The Woodruff Foundation

Changing Perceptions, Changing Lives

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $455,785 (2024)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $100,000
• Average Grant: $22,999
• Total Assets: $12.8 million
• Geographic Focus: Cuyahoga County, Ohio
• Board Meetings: 3 times per year
• Decision Time: Within 2 weeks of board meeting

Contact Details

Address:
The Woodruff Foundation
c/o Foundation Management Services
1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 966
Cleveland, OH 44115

Phone: 216-621-2901

Website: woodruffgreatercle.org

Key Contacts:

• Katie Brennan - kbrennan@fmscleveland.com (Application procedures and technical assistance)
• Karen Thompson-Shaheen - ktshaheen@fmscleveland.com (Grantmaking priorities and organizational alignment)

Overview

Founded in 1986 from the proceeds of Ingleside Hospital's sale to St. Vincent Charity Hospital, the Woodruff Foundation continues the caring tradition of founder Mabel A. Woodruff, a World War I Army nurse and psychiatric social worker. Mabel Woodruff opened Ingleside Hospital in 1935 with $800 borrowed from her life insurance, driven by her vision of creating a place "where one could obtain good care, good food and kindness at the lowest possible cost." Today, the foundation carries forward her compassionate legacy by making grants for programs that address unmet needs in mental health and addiction in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

The foundation has been active since 1987, awarding approximately 27 grants annually with total assets of $12.8 million. Their approach combines responsive grantmaking with proactive system-level investment, aiming to change perceptions of mental illness and substance use disorders while improving access to quality behavioral healthcare. The foundation has demonstrated a commitment to addressing systemic inequities, particularly disparities affecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in accessing behavioral health services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation supports capital and/or program expenses through one-year grants, typically providing one grant per year per organization. Recent giving has ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, with an average grant of approximately $23,000.

Recent Giving Totals:

• 2025: $480,000
• 2024: $455,785
• 2022: $347,000
• 2020: $340,500

Priority Areas

The foundation funds nonprofit organizations in Cuyahoga County working in five strategic focus areas:

1. Treatment - Direct clinical services, therapy programs, and treatment facilities for mental health and addiction
2. Education and Prevention - Programs that promote awareness, early intervention, and prevention of behavioral health issues
3. Coordination of Community Resources - Initiatives that improve collaboration and access to behavioral health services
4. Research - Studies and investigations into behavioral health conditions and effective interventions
5. Advocacy - Efforts to influence policy and reduce stigma around mental health and substance use disorders

Definition of Behavioral Health: The foundation defines behavioral health as "the connection between behaviors and a person's physical, emotional, psychological, and social well-being," encompassing both mental health and substance use across a continuum of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services.

Recent Grant Examples (2024-2025)

• YMCA of Greater Cleveland - $100,000 for Y-Haven facility renovations
• The Centers for Families and Children - $70,000 for capital campaign to renovate Cleveland Christian Home
• Magnolia Clubhouse - $55,000 for capital campaign to expand mental illness services
• Positive Education Program - $30,000 for professional development for day treatment center staff
• Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition - $30,000
• Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center - $25,000 to launch a behavioral health practice
• May Dugan Center - $25,000 for behavioral health services
• Cleveland Foundation - $25,000 to expand integrated health services for CMSD students
• Beech Brook - $20,000 for early childhood mental health programming
• Bellefaire Jewish Children's Bureau - $20,000 for school-centered mental health services

What They Don't Fund

• Endowments
• Scholarships
• Fellowships
• Annual fundraising campaigns
• General solicitations for funds

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by a dedicated board of trustees with expertise in behavioral health, social services, finance, and law:

• Laurel Domanski Diaz - Justice and Health Equity Officer, Cuyahoga County
• John Corlett - President (Retired), The Center for Community Solutions
• Eric Amanfoh - Vice President, Finance, JumpStart, Inc.
• Robert Fischer, PhD - Jack, Joseph, & Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University
• Habeebah Rasheed Grimes - Chief Executive Officer, Positive Education Program
• Vanessa Jensen, PsyD - Pediatric/Clinical Psychologist, Cleveland Clinic
• Janet Lowder - Secretary/Treasurer, Attorney, Hickman & Lowder Co., LPA
• Dixon Morgan - Vice President (Retired), Boyd Watterson Asset Management
• Molly Wimbiscus, M.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Cleveland Clinic

All trustees serve without compensation, bringing diverse perspectives from healthcare, education, finance, legal services, and community development.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications through an online grant portal. The application process is structured around three board meeting cycles per year.

