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United Way of Greater Cleveland Fund

Annual Giving
$4.6M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.3M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,568,532 (2024)
  • Annual Revenue: $30.5 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program (2024 cycle: $2.375M distributed to 18 partners)
  • Geographic Focus: Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties, Ohio
  • Funding Cycle: 2-year cycle
  • Application Process: Competitive RFP process with volunteer review teams

Contact Details

Main Office: 1331 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Phone: (216) 436-2100 General Information: Call 2-1-1 anytime Website: unitedwaycleveland.org

Grantmaking Contact: Cariss Smith, Director, Grantmaking & Community Partnerships Phone: (216) 436-2212 Email: ctsmith@unitedwaycleveland.org

Overview

United Way of Greater Cleveland traces its roots to 1913 when the Federation for Charity and Philanthropy was founded, making it one of the nation's oldest coordinated fundraising organizations. The organization has evolved significantly over its 110+ year history, operating today as Northeast Ohio's largest private sector funder of health and human services. Under the leadership of President & CEO Sharon Sobol Jordan—the first woman to lead the organization in its history—United Way has modernized its approach to philanthropy, focusing on data-driven community investment and systems-level change to address intergenerational poverty.

The organization operates through 115 funded programs and partners with 18 nonprofit agencies (as of the 2024-2025 cycle) that demonstrate exceptional commitment to change and alignment with United Way's strategic priorities. In 2022, United Way received a transformational $10 million gift from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation to create the Mandel Fund, marking the largest gift to the Cleveland Community Fund and the second largest gift overall in the organization's history. This gift was subsequently matched by more than 20 donors, securing an additional $10 million in combined cash and planned donations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Impact Grants (2-Year Funding Cycle) United Way partners with nonprofit agencies through a competitive process that awards multi-year funding commitments. For the 2024-2025 cycle, 18 grantee partners received $2.375 million in total funding, averaging approximately $132,000 per organization.

Impact Institute Funded through major gifts, the Impact Institute operates as a think tank with an action plan to identify and grow solutions to root causes of poverty. This initiative receives separate philanthropic investments for sophisticated programs that demonstrate proof of concept, which are then scaled with strategic public and private sector partners. Major funding has included $1.5 million from Alexander and Sarah Cutler and a five-year commitment from Cleveland Clinic for lead-poisoning prevention efforts.

Emergency Food and Shelter Program United Way administers Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds for immediate crisis assistance.

Priority Areas

United Way of Greater Cleveland focuses on four strategic areas:

Income Pathways (Economic Mobility)

  • Job training for adults and teens
  • Adult literacy and GED attainment
  • Financial literacy programs
  • Earned Income Tax Credit assistance
  • Workforce development initiatives

Housing Stability

  • Housing access programs
  • Eviction prevention
  • Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition
  • Right to Counsel-Cleveland initiative
  • Make it Home Cleveland (property ownership for tax-forfelosed properties)

Health Pathways

  • Health resources and access
  • Chronic disease management
  • Mental health and addiction services
  • Aging and Disability Resource Center

Early Childhood Education

  • Kindergarten readiness
  • Grade-level reading programs
  • After-school and mentoring programs
  • Home-based early education approaches

Target Population

United Way specifically focuses on serving the ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)—individuals and families who earn above the federal poverty level but below what's needed to afford basic necessities. In Cuyahoga County, 43% of households (16% in poverty + 27% ALICE) fall under the ALICE threshold. In Geauga County, 28% of households (6% in poverty + 22% ALICE) struggle to meet basic needs.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not detailed in publicly available materials, United Way's competitive process clearly prioritizes programs that:

  • Operate in Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties
  • Align with their four strategic focus areas
  • Serve populations experiencing poverty or financial constraint
  • Demonstrate ability to deliver quality services effectively
  • Address root causes rather than symptoms alone

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Sharon Sobol Jordan is the first woman to lead United Way of Greater Cleveland in its 122-year history. Before her appointment, she founded and led OpenSpace Solutions LLC as a strategic partner to transformational leaders. She previously served as President and CEO of The Centers for Families and Children, one of Ohio's oldest and largest nonprofit human service corporations, which tripled in size under her leadership. She also served as Chief of Staff for Cuyahoga County and as President and Board member of Unify Labs.

Key Staff:

  • Cariss Smith, Director, Grantmaking & Community Partnerships
  • Ken Surratt, Chief Revenue Officer
  • Maryam Zoma, Senior Director, Public Policy

Governance Structure: United Way is governed by a Board of Directors with various committees including the Investment Committee, Marketing & Brand Strategy Committee, Community Investment Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee.

Leadership Quotes:

Sharon Sobol Jordan has stated: "United Way of Greater Cleveland's core belief that social and economic change cannot be achieved without racial justice, together with its focus on permanently disrupting the cycle of intergenerational poverty, deeply resonates with me."

