The Lerner Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Richmond Heights, OH EIN: 34-1744726

The Lerner Foundation is a private foundation established in 1993 in Ohio and based in Richmond Heights (also referenced as Highland Heights), Ohio. Founded by Alfred and Norma Lerner, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since August 1993. The foundation maintains a low profile and generally makes grants to preselected organizations with which it maintains ongoing relationships.

Key facts about The Lerner Foundation

EIN: 34-1744726
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $1,380,025
Grants made (2024): 20
Average grant: $69,001
Median grant: $25,000
New grantees (estimate): 20% first-time grantees (4 of 20, 2024)
Total assets: $2,221,492
Primary geography: Ohio (85% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals: No
How to apply: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Lerner Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lerner Foundation's 20 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (85%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (9 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Beachwood, OH (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is The Lerner Foundation open to new grantees?

20%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 4 of 20 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $82K. How we count

Medians: $8K first-time, $37K repeat.

75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). 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 (2020–2024). 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 Lerner Foundation

How to evaluate The Lerner Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.2M

-26.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.4M

-22.8% YoY

Grant Count

-16.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$69K

-7.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lerner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation primarily supports:

Jewish causes (largest giving area in recent years)
Medical care and health
Arts and culture
Education
Economic opportunity and economic development
Human services

The Cleveland area represents the foundation's main geographic priority, with more than half of all grantmaking staying in the Cleveland region.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$20,000

Average Grant

approximately $68,500

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and states, including:

Cities: Beachwood, Berea, Brooklyn, Chesterland, Cleveland, Forest Hills, Independence, Los Angeles, Mayfield, New York, Northbrook, Peoria, Princeton, Shaker Heights, Washington, and West Orange

States: California, District of Columbia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio

Grant Distribution by State

Ohio $1.2M (85%)

New York $150K (11%)

District of Columbia $45K (3%)

Illinois $8K (1%)

Share of all 20 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California District of Columbia Illinois New Jersey New York Ohio

Cities

ClevelandBeachwoodNew YorkWashingtonPeoriaWest OrangeBereaChesterlandIndependenceMayfieldNorthbrookPrincetonBrooklynForest HillsLos AngelesLyndhurstMedinaPepper PikeShaker Hts

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (Most Recent Data):

Total assets: $2.2–$3.0 million
Total annual giving: $1.8 million
Total expenses: $1.39–$1.84 million
Revenue: $142,410 (2024)
Giving rate: 59% of assets

Background: The foundation was founded by Alfred Lerner, who at the time of his death in 2002 was Chairman of MBNA Bank and owner of the Cleveland Browns. He had invested $100 million in MBNA's initial public offering. Bank of America acquired MBNA for $35 billion in 2005.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$2,221,492	$3,028,691	$3,136,043
Revenue	$142,410	$1,733,319	$2,108,829
Expenses	$1,394,070	$1,840,137	$1,651,961
Qualifying Distributions	$1,392,800	$1,792,955	$1,650,221
Net Investment Income	$8,075	$186,137	$2,107,089
Distributable Amount	$51,757	$103,792	$125,894

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 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

104 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Jewish Federation of Cleveland ($500,000), Cleveland Orchestra ($344,225), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ($100,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND Cleveland, OH	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$500,000
CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA Cleveland, OH	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$344,225
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER New York, NY	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$100,000
UNITED WAY OF GREATER CLEVELAND Cleveland, OH	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$60,000
CLEVELAND CLINIC - VELOSANO Beachwood, OH	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$50,000
WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS New York, NY	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$50,000
GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK Cleveland, OH	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$50,000
THE PARK SNYAGOGUE Pepper Pike, OH	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$50,000
CLEVELAND CLINIC CHILDREN'S Cleveland, OH	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$48,400
US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM Washington, DC	GENERAL OPERATIONS	$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Norma Lerner – President and Treasurer
Randolph Lerner – Vice President
Nancy Lerner – Vice President
Douglas C. Jacobs – Secretary

None of the officers receive compensation for their roles.

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Norma Lerner	President/Treasurer	—	—
Randolph Lerner	Vice President	—	—
Nancy Lerner	Vice President	—	—
Daniel Pearson	Secretary	—	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation does not maintain a public website, restricting information about its grantmaking priorities and activities. It maintains a restricted information profile and is characterized as having limited transparency regarding its operations and funding opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Lerner Foundation fund?

The foundation primarily supports: • **Jewish causes** (largest giving area in recent years) • Medical care and health • Arts and culture • Education • Economic opportunity and economic development • Human services The Cleveland area represents the foundation's main geographic priority, with more than half of all grantmaking staying in the Cleveland region.

How do I apply for a grant from The Lerner Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does The Lerner Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and states, including: **Cities:** Beachwood, Berea, Brooklyn, Chesterland, Cleveland, Forest Hills, Independence, Los Angeles, Mayfield, New York, Northbrook, Peoria, Princeton, Shaker Heights, Washington, and West Orange **States:** California, District of Columbia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio

What size grants does The Lerner Foundation award?

In 2024, The Lerner Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Lerner Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lerner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.