Jones Day Foundation

Charity Number: CUSTOM_1D498C61

Annual Expenditure: £4.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately $4.2 million (USD)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Significant variation, from $300,000 to $8 million
  • Geographic Focus: International, including communities where Jones Day operates (43 offices across 5 continents)

Contact Details

Address: 901 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, USA

Phone: +1 216-586-7028

Website: Information available through Jones Day corporate site (www.jonesday.com)

Email: Not publicly available

Note: The Jones Day Foundation appears to operate primarily through relationship-driven grantmaking rather than open applications. Contact the foundation directly to inquire about funding opportunities.

Overview

The Jones Day Foundation was established in 1987 as a nonprofit organization funded by contributions from Jones Day's lawyers and staff worldwide. The foundation operates as the charitable arm of Jones Day, one of the world's largest law firms with over 2,500 lawyers across 43 offices on five continents. The foundation's mission centers on four core goals: relieving suffering, fostering innovation, improving the lives of those living in poverty, and supporting the rule of law. The foundation is governed by a geographically distributed board of partners from Jones Day and engages in strategic grantmaking that reflects both the firm's values and the needs of communities where Jones Day operates. Recent major grants include $8 million to Cleveland Clinic (2021) and £750,000 to Heritage of London Trust for the Proud Places program (2023), demonstrating the foundation's capacity for substantial philanthropic investments.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Jones Day Foundation does not appear to operate formal, named grant programs with fixed application cycles. Instead, the foundation engages in strategic, relationship-driven grantmaking. Grant sizes vary significantly based on the project and organizational need:

  • Major institutional grants: $300,000 - $8 million (examples include Cleveland Clinic, Fordham Law School)
  • UK grants: £750,000 to Heritage of London Trust
  • Legal education support: Funding for hundreds of law students
  • Application method: The foundation appears to proactively identify grant opportunities rather than accepting unsolicited applications

Priority Areas

The foundation directs its philanthropy to organizations that:

  • Promote the rule of law: Including advancement of civil and human rights, legal education, and access to justice
  • Foster innovation: In academics, medicine, and the arts
  • Improve living conditions and economic opportunities: Particularly for people in impoverished settings, with special focus on children and women
  • Provide disaster relief: Support and comfort to people suffering from natural and other disasters
  • Support diversity in the legal profession: Programs that increase representation of underrepresented groups in law

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's grants consistently align with the four core mission areas and Jones Day's professional values.

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Governance and Leadership

The Jones Day Foundation is run by a geographically distributed board of partners from Jones Day. Specific current board member names are not publicly disclosed in available sources. The foundation's governance structure reflects Jones Day's global presence and collaborative culture.

The foundation operates with a strategic approach focused on “tangible ideas and results-oriented, thoughtful gifts,” suggesting that board members actively seek out high-impact opportunities rather than managing a reactive application process.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Jones Day Foundation does not appear to maintain a public, open application process or published application guidelines. Based on available information, the foundation operates through:

  • Proactive identification: The board identifies grant opportunities aligned with the foundation's mission
  • Relationship-based giving: Grants often support organizations with connections to Jones Day offices or communities
  • Strategic partnerships: Multi-year commitments to significant institutional partners

Organizations interested in funding should contact the foundation directly at +1 216-586-7028 to inquire about potential opportunities.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed and likely vary based on the nature and scale of the grant.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available, as the foundation does not appear to operate an open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the proactive grantmaking model.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's relationship-driven approach, success factors likely include:

  • Strong alignment with mission priorities: Projects that clearly advance rule of law, innovation, poverty alleviation, or disaster relief
  • Geographic connection: Organizations in communities where Jones Day has offices or significant presence
  • Legal profession connection: Projects that support legal education, access to justice, or diversity in the legal field
  • Institutional credibility: Established organizations with demonstrated capacity for impact
  • Innovative approach: Programs that foster new solutions to social challenges

Recent Grant Examples

  • Cleveland Clinic: $8 million to establish community health initiatives including a legal-medical partnership with Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (2021)
  • Heritage of London Trust: £750,000 for the Proud Places program, which engages young people with LGBTQ+ heritage sites in London (2023)
  • Fordham Law School: $300,000 for the IDEAL (Increasing Diversity in Education and the Law) pipeline program (2021)
  • Lambda Legal: $1 million to fund the F. Curt Kirschner Senior Strategist position focusing on LGBTQ+ seniors (2022)
  • Hope for a Healthier Humanity Foundation: Funding for poverty alleviation programs in rural Central America
  • Inner-City Scholarship Fund: Support for children in New York City attending Catholic schools
  • Ukraine refugee support: Grants to organizations providing humanitarian relief

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Relationship development is key: This foundation does not operate an open application process; building connections with Jones Day partners or offices may be necessary
  • Think big and strategic: Recent grants range from $300,000 to $8 million, suggesting the foundation is interested in substantial, transformative projects
  • Align with core values: Strong connection to rule of law, legal profession, diversity, innovation, or poverty alleviation is essential
  • Multi-year impact: The foundation demonstrates willingness to make multi-year commitments (e.g., Heritage of London's three-year funding)
  • Geographic consideration: Organizations in cities with Jones Day offices may have advantages
  • Results-oriented approach: The foundation describes itself as seeking “tangible ideas and results-oriented, thoughtful gifts”
  • Consider legal-adjacent angles: Projects that connect to legal education, access to justice, or civil rights appear particularly attractive

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