She added: "United Way is a strong brand and an independent, trusted partner by pretty much all sectors in our community, which puts us in a unique position to be a platform for significant change. We really are now the bridge from crisis to stability for so many families in our community."

On their approach: "At United Way of Greater Cleveland, we support innovative approaches aimed at advancing income and wealth building in our community."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

United Way of Greater Cleveland operates on a 2-year competitive funding cycle. The organization funds innovative programs through a rigorous process that includes:

  1. Request for Proposals (RFP): United Way issues RFPs aligned with their four strategic priority areas
  2. Written Applications: Organizations submit detailed proposals demonstrating alignment with strategic priorities
  3. Interviews: Finalists participate in interviews with volunteer review teams
  4. Community Stakeholder Input: The process incorporates feedback from community stakeholders

Specific application deadlines and RFP release dates vary by funding cycle. Organizations interested in applying should monitor the grants page at unitedwaycleveland.org/category/grants/ or contact Cariss Smith directly for current cycle information.

Review Process

United Way has entrusted the proposal review process to community volunteers for over a century. These volunteers are organized into Impact Teams who make decisions regarding which programs receive funding and the level of funding.

Funding recommendations are based on:

  • Community need
  • Other available resources in the area
  • A program's ability to deliver quality services effectively
  • Potential to provide the greatest level of support to community members living in poverty

Decision Timeline

Historically, funded agencies learn their allocation levels in June, though specific timelines may vary by funding cycle. Given the 2-year funding cycle, organizations should plan well in advance.

Success Rates

In the 2024-2025 funding cycle, United Way selected 18 grantee partners from applicants, distributing $2.375 million. The organization supports 115 funded programs total across their various funding streams.

Reapplication Policy

Given the 2-year funding cycle, current grantees typically reapply at the conclusion of their funding period. Organizations not selected in a previous cycle may reapply in subsequent funding cycles. Contact the grantmaking office for specific guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

United Way prioritizes programs that directly align with one or more of their four strategic areas: Income Pathways, Housing Stability, Health Pathways, or Early Childhood Education. Applications must clearly demonstrate how the program addresses root causes of poverty in these areas.

Geographic Focus

Programs must serve populations in Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties. United Way specifically seeks to support communities and individuals in these counties who are living in poverty or are part of the ALICE population.

Innovation and Impact

As Sharon Sobol Jordan emphasized, United Way supports "innovative approaches" that can drive "permanent disruption of the cycle of intergenerational poverty." Programs should demonstrate:

  • Novel approaches to persistent problems
  • Evidence-based practices or willingness to be evaluated
  • Potential for systemic, multi-generational change
  • Ability to scale if successful

Service Quality and Capacity

Impact Teams evaluate "a program's ability to deliver quality services in an effective manner." Successful applicants should demonstrate:

  • Strong organizational capacity and financial stability
  • Experienced staff and proven track record
  • Clear program design with measurable outcomes
  • Efficient use of resources

Community Need and Gap-Filling

Funding recommendations consider "community need" and "other available resources in the area." Programs that fill critical service gaps and complement (rather than duplicate) existing services are prioritized.

Commitment to Racial Justice

United Way's stated belief that "social and economic change cannot be achieved without racial justice" suggests that successful applicants should demonstrate commitment to equity and addressing systemic racism.

Examples of Funded Programs (2024)

  • Make it Home Cleveland: Helps people in tax-forfeited properties purchase their homes; served more than 40 families in 2024
  • Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition: Provides free tax preparation; helped 10,000 residents receive $11.7 million in tax refunds in 2024
  • Bridge to Two: Home-based early education preparedness; served 60 families in parent skill-building programs in 2024
  • Bridges@Work: Employee resource coordination; provided services to 465 employees and 230 workers in financial wellness workshops in 2024
  • Geauga Poverty Collaborative: One-time assistance up to $1,000 for unexpected expenses; assisted 63 families in 2024

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Plan for a 2-year cycle: United Way funding operates on multi-year commitments, requiring strong organizational stability and long-term program planning
  • Focus on root causes: Programs addressing symptoms of poverty without tackling underlying systemic issues are less competitive
  • Target the ALICE population: Understanding and serving the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed population—not just those in federal poverty—is critical
  • Emphasize measurable outcomes: Impact Teams are looking for programs that can demonstrate effectiveness and community impact
  • Align with one of four priorities: Applications must clearly fit within Income Pathways, Housing Stability, Health Pathways, or Early Childhood Education
  • Build relationships early: Contact Cariss Smith to discuss program fit before the RFP is released; volunteer with Impact Teams if possible
  • Demonstrate innovation: United Way seeks programs that offer new solutions or approaches, not just continuation of traditional services
  • Show commitment to equity: Address how your program advances racial justice and systemic change

References

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