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Saint Luke's Foundation of Cleveland Ohio

Annual Giving
$7.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.5M
Decision Time
2mo

Saint Luke's Foundation of Cleveland Ohio

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,538,493 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $195 million+ (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks (staff grants); 3-6 months (board grants)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $500,000 (most common: $20,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Buckeye-Shaker, Woodhill, Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods and Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Contact Details

Address: 11327 Shaker Blvd #600W, Cleveland, OH 44104-3862

Phone: 216-431-8010

Email: grants@stlukesfdn.org

Website: https://saintlukesfoundation.org

Grant Portal: grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=saintlukesfoundation

Response Time: Contact form inquiries receive response within 72 hours

Overview

Saint Luke's Foundation was established in 1997 when Saint Luke's Medical Center (originally founded as Cleveland General Hospital in 1894, renamed Saint Luke's in 1906) became part of a for-profit healthcare corporation. The charitable assets were used to create the foundation, which has since distributed over $165 million in grants to 483+ organizations. With total assets exceeding $195 million and annual giving of approximately $7.5 million, the foundation focuses on achieving health equity by addressing social determinants of health in Cleveland's Buckeye-Shaker, Woodhill, and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods and throughout Cuyahoga County. The foundation operates with a trust-based, participatory grantmaking philosophy, emphasizing community engagement through initiatives like Lift Every Voice 216, which enables residents to direct grant funding priorities. The foundation explicitly recognizes that "race stands as the biggest predictor of health disparities" and that "overt and implicit racism must be confronted" to reduce inequities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Board Grants - Exceeding $25,000

  • Long-term support for substantial initiatives
  • Application by invitation only with access code
  • Review process: 3-6 months
  • Requires Board of Trustees approval
  • Quarterly application windows (specific dates announced on website)
  • Notification within 24 hours after quarterly board meetings

Staff Discretionary Grants - Up to $25,000

  • Timely project support
  • Rolling basis review (no fixed deadlines)
  • Staff approval only
  • Potential approval within 2 weeks
  • Designed for swift action

Community Grants - Up to $6,000

  • For individual residents, not organizations
  • Quarterly deadlines
  • Approved by Resident Advancement Committee (10 community residents from target neighborhoods)
  • Annual budget: $140,000

Priority Areas

The foundation addresses health equity through seven strategic priorities:

  1. Educational Attainment - Supporting programs that improve educational outcomes
  2. Household Financial Stability - Workforce development, financial literacy, economic opportunity
  3. Housing Safety and Stability - Eviction prevention, foreclosures, lead-safe housing, affordable housing
  4. Social Connections - Community building, relationship strengthening
  5. Healthy Eating and Active Living - Nutrition access, physical activity programs
  6. Neighborhood of Choice - Community development, place-making
  7. Policy and Advocacy - Systems change, community organizing, civic engagement, criminal justice reform

The foundation has committed to allocating the majority of grantmaking dollars to marginalized communities and at least 25% to social justice strategies as a signatory to Philanthropy's Promise.

Recent Grant Recipients Include:

  • New Era Cleveland (trauma-informed crisis response, community safety)
  • Greater Cleveland Congregations (voter awareness, criminal justice reform)
  • Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (eviction prevention, housing stability)
  • Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center (maternal health)
  • Esperanza, Inc. (Hispanic community support)
  • Future Leaders Academy (youth medical emergency response training)
  • Hood Honey Project/Prolific Achievers Academy (youth apiary education)
  • Birthing Beautiful Communities (health equity work)

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations that discriminate based on age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or religious beliefs
  • Private development projects or investments
  • Organizations that are not designated as public charities under Section 501(c)(3) or governmental units/agencies
  • Organizations outside their geographic focus (unless serving Cuyahoga County broadly)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees - Officers

  • Terry Allan - Board Chair; Retired Health Commissioner, Cuyahoga County Board of Health
  • Dr. Teresa Dews, MD - Vice-Chair; President of Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital
  • Patrick Kanary - Second Vice-Chair/Grants Committee Chair; Social Services Consultant
  • Jeffery K. Patterson - Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair; CEO of Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
  • Zulma Zabala - Secretary; Senior Fellow for Racial and Community Equity, The Center for Community Solutions

The Board of Trustees comprises members with backgrounds in law, communications, education, finance, public health, and community development, reflecting diverse professional expertise.

Leadership Team

  • Timothy L. Tramble, Sr. - President and CEO (appointed June 1, 2020)
  • Peter Whitt - Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
  • Christie Manning - Senior Program Director
  • Robert Monitello - Chief Financial Officer
  • Indigo Bishop - Program Officer
  • Jeffrey Sugalski - Grants Manager
  • Devontá Dickey - Communications & Marketing Officer
  • Ena Strong - Office Manager/Executive Assistant to President & CEO
  • Sharon Edmond - Administrative Officer
  • Melanie Gavin - Accountant
  • Dionne Huffman - Program Coordinator

Quote from Leadership:

Tim Tramble, President & CEO: "Since its inception, we have and will continue to address the social determinants of health, and we hope our Anniversary Event Series serves as an emblem of our commitment to the community. We ask the communities we serve to get to know us as we are today, and we can get to know them. We wish sincerely to work collaboratively to build a stronger and healthier community."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are by invitation only. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications submitted directly through their portal.

