The Cyrus Eaton Foundation
The Cyrus Eaton Foundation is a private family foundation based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, established in 1957. The foundation was created by Cyrus Eaton and continues to operate under the vision and values he established. All trustees live or have lived in Cleveland or are related to Cyrus Eaton, maintaining a direct connection with the city and a clear understanding of the founder's philanthropic vision.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
-0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$200K
+34.5% YoY
Grant Count
52
+13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+19.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cyrus Eaton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $138K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to advance sustainable environments, social justice, cultural enrichment, and peaceful coexistence. The foundation is committed to providing financial support to qualifying nonprofit organizations in Cleveland and northeast Ohio whose programs enhance the quality of life in the area and align with the aims of founder Cyrus Eaton. Additionally, the foundation supports organizations and initiatives that build on Cyrus Eaton's vision for Thinkers Lodge in Pugwash, Nova Scotia.
The foundation awards grants in the following areas:
- Arts
- Conservation
- Health & Welfare
- Peace
- Public Affairs
- Science
As of August 2020, the foundation revised its mission and grant categories to focus more on environmental and peace initiatives, with a corresponding decision to limit the number of grants awarded.
Grantmaking
The foundation typically funds organizations that are:
Grant Range
$2,000–$2,400
Average Grant
$3,000–$13,000
Review Cycle
May 1st and October 1st of each calendar year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Cleveland and northeast Ohio. The foundation also supports organizations and initiatives in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, and provides support to the United States Pugwash Conferences Group. Limited grants are also made to organizations in Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of most recent filings):
- Total assets: $2,665,918 (2024)
- Total revenue: $247,789 (2024)
- Total expenses: $266,261 (2024)
- Investment income and dividends: $72,056 (2024)
Historical Context:
- Total assets: $2,684,372 (2023)
- Total revenue: $82,267 (2023)
- Total expenses: $203,695 (2023)
The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and dividends, with no reported grants or contributions received.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,665,918 | $2,684,372 | $2,808,256 |
| Revenue | $247,789 | $82,267 | $61,649 |
| Expenses | $266,261 | $203,695 | $192,657 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $241,323 | $178,580 | $164,695 |
| Net Investment Income | $222,851 | $57,152 | $37,351 |
| Distributable Amount | $138,381 | $135,458 | $142,415 |
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
214 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Cyrus Eaton Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pugwash Park Commission ($60,000), Us Pugwash ($20,000), North Cumberland Historical Society ($6,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING WILLOUGHBY, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $2,500 |
| BECK CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS LAKEWOOD, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $1,500 |
| BROADWAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH CLEVELAND, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $2,000 |
| BUILDING HOPE IN THE CITY CLEVELAND, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $2,000 |
| CENTRE FOR LOCAL PROSPERITY | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $5,000 |
| CLEVELAND ARTS EDUCATION CONSORTIUM CLEVELAND, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $2,000 |
| CORNERSTONE OF HOPE INDEPENDENCE, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $2,000 |
| CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION CLEVELAND, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $2,000 |
| CUYAHOGA VALLEY FARMERS MARKET CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $2,000 |
| DRINK LOCAL DRINK TAP INC CLEVELAND, OH | UNRESTRICTED GIFT | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership structure includes:
- Matthew Eaton – President
- Catherine I. Eaton – Vice-President
- Robert Lefever – Vice-President
- Henry W. Gulick – Treasurer
- Ralph P. Higgins – Assistant Treasurer
- Shelly Rose – Secretary
- Alice J. Gulick – Trustee
The foundation operates with limited staffing, with board members and key employees working minimal hours.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHERINE I EATON | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | $1,950 |
| MATTHEW EATON | PRESIDENT | 2 | $1,950 |
| ALICE J GULICK | TRUSTEE | 1 | $1,950 |
| HENRY W GULICK | TREASURER | 5 | $1,950 |
| RALPH P HIGGINS | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | $1,950 |
| ROBERT LEFEVER | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | $1,950 |
| SHELLY ROSE | SECRETARY | 1 | $1,950 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Cyrus Eaton Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to advance sustainable environments, social justice, cultural enrichment, and peaceful coexistence. The foundation is committed to providing financial support to qualifying nonprofit organizations in Cleveland and northeast Ohio whose programs enhance the quality of life in the area and align with the aims of founder Cyrus Eaton. Additionally, the foundation supports organizations and initiatives that build on Cyrus Eaton's vision for Thinkers Lodge in Pugwash, Nova …
How do I apply for a grant from The Cyrus Eaton Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size: $2,000–$2,400 • Grant range: $1,000–$60,000 • Average grant: $3,000–$13,000 • Total grants awarded (recent year): 52 grants totaling approximately $199,800–$266,261 **Funding Priorities:** The foundation typically funds organizations that are: • Small or newly-established • Innovative • Lacking support from larger funders The foundation does not typically give to better-known, established organizations with a broad base of support and strong fundi…
Where does The Cyrus Eaton Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Cleveland and northeast Ohio. The foundation also supports organizations and initiatives in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, and provides support to the United States Pugwash Conferences Group. Limited grants are also made to organizations in Washington, D.C.
What size grants does The Cyrus Eaton Foundation award?
In 2024, The Cyrus Eaton Foundation awarded 52 grants totaling $200K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Cyrus Eaton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cyrus Eaton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $138K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cyrus Eaton Foundation's EIN?
The Cyrus Eaton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7440277. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cyrus Eaton 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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