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Cleveland Foundation

Annual Giving
$100.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.5M
Decision Time
1mo
Success Rate
22%

Cleveland Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $100+ million
  • Assets: $2.8 billion
  • Grant Range: $500 - $500,000 (most common: $1,000)
  • Decision Time: Monthly (under $200K), Quarterly (over $200K)
  • Geographic Focus: Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties, Ohio
  • Application Process: Rolling applications via online portal

Contact Details

Website: clevelandfoundation.org

Address: 1422 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1300, Cleveland, OH

Grants Portal: Applications submitted through Grants Gateway portal

Support Resources: User guide available for download; organizations can contact Candid for proposal writing workshops

Overview

Established in 1914 by Frederick Harris Goff, the Cleveland Foundation is the world's first community foundation and remains one of the largest today. With assets of $2.8 billion and annual grantmaking exceeding $100 million, the foundation serves residents of Greater Cleveland through a network of more than 800 donor funds. The foundation's mission is to enhance the lives of all residents of Greater Cleveland, now and for generations to come, by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking, and providing leadership on key community issues. In 2024, the foundation updated its strategic approach with a two-pronged focus: investing in long-term efforts at regional, neighborhood, and individual levels while strengthening local nonprofits to meet immediate community needs. The foundation operates with a shared vision of a vibrant Northeast Ohio where no Clevelander is left behind. The Cleveland Foundation holds a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator, reflecting strong financial accountability and transparency.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Cleveland Foundation operates with a streamlined quarterly grantmaking process implemented in 2025. Grants typically range between $500 and $500,000, with $1,000 being the most common amount. The foundation does not have predetermined funding levels and encourages applicants to request amounts that meet program needs and align with organizational capacity.

Application Method: Rolling applications accepted year-round through the online Grants Gateway portal, with decisions made quarterly for grants over $200,000 and monthly for grants under $200,000.

Priority Areas

The foundation's long-term impact priorities center around three strategic pillars:

  1. Growing Our Region: Economic development initiatives that foster new business creation and strengthen existing enterprises

  2. Investing in Vibrant Neighborhoods: Place-based, interdisciplinary approaches connecting multiple program areas for holistic community development

  3. Connecting People to Prosperity: Workforce development and pathways to economic opportunity

Specific Program Areas:

  • Arts and Culture: Strengthening small and medium arts organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Cleveland. The foundation has a bold vision to make the arts as accessible as sports in every Cleveland neighborhood.

  • Healthcare Access: Expanding health care access for un- and underinsured populations

  • Safety and Violence Prevention: The Cleveland Neighborhood Safety Fund supports community-driven, evidence-informed programming addressing root causes of violence, particularly among young people

  • Organizational Sustainability: Resources to sustain and strengthen nonprofit business models and effectiveness

  • Environmental Initiatives: As the second largest environmental grantmaker based in Ohio, focusing on water quality, environmental justice, and clean energy

  • Education and Workforce Development: Supporting educational access and workforce training programs

Recent Fund Launches:

  • LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund (August 2024): $3 million endowment to advance queer justice and equity
  • Latino Impacto Fund (September 2025): $3 million endowment to support Cleveland's Latino community

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations classified as hate groups per the foundation's anti-hate group policy
  • Organizations outside Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties (with rare exceptions)
  • Project expenses already incurred (applications must be submitted before project start)
  • Generally excludes organizations not classified as 501(c)(3) public charities (though some grants are made to government agencies and churches)

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

President & CEO: Lillian Kuri (appointed 2023)

Lillian Kuri brings a lifelong passion for helping shape communities to be more equitable, vibrant, and livable for all people. She succeeded Ronn Richard, who served the organization for 20 years. Kuri has emphasized several key priorities in her leadership:

On Racial Equity: "The way that I was raised and how I value my culture and my family and bring that to the work that I do, it is very important. Having a lens by which we're always looking through that prioritizes racial equity and understand, who we're doing the work for and serving is a top priority for me."

On Collaboration: "I think what it's gonna require is what you're seeing, which is a new generation of leaders who are willing to work together and say that Cleveland Foundation can't solve it alone. Health care institutions can't solve it alone. No one can solve it alone."

On the Arts: "We know that no city is really successful without the cultural assets and leveraging them and making sure that artists play an integral role in the revitalization and transformation of our city."

