The Sam J Frankino Foundation
The Sam J. Frankino Foundation is a private family foundation headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, with an additional office in Millville, New Jersey. Established in 2006, the foundation is dedicated to improving lives, strengthening communities, and creating opportunity for children and families facing hardship through purposeful philanthropy and mission-driven partnerships.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48.6M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+16.0% YoY
Grant Count
83
-5.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+23.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sam J Frankino Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Sam J. Frankino Foundation is a private family foundation dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and families in need through purposeful giving and enduring partnerships.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Economic assistance and financial support for vulnerable individuals and families
- Food security and safe shelter initiatives
- Child and family services, with particular focus on youth experiencing homelessness or in foster care
- Physical education and health programs for children
- Medical and surgical research
- Healthcare facilities providing comprehensive, compassionate care
- Arts and cultural expression
- Environmental initiatives
- Education and personal development
- Italian-American community support and cultural heritage
- STEM education and scholarships
Grantmaking
The foundation made 86 grants in 2023, with typical award ranges between $800 and $590,000. Recent notable grants include:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a primary focus on Ohio, particularly northeast Ohio and the Cleveland area. The foundation also supports initiatives throughout the United States and internationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $48,556,796 (2024); $48,032,763 (2023)
Revenue & Expenses (2024):
- Total Revenue: $3.82M
- Total Expenses: $4.12M
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue & Expenses (2023):
- Total Revenues: -$342,467
- Total Expenses: $3,540,848
- Investment Income and Dividends: $1,237,970
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation; tax-exempt since December 2006; EIN: 20-5380431
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,556,796 | $48,032,763 | $51,836,641 |
| Revenue | $3,824,490 | $-342,467 | $-2,231,353 |
| Expenses | $4,115,708 | $3,540,848 | $3,903,294 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,306,087 | $2,818,765 | $3,058,222 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,015,069 | $523,443 | $180,587 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,190,297 | $2,826,312 | $2,967,084 |
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
1 open opportunity from The Sam J Frankino Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cleveland Museum of Art ($500,000), American Heart Association Ne Ohio ($305,230), Gilmour Academy ($253,950).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A KID AGAIN NORTHERN OHIO TWINSBURG, OH | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN HIGHLAND HILLS, OH | OPERATING | $8,000 |
| ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION SOLON, OH | OPERATING | $60,000 |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OH | OPERATING | $5,000 |
| CLEVELAND ANIMAL PROTECTION LEAGUE CLEVELAND, OH | OPERATING | $2,100 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CLEVELAND, OH | OPERATING | $30,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION NE OHIO CLEVELAND, OH | GO RED FOR WOMEN FUND | $305,230 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF GREATER CLEVELAND CLEVELAND, OH | OPERATING | $81,364 |
| CHILDREN OF FALLEN PATRIOTS FOUNDATION RESTON, VA | OPERATING | $35,000 |
| BEST BUDDIES WESTLAKE, OH | OPERATING | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Lorraine Dodero is identified as a trustee of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LORRAINE DODERO | TRUSTEE | 35 | $200,004 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has partnered with the American Heart Association to support STEM education, doubling the number of STEM Goes Red scholarships for 2024. The foundation has also supported scholarship programs through partnerships with organizations including the Italian American Baseball Foundation and Penn State DuBois, including a $500,000 gift creating the Frank Palmerino Memorial Scholarship.
Scholarships | Alliance High SchoolContact Information
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 241487 Cleveland, Ohio 44124
Phone: 440-248-1400
Email: sjffoundation@aol.com
Website: samjfrankinofoundation.com
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sam J Frankino Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Sam J. Frankino Foundation is a private family foundation dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and families in need through purposeful giving and enduring partnerships. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Economic assistance and financial support for vulnerable individuals and families • Food security and safe shelter initiatives • Child and family services, with particular focus on youth experiencing homelessness or in foster care • Physical education and health …
How do I apply for a grant from The Sam J Frankino Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 86 grants in 2023, with typical award ranges between $800 and $590,000. Recent notable grants include: • Cleveland Museum of Art: $500,000 (operating support) • Gilmour Academy: $127,500 (endowment, building fund, and scholarship fund) • Hattie Larlham Foundation: $60,000 (sponsorship) **Total Giving:** $2,972,938 (2024); $1,411,133 in grants documented for 2023 **Application Process:** Prospective grantees can contact the Grants Administrator at sjffound…
Where does The Sam J Frankino Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a primary focus on Ohio, particularly northeast Ohio and the Cleveland area. The foundation also supports initiatives throughout the United States and internationally.
What size grants does The Sam J Frankino Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sam J Frankino Foundation awarded 83 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sam J Frankino Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sam J Frankino Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sam J Frankino Foundation's EIN?
The Sam J Frankino Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5380431. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sam J Frankino 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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