONAL HOUSING CRISIS TASK FORCE | $50,000 |
| ACCESS INC AKRON, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,300 |
| ACE MENTOR PROGRAM OF AMERICA - CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | SCHOLARSHIP FOR A CLEVELAND-BASED COLLEGE STUDENT PURSUING A CONSTRUCTION-RELATED DEGREE. PREFERRED STUDENT WILL ATTEND AN OHIO COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY & BE A GRADUATE OF A HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND | $27,620 |
| ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN HIGHLAND HILLS, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $143,145 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONNIE HILL-JOHNSON | CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| RANDELL MCSHEPARD | VICE CHAIR AND DIRECTOR(EFF.4/1/24) | 2 | — |
| RONALD ADRINE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| FRED BIDWELL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CARRIE CARPENTER | DIRECTOR (VICE CHAIR UNTIL 3/31/24) | 2 | — |
| MARGOT COPELAND | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KATHLEEN FERRY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| REVDRROBIN HEDGEMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAVID HELLER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| CAREY JAROS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| STEWART KOHL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RONALD RATNER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARIA SPANGLER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RICHARD STOVSKY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| GRAHAM VEYSEY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LILLIAN KURI | PRESIDENT & CEO | 60 | $595,261 |
| ROSANNE POTTER | CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER/CFO | 50 | $406,589 |
| LEON WILSON | CHIEF TECHNOLOGY&INFORMATION OFFICER | 50 | $222,863 |
| COLETTE JONES | CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | 50 | $234,197 |
| GINGER MLAKAR | SENIOR VICE PRESENT/GENERAL COUNSEL | 50 | $247,853 |
| LETA OBERTACZ | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT | 50 | $279,803 |
| LESLIE A DUNFORD | VICE PRESIDENT | 50 | $180,832 |
| COURTNEY LEHMANN | CORPORATE SECRETARY | 50 | $77,574 |
| KATHY PARKER | VICE PRESIDENT (EFF.10/1/24) | 50 | $187,870 |
| ANTHONY GATTUSO | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER(EFF.10/1/24) | 50 | $179,587 |
| VICTOR BARBALATO | VICE PRESIDENT (EFF.4/1/24) | 50 | $156,428 |
| DANIELLE HANNA | VICE PRESIDENT (4/1-10/4/24) | 50 | $128,064 |
| HELEN WILLIAMS | VICE PRESIDENT | 50 | $227,783 |
| KEISHA GONZALEZ | SENIOR PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 50 | $169,502 |
| KATHLEEN HALLISSEY | VICE PRESIDENT | 50 | $194,354 |
| TERRI EASON | SR.DIRECTOR-PHILANTHROPY EQUITY INITIATIVES | 50 | $170,255 |
| KEVIN SCANLON | DIRECTOR, IT SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION | 50 | $163,407 |
| MONICA BROWN | VICE PRESIDENT (FORMER OFFICER) | 50 | $116,978 |
Contact Information
Address: 1422 Euclid Avenue Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: 216-861-3810
Website: www.clevelandfoundation.org
Email: hello@clevefdn.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cleveland Foundation fund?
**Vision:** A vibrant Northeast Ohio where no Clevelander is left behind. **Mission:** To make the lives of Clevelanders better, now and for generations to come, by working together with donors to build community endowment, address needs through grantmaking, and provide leadership on key community issues. **Program Areas:** • Arts & Culture • Economic & Workforce Development • Education • Environment • Health • Human Services • Leadership Development • Neighborhood Revitalization & Engagement •…
How do I apply for a grant from The Cleveland Foundation?
The Cleveland Foundation operates multiple funding mechanisms and initiatives: **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,008 to $17,457,798 • 11 live grant opportunities reported **Active Funding Initiatives:** • Affiliated Funds—Frank Hadley Ginn & Cornelia Root Ginn Foundation Grants • Cleveland Foundation: Equity in the Arts • Cleveland Foundation Grants • Equity in the Arts Fund • Lake Geauga Fund • Latino Impact Fund • Legacy Village Lyndhurst Community Fund • LGBTQ+ Opportunity…
Where does The Cleveland Foundation make grants?
The Cleveland Foundation primarily serves residents of Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties in Greater Cleveland, Ohio. The foundation also maintains grantmaking activity in other regions including New York and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Cleveland Foundation award?
In 2024, The Cleveland Foundation awarded 1,016 grants totaling $184.2M — an average of about $181K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Cleveland Foundation's EIN?
The Cleveland Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-0714588. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cleveland 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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