Board Leadership

Board Chairperson: Randell McShepard (board member since 2021)

  • Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Talent Officer for RPM International Inc.

The foundation's board of directors includes members appointed through various means, reflecting the organization's unique governance structure established over its century-long history.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Grants Gateway portal at the Cleveland Foundation website. Organizations must complete or update their organizational profile before submitting a grant application. Organizations not yet registered should plan to complete registration at least two weeks in advance.

Key Application Points:

  • It is not necessary to meet with a staff member before applying; your submitted application will serve as an introduction
  • The foundation cannot provide assistance with writing proposals, but refers applicants to Candid for proposal writing workshops
  • Submit applications well in advance of project start dates, as the foundation cannot fund expenses already incurred
  • A user guide is available for download to assist with the application process

Decision Timeline

For grants under $200,000: Decisions made on a monthly basis

For grants over $200,000: Decisions made on a quarterly basis

Typical Process: If a project fits the foundation's guidelines, applicants may be asked to submit a full application, typically within a few weeks of initial inquiry.

Grant Terms: Generally, grants are made for one year.

Success Rates

The Cleveland Foundation does not publicly disclose specific grant approval rates or success percentages. As context, community foundations typically fund between 15-30% of applicants, though this varies widely by institution.

Reapplication Policy

The Cleveland Foundation maintains an open and welcoming reapplication policy:

  • Previous declined requests: Organizations can apply again, as each application is considered on its own merits
  • No limit: There is no limit on the number of times an organization can apply for funding
  • Discretion advised: Organizations should use discretion and submit requests only for top-priority projects and programs

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance

Request Appropriate Amounts: The Cleveland Foundation explicitly states that organizations should "request the amount that meets the needs of your program and aligns best with your organization's capacity and other anticipated or received support." The foundation does not have predetermined funding levels.

Focus on Top Priorities: Organizations should use discretion and submit requests only for top-priority projects and programs. The foundation values strategic thinking about which initiatives warrant funding requests.

Complete Your Profile: Your organizational profile in the Grants Gateway helps showcase your organization to Cleveland Foundation staff. A complete, updated profile is required before submitting applications.

Types of Projects Funded: The foundation specifically funds:

  • Innovative ideas and pilot programs to solve complex challenges and meet emerging needs
  • Efforts to sustain and strengthen organizational business models and effectiveness
  • Transformative brick and mortar projects that significantly benefit the community

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Applications should demonstrate clear connection to the foundation's three strategic pillars: Growing Our Region, Investing in Vibrant Neighborhoods, and Connecting People to Prosperity. The foundation has shifted to a more place-based, interdisciplinary approach.

Recent Funding Examples (2024-2025):

  • Cleveland Neighborhood Progress: $1.8 million
  • Famicos Foundation: $2.4 million
  • Esperanza Inc.: $400,000
  • College Now Greater Cleveland: $306,000
  • Union Miles Development Corporation: $200,000
  • JumpStart, Inc.: $150,000
  • Greater Cleveland RTA: Grant for free rides to support voter engagement

CEO's Vision and Priorities

Lillian Kuri emphasizes:

  • Racial equity as a core lens for all grantmaking decisions
  • Collaboration across sectors to address complex challenges
  • Long-term thinking: "I think the measure of success for this project is going to be in 10 or 15 years. Have we made the lives of residents better?"
  • Making arts and culture as accessible as sports throughout Cleveland neighborhoods

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No predetermined amounts: Request what you actually need ($500-$500,000 range), with justification based on your organizational capacity and project scope
  • Open reapplication policy: Previous declines don't prevent future applications; each is evaluated independently
  • Timeline planning: Apply early based on grant size (monthly decisions under $200K, quarterly over $200K)
  • Geographic focus is strict: Must serve Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties
  • Strategic alignment matters: Connect your proposal to the foundation's three pillars and demonstrate how your work advances racial equity and community prosperity
  • Complete profile first: Ensure your Grants Gateway profile is thorough and up-to-date at least two weeks before deadline
  • No pre-meeting required: The application itself serves as your introduction; staff meetings aren't necessary before applying
  • Think long-term impact: The foundation values both immediate community needs and initiatives with 10-15 year impact horizons
  • Demonstrate collaboration: Kuri's leadership emphasizes cross-sector partnerships and collective problem-solving
  • Place-based approaches favored: The 2024 strategic shift emphasizes interdisciplinary, neighborhood-level interventions

References

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