The Sam J Frankino Foundation
The Sam J. Frankino Foundation is a private family foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio, dedicated to improving lives, strengthening communities, and creating opportunity for children and families facing hardship. Its stated areas of support include healthcare, human services, education, environmental initiatives, arts and culture, and community development.
The Sam J Frankino Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sam J Frankino Foundation gave $3.0M across 83 grants in 2024 (avg $36K), mostly in Ohio. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,972,938
- +16.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 83
- -5.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $35,819
- +23.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $48,556,796
- +1.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (11 of 83, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Sam J Frankino Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Lorraine Dodero as the contact for applications and says applicants should provide the reason for the request and its purpose. The filing states there are no restrictions on awards and no deadlines. The foundation’s website describes a separate process requiring a standardized Letter of Inquiry (LOI) before a full application, including for prior grantees. The website’s listed 2026 LOI and application deadlines have passed: the spring application deadline was April 24, 2026, and the fall deadline was September 25, 2026.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that there are no deadlines. The website’s 2026 cycle deadlines have passed.
- Deadline
- The filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Lorraine Dodero
Mailing address: PO Box 241487, Cleveland, OH 44124
Phone: (440) 248-1400
Website: https://samjfrankinofoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sam J Frankino Foundation
Who The Sam J Frankino Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cleveland Museum of Art ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
460 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 396 grants of 460 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that Ohio is its primary focus, with support also extending throughout the United States and internationally. In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio. The filing also reports shares for Massachusetts (2%), New York (1%), Virginia (1%), and an unidentified state category (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 83 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sam J Frankino Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 83 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 72% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2023) to $3.5M (2021). In 2024 it made 83 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Museum of Art Cleveland, OH | Operating | $500,000 |
| University Hospitals of Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Siedman Cancer | $400,000 |
| American Heart Association Ne Ohio Cleveland, OH | Go Red for Women Fund | $305,230 |
| Gilmour Academy Gates Mills, OH | Endowment; Building Fund; SJF Scholarship Fund | $253,950 |
| Catholic Community Foundation Cleveland, OH | Operating | $143,612 |
| Hospice of the Western Reserve Cleveland, OH | Operating | $125,000 |
| American Red Cross of Greater Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Operating | $81,364 |
| Arthritis Foundation Solon, OH | Operating | $60,000 |
| Hattie Larlham Foundation Mantua, OH | Sponsorship | $60,000 |
| Hands Together Springfield, MA | Operating | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sam J Frankino Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $48,556,796 | $3,824,490 | $4,115,708 | $2,972,938 | 83 | $3,306,087 | $3,015,069 | $3,190,297 |
| 2023 | $48,032,763 | $-342,467 | $3,540,848 | $2,562,026 | 88 | $2,818,765 | $523,443 | $2,826,312 |
| 2022 | $51,836,641 | $-2,231,353 | $3,903,294 | $2,840,953 | 93 | $3,058,222 | $180,587 | $2,967,084 |
| 2021 | $57,871,372 | $3,486,126 | $4,439,415 | $3,515,233 | 110 | $3,632,208 | $2,678,919 | $3,596,251 |
| 2020 | $58,310,719 | $8,969,023 | $3,637,127 | $2,875,732 | 86 | — | $8,350,863 | $3,034,285 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to advance the well-being of children and families through philanthropic investment in healthcare, human services, education, environmental initiatives, arts and culture, and community development programs that address critical needs and promote long-term community vitality.
Its website also highlights support for medical and surgical research, healthcare facilities, educational and personal development initiatives, Italian-American community and cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship. The foundation’s 2024 grants illustrate support for organizations with varied missions. For example, the Cleveland Museum of Art describes its mission as bringing the pleasure and meaning of art to the broadest possible audience; Hospice of the Western Reserve provides end-of-life care, caregiver support, and bereavement services; and Hattie Larlham enhances the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not statements of the foundation’s own programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 83 grants totaling $2,972,938. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Among the largest grants were $500,000 to the Cleveland Museum of Art for operating support, $400,000 to University Hospitals of Cleveland for “Siedman Cancer,” $305,230 to the American Heart Association NE Ohio for the Go Red for Women Fund, and $253,950 to Gilmour Academy for its endowment, building fund, and scholarship fund.
Other 2024 grants included $143,612 to the Catholic Community Foundation for operating support, $125,000 to Hospice of the Western Reserve for operating support, and $60,000 each to the Arthritis Foundation for operating support and Hattie Larlham Foundation for sponsorship. Hands Together received $50,000 for operating support; it describes its mission as educating and encouraging people to respond to the needs of poor and disadvantaged people.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Lorraine Dodero is listed as a trustee on the foundation’s 2024 filing. The foundation’s website identifies Lorraine Frankino-Dodero as its executive director and describes her as guiding the foundation’s charitable organization research.
The Sam J Frankino Foundation is led by Lorraine Dodero, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lorraine Dodero
Trustee
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $200K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $200K, to Lorraine Dodero (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Sam J Frankino Foundation
How much does The Sam J Frankino Foundation give each year?
The Sam J Frankino Foundation gave $3.0M across 83 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 88 grants.
What is The Sam J Frankino Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sam J Frankino Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $35,819, across 83 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sam J Frankino Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does The Sam J Frankino Foundation give grants?
The Sam J Frankino Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (36 grants), Independence, OH (5 grants), Gates Mills, OH (3 grants) and Akron, OH (2 grants).
Does The Sam J Frankino Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 93% of The Sam J Frankino Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (77 of 83) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sam J Frankino Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sam J Frankino Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cleveland Museum of Art ($500,000), University Hospitals of Cleveland ($400,000) and American Heart Association Ne Ohio ($305,230), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sam J Frankino Foundation?
The Sam J Frankino Foundation reported $48.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Sam J Frankino Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to advance the well-being of children and families through philanthropic investment in healthcare, human services, education, environmental initiatives, arts and culture, and community development programs that address critical needs and promote long-term community vitality. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sam J Frankino Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Lorraine Dodero as the contact for applications and says applicants should provide the reason for the request and its purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sam J Frankino Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sam-j-frankino-foundation-morg_2828d0f63bb34c149435d9465ba3260c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205380431_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sam J Frankino Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sam-j-frankino-foundation-morg_2828d0f63bb34c149435d9465ba3260c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Sam J Frankino Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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