Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $91,612,651 (2023)
Total Grants Made: 266 awards (2023)
Assets: Over $3.5 billion
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $5,000 - $500,000 (typical); up to $90