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.
Key facts about The Morton and Barbara
- EIN
- 34-6546420
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021
- Annual giving (2021)
- $7,628,723
- Grants made (2021)
- 105
- Average grant
- $72,655
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (44% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
Who The Morton and Barbara funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Morton and Barbara's 105 itemized 2021 grants were Massachusetts (44%), North Carolina (19%) and Florida (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (41 grants), New York, NY (10 grants), Cleveland, OH (9 grants) and Akron, OH (8 grants). 54% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (44 grants) and "Capital Campaign" (3 grants).
How The Morton and Barbara gives
- 73% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out 48% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021). 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 Morton and Barbara
- How to evaluate The Morton and Barbara as a funder
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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:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in Ohio and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 105 itemized 2021 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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
241 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2021 grants, the largest recipients include Brandeis University ($3,333,334), Tzedek Social Justice Fund ($460,826 across 5 grants), Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | Project Support | $3,333,334 |
| Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| United Way of Summit & Medina Akron, OH | Project Support | $200,000 |
| Tzedek Social Justice Fund Asheville, NC | General Operating Support | $161,330 |
| Tzedek Social Justice Fund Asheville, NC | General Operating Support | $134,500 |
| Stewart's Caring Place Copley, OH | Capital Campaign | $125,000 |
| Town of Palm Beach Palm Beach, FL | Capital Campaign | $115,709 |
| Town of Palm Beach Palm Beach, FL | Capital Campaign | $112,221 |
| Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Jewish Community Board of Akron Akron, OH | Project Support | $100,000 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.