Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $4,681,500 (2023)
Total Assets: $72,249,103 (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Semi-annual review cycle (June and December meetings)
Grant Range: Varies widely (recent grants from under $100,000 to $3.6 million)
Geographic Focus: Greater Cleveland, Ohio area
Number of Grants: 51-55 grants annually

Contact Details

Website: https://esprentissfoundation.org

Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=esprentiss

Mailing Address: Pittsburgh, PA (administered by PNC Bank)

Overview

Founded in January 1939 by Elisabeth Severance Allen Prentiss and established operationally upon her death in 1944, the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation is a charitable trust dedicated to the support and advancement of healthcare, primarily in the greater Cleveland community. The foundation has assets of over $72 million and distributed approximately $4.7 million in grants in 2023 through 51-55 awards. The Prentiss Foundation has supported and promoted medical and surgical research, public health, public hospitals, and better methods of hospital management and administration, with the mission of making medical care "available to all." Originally, income was split between St. Luke's Hospital and discretionary distributions, but when St. Luke's became for-profit in the mid-1990s, all funds became available for the Board of Managers' discretion. Elisabeth Severance Prentiss, daughter of Standard Oil treasurer Louis Severance, received Cleveland's Medal for Public Service in 1928 for her extensive philanthropic work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a single grant program with semi-annual review cycles. Recent grants demonstrate significant range in funding levels:

Major Capital Projects: $3.6 million to Hospice of the Western Reserve (2025) for Quality of Life capital campaign
Facility Development: $5 million to University Hospitals of Cleveland for child psychiatric facility
Average Grant Size: Approximately $85,000-$92,000 based on total annual giving divided by number of awards

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through an online portal with two annual deadlines for board consideration.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses exclusively on healthcare advancement in the greater Cleveland area:

Medical and surgical research
Public health initiatives
Public hospitals and hospital systems
Hospital management and administration improvements
Healthcare accessibility and quality of care
Nursing education and programs
Hospice and end-of-life care
Pediatric healthcare services

What They Don't Fund

The Prentiss Foundation explicitly does NOT fund:

Individuals
National fundraising organizations or foundations
Scholarships or fellowships
Loans
Matching gifts
Organizations outside the greater Cleveland area (per trust instrument, most activities must be carried on in Ohio)

Governance and Leadership

Board Structure

The Board of Managers consists of five "public-spirited citizens" who serve unlimited terms without compensation. The foundation has no employees.

Known Board Member:

Pam Alexander, President of the Board of Managers

Administrative Support

PNC Bank serves as trustee and provides support services, including a Secretary to the Foundation. The foundation is administered from Pittsburgh but focuses exclusively on Cleveland-area healthcare organizations.

Historical Context

Elisabeth Severance Prentiss (1865-1944) was married twice—first to Dr. Dudley P. Allen, a prominent surgeon, and later to Francis Fleury Prentiss. She endowed St. Luke's Hospital in memory of her first husband and funded the Allen Memorial Hospital and Allen Art Museum in Oberlin, Ohio. Her philanthropic legacy continues through this foundation, which originally entrusted funds to National City Bank but is now administered by PNC Bank.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted exclusively through the foundation's online grant portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=esprentiss

Required Documents:

Cover letter signed by the chief executive officer, including:
- Executive summary of the project
- Amount of funds requested
Organizational background
Current organizational budget
Most recent audited financial statements
Detailed project description
Project budget
IRS 501(c)(3) status letter
Supporting documentation

Important Application Rule: A new grant will NOT be considered until the Final Report from any outstanding grant has been filed with the Foundation. Organizations with incomplete reporting obligations will not be eligible for new awards.

Decision Timeline

Application Deadlines:

May 15 deadline → June board meeting
November 15 deadline → December board meeting

Board Review Schedule: The Board of Managers reviews and acts on grant requests semi-annually at meetings held in June and December of each year.

Notification Timeline: Specific notification timelines after board meetings are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should expect decisions to be communicated following the June and December meetings.

Success Rates

The foundation made 51-55 grants in 2023 from total applications received. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available, but with an average of 50+ awards annually, the foundation demonstrates consistent grant-making activity.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is publicly documented. Organizations are encouraged to contact the foundation directly at esprentissfoundation@pnc.com with questions about reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and funding history, successful applications demonstrate:

Geographic Alignment

Cleveland Focus: The trust instrument specifies that "most of the foundation's activities must be carried on in Ohio." Organizations outside the greater Cleveland area are unlikely to receive funding.

Healthcare Mission Alignment

Projects must clearly advance healthcare in one of the foundation's priority areas
Emphasis on making medical care "available to all" suggests preference for projects that improve access and equity

Established Organizations Favored

Past beneficiaries receiving multiple grants include:

University Hospitals of Cleveland
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Hospice of the Western Reserve (supported multiple programs including the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Bereavement Center)
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University
Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleveland
Mercy Allen Memorial Hospital

Capital Projects Considered

Recent major grants demonstrate willingness to fund significant capital campaigns and facility development for healthcare infrastructure.

Complete Reporting Requirements

The foundation's strict policy on final reports indicates strong emphasis on accountability. Organizations with a track record of thorough reporting and grant compliance are better positioned for future awards.

Application Quality

The requirement for comprehensive documentation—including organizational background, budgets, audited financials, and detailed project descriptions—suggests the foundation values well-prepared, thorough applications that demonstrate organizational capacity and project feasibility.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic restriction is absolute: Only greater Cleveland area healthcare organizations should apply. This is a trust requirement, not a preference.
Complete outstanding reports first: The foundation will not consider new applications from organizations with incomplete reporting obligations—ensure all prior grant reports are filed before applying.
Semi-annual cycle requires planning: With only two decision meetings per year, timing is crucial. Submit by May 15 for June consideration or November 15 for December review.
Healthcare focus is exclusive: The foundation funds only healthcare-related projects—medical research, public health, hospitals, nursing education, and healthcare administration.
Scale varies dramatically: Recent grants range from modest awards to multi-million dollar commitments, suggesting the foundation considers both operating support and transformational capital projects.
Established relationships matter: Past beneficiaries like University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic, Hospice of the Western Reserve, and Case Western Reserve University have received multiple grants over the years.
Mission alignment with accessibility: The founder's goal of making medical care "available to all" suggests projects demonstrating improved healthcare access and equity may be favored.

References

Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation Official Website. "Grant Application." Accessed January 2026. https://esprentissfoundation.org/grant-application
Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation Official Website. "History." Accessed January 2026. https://esprentissfoundation.org/history
Case Western Reserve University, Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. "Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation." Accessed January 2026. https://case.edu/ech/articles/e/elisabeth-severance-prentiss-foundation
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Elizabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation - Form 990." November 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/346512433
Cause IQ. "E S Prentiss Foundation-Ir | Pittsburgh, PA." Accessed January 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/elizabeth-severance-prentiss-foundation,346512433/
Hospice of the Western Reserve. "Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation Grants $3.6 Million to Quality of Life Campaign." March 2025. https://www.hospicewr.org/News/March-2025/Elisabeth-Severance-Prentiss-Foundation-Grants-$3-6-Million-to-Quality-of-Life-Campaign
Philanthropy News Digest. "Prentiss Foundation Awards $5 Million for Child Psychiatric Facility." Accessed January 2026. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/prentiss-foundation-awards-5-million-for-child-psychiatric-facility