Application Steps:

1. Create an Account - Access the online grant application system and register with a single login email/password
2. Complete Eligibility Section - Verify your organization meets eligibility requirements before proceeding
3. Select Foundation - Choose "Woodruff Foundation" from available processes in the system
4. Submit Application - Complete all required application questions and upload attachments (review "Application Questions" PDF and "Attachment Checklist" before submitting)
5. Email Confirmation - You will receive confirmation upon submission

Important Notes:

• Do NOT mail duplicate hard copies of the application or attachments
• Organizations must have submitted interim or final reports on any previous grants before new requests can be considered
• The foundation encourages collaboration and will consider joint requests from partner agencies

Decision Timeline

Application Deadlines:

• December 15
• May 1
• September 1

Applications become available one month before each deadline.

Review Process:

• Board meets 3 times annually to review applications
• Staff and board review all submissions
• Staff may contact applicants for additional information
• The foundation often makes site visits to requesting organizations during the review process
• They reserve the right to contact other funders and professionals in the field regarding applicants under review

Notification:

• Funding decisions communicated electronically within two weeks of the board meeting
• All applicants notified whether funding was awarded or denied

Reapplication Policy

While the foundation's policy is to make only one grant per year directly to an organization, no specific waiting period for unsuccessful applicants is publicly stated. Organizations should maintain communication with foundation staff about timing for reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Foundation's Values

Anti-Racism Commitment: The foundation has made an explicit commitment to denouncing racism in all its forms and helping to dismantle racism, particularly as it affects behavioral health. They recognize that BIPOC communities experience unequal access to mental health resources and receive lower quality care. The foundation actively seeks to understand how grants can rectify historic disparities in care and welcomes feedback on converting this commitment into concrete actions.

Collaborative Approach: The foundation encourages collaboration among grantees and will consider joint requests from partner agencies, indicating they value coordination and partnership in the behavioral health sector.

Mabel Woodruff's Legacy: Understanding the foundation's origin story is valuable. Mabel Woodruff's vision of providing "good care, good food and kindness at the lowest possible cost" reflects values of compassion, accessibility, and meeting basic needs alongside clinical services.

Alignment with Focus Areas

Successful applications clearly demonstrate how the proposed work fits within one or more of the five strategic focus areas: Treatment, Education and Prevention, Coordination of Community Resources, Research, or Advocacy. The foundation seeks to make a difference through both responsive grantmaking and proactive system-level investments.

Geographic Focus

Organizations must have a presence in Cuyahoga County and serve county residents. This is a firm eligibility requirement.

Grant Terms and Expectations

• Grants are typically one-year in duration
• The foundation generally awards only one grant per year to an organization
• Previous grantees must submit required reports before applying for new funding
• Site visits may be part of the review process, so organizations should be prepared to host foundation staff

Strategic Considerations

Given the foundation's average grant size of approximately $23,000 and typical range of $10,000-$100,000, applicants should:

• Request amounts appropriate to organizational size and project scope
• Note that capital projects can receive larger grants (recent capital grants ranged from $55,000-$100,000)
• Program support typically falls in the $10,000-$30,000 range
• Professional development and capacity building grants are also considered

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Behavioral Health Focus: All funded work must relate to mental health, substance use disorders, or the connection between behaviors and overall well-being - this is non-negotiable
• Cuyahoga County Only: Geographic restriction is firm; organizations must serve county residents
• Equity Matters: Demonstrate awareness of disparities in behavioral healthcare access and quality, particularly for BIPOC communities
• One Grant Per Year: Plan strategically when to apply, as the foundation typically awards only one grant annually to each organization
• Deadlines Are Firm: Three application cycles annually (December 15, May 1, September 1) with decisions within two weeks of board meetings
• Reports Required: Must complete reporting on previous grants before new applications will be considered
• Collaboration Welcomed: Joint applications from partner agencies are encouraged and may be viewed favorably
• Contact Staff Early: Katie Brennan and Karen Thompson-Shaheen are available to discuss application procedures and organizational alignment - use these resources
• Prepare for Site Visits: The foundation often conducts site visits during the review process; this indicates serious consideration
• Think Systems-Level: The foundation values both direct service and system-level change; showing how your work contributes to broader transformation in behavioral health may strengthen applications

References

• The Woodruff Foundation Official Website: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Application Process: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/apply/procedures/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Grantmaking Focus Areas: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/apply/focus-areas/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Our History: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/about/history/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Our Mission: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/about/mission/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Our Trustees: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/about/trustees/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Contact Information: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/about/contact-us/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Commitment to Anti-Racism: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/our-commitment-to-anti-racism/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Grants Awarded 2025: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/grants/year/grants-awarded-in-2025/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Grants Awarded 2024: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/grants/year/2024/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Grants Awarded 2022: https://woodruffgreatercle.org/grants/year/grants-awarded-in-2022/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Woodruff Foundation (EIN: 23-7425631): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237425631 (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• CauseIQ Profile - Woodruff Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/woodruff-foundation,237425631/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)
• Grantable Foundation Profile: https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/woodruff-foundation-us-foundation-237425631 (Accessed February 9, 2026)