The Morton and Barbara
The Morton and Barbara Mandel Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Established in 1963, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic support across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2021 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.6M
-59.0% YoY
Grant Count
105
-22.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$73K
-46.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Morton and Barbara reported a distributable amount of $15.5M for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary support focuses on:
- Leadership and management of nonprofits
- Higher education
- Jewish education and continuity
- Urban neighborhood renewal
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated significant grantmaking activity. Recent grants include:
Ready to take the next step with The Morton and Barbara?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in Ohio and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2021 Financial Data:
- Revenue: $61.8 million
- Expenses: $15.3 million
- Total Liabilities: $258,000
Related Entity - Mandel Supporting Foundations Morton L and Barbara Mandel Fund (2018):
- Total revenues: $24,082,529
- Total expenses: $2,916,868
| Metric | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $405,379,336 |
| Revenue | $61,834,657 | $53,215,552 |
| Expenses | $15,272,743 | $31,000,455 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,473,223 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $52,150,776 | $44,945,169 |
| Distributable Amount | $15,518,691 | $11,188,391 |
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 2021
Grant Size Distribution
100 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2021 grants, the largest include Brandeis University ($3,333,334), Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County ($250,000), Case Western Reserve University ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Therapist Like Me Asheville, NC | General Operating Support | $15,000 |
| Akron Civic Theatre Akron, OH | Project Support | $50,000 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University New York, NY | Project Support | $50,000 |
| American Jewish World Service New York, NY | General Operating Support | $45,000 |
| Asheville Buncombe Community Land Trust Asheville, NC | General Operating Support | $40,000 |
| Asheville Creative Arts Asheville, NC | Project Support | $15,000 |
| Asheville Creative Arts Asheville, NC | Project Support | $12,400 |
| Asheville Writers in the Schools Asheville, NC | Project Support | $20,000 |
| Astraea Foundation New York, NY | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Astraea Foundation New York, NY | Project Support | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
From 2021 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN A VEREB | SECRETARY | — | — |
| BRADLEY S SMITH | TRUSTEE/PRES | — | — |
| AMY C MANDEL | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| THOMAS A MANDEL | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| STACY L MANDEL | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ANGELA A WEERASURIYA | ASST. SECRETARY | — | — |
| BRADLEY S SMITH | TRUSTEE / TREASURER | — | — |
| MARK A MADEJA | ASST SECRETARY | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1000 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114-1117
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Morton and Barbara fund?
The foundation's primary support focuses on: • Leadership and management of nonprofits • Higher education • Jewish education and continuity • Urban neighborhood renewal
How do I apply for a grant from The Morton and Barbara?
The foundation has demonstrated significant grantmaking activity. Recent grants include: • $10 million gift to Cooper-Hewitt (design museum) • Support for urban and community forestry projects • Funding for rare U.S. trees conservation initiatives The foundation also administers the **Mandel Cultural Leadership Program**, a two-year fellowship designed to support artists and cultural producers. The program includes five in-person seminars, bi-monthly virtual meetings, and individualized mentori…
Where does The Morton and Barbara make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in Ohio and New York.
What size grants does The Morton and Barbara award?
In 2021, The Morton and Barbara awarded 105 grants totaling $7.6M — an average of about $73K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Morton and Barbara required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, The Morton and Barbara reported a distributable amount of $15.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Morton and Barbara's EIN?
The Morton and Barbara's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6546420. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Morton and Barbara's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Cooper Tire Foundation Inc
AKRON, OH
Assets
$71K
Grants
2
Total Given
$67K
Auburn Education Foundation
CONCORD TOWNSHIP, OH
Assets
$352K
Grants
2
Total Given
$214K
Galpin-white Ta
BROOKLYN, OH
Assets
$16K
Grants
1
Total Given
$887
The Cleveland Superior Arts
CLEVELAND, OH
Assets
$5K
Grants
1
Total Given
$251K
Mary E H Rutter Tr Para 28
BROOKLYN, OH
Assets
$401K
Grants
1
Total Given
$26K
Carrie Peska Memorial Scholarship Fund
ANDOVER, OH
Assets
$19K
Grants
1
Total Given
$4K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Morton and Barbara on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Morton and Barbara to a real strategy.