Initial Contact Required:

  1. Contact the foundation at grants@stlukesfdn.org or 216-431-8010
  2. Schedule a "get acquainted meeting" with program staff to discuss your organization, project, and desired funding amount
  3. Program officers will assess alignment with foundation priorities
  4. If aligned, applicants receive an access code to complete the application through the GrantInterface portal

Important Guidance from the Foundation: "It is highly discouraged to submit applications without first meeting with staff, as they want to understand the context of your organization and the project well before reviewing anything in writing. Having a conversation will help save time and create the best climate for success."

The foundation encourages questions throughout the process: "There is no harm in asking for clarification while working on the application. Ask questions as needed so that you get the right information."

Decision Timeline

Staff Discretionary Grants (up to $25,000):

  • Rolling basis review (no fixed deadlines)
  • Potential approval within 2 weeks
  • Staff makes final decision

Board Grants (exceeding $25,000):

  • Quarterly application windows (specific dates announced on website)
  • 3-6 months review process
  • May include Strategy Learning Sessions where staff and board members meet with applicants
  • Board of Trustees meets quarterly to review applications
  • Notification within 24 hours after quarterly board meetings

Community Grants (up to $6,000):

  • Quarterly deadlines
  • Resident Advancement Committee reviews and approves
  • Timeline varies by quarter

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Organizations should discuss reapplication timing and eligibility during their initial meetings with program officers.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities:

  1. Geographic Alignment is Critical: At minimum, board and staff grants require serving at least one of three neighborhoods: Woodhill, Buckeye-Shaker, or Mount Pleasant. Broader Cuyahoga County focus may be considered but neighborhood connection is preferred.

  2. Trust-Based and Participatory Approach: The foundation practices trust-based philanthropy and values community input. They emphasize building relationships before reviewing written applications. Their Lift Every Voice 216 platform demonstrates commitment to resident-driven priorities.

  3. Racial Equity Focus: The foundation explicitly acknowledges that "race stands as the biggest predictor of health disparities" and seeks organizations confronting racism. Recent grants heavily favor organizations working on racial and social justice.

  4. Social Determinants of Health Framework: Frame your work within one or more of their seven strategic priorities. The foundation views health broadly—physical, mental, and social well-being—not just medical services.

  5. Policy and Systems Change Valued: As a signatory to Philanthropy's Promise, the foundation commits at least 25% of grantmaking to social justice strategies including advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement. Don't shy away from policy work.

  6. Multi-Year Funding Available: Recent board grants show 1-2 year funding commitments, often with additional capacity-building grants. The foundation invests in long-term partnerships.

  7. Capacity Building Support: Many grants include separate capacity-building allocations (e.g., $10,000-$25,000 in addition to program funding), indicating the foundation's commitment to organizational strengthening.

Recent Funding Examples Demonstrate Priorities:

  • Trauma-informed crisis response (New Era Cleveland - $202,140 + $10,000 capacity building)
  • Voter awareness and criminal justice reform (Greater Cleveland Congregations - $150,000 + $25,000 capacity building)
  • Eviction prevention and housing stability (Legal Aid Society of Cleveland - $300,000 for 2 years)
  • Youth-focused initiatives (multiple grants to resident-led organizations)
  • Hispanic community support (Esperanza, Inc.)

What the Foundation Says: The foundation emphasizes "demonstrating grantmaking that is responsive to the community" and believes "people thrive as a result of living free of racism and poverty and experiencing equitable economic opportunities."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Relationship First, Application Second: Do not attempt to apply without first establishing a relationship with program staff. The "get acquainted meeting" is mandatory and sets the foundation for success.

  • Know Your Neighborhood Connection: Be crystal clear about how your work serves Buckeye-Shaker, Woodhill, Mt. Pleasant, or broader Cuyahoga County. Geographic alignment is non-negotiable.

  • Frame Everything Through Health Equity: Even if your work doesn't seem health-related, connect it to social determinants of health (education, financial stability, housing, etc.). The foundation sees health broadly.

  • Embrace Racial Justice Language: This foundation explicitly names racism as a root cause of health disparities. Don't soften your language about racial equity—they want partners who will confront these issues directly.

  • Consider Systems Change: If your work includes advocacy, organizing, or policy change, emphasize this. The foundation values both service delivery and systems transformation.

  • Staff Grants May Be Strategic Entry Point: For organizations new to the foundation or with smaller funding needs, staff discretionary grants (up to $25,000) offer faster turnaround and may build relationships for future board grants.

  • Community Voice Matters: If residents from the target neighborhoods support or participate in your work, highlight this. The foundation's Resident Advancement Committee and Lift Every Voice 216 platform demonstrate their commitment to participatory decision-making.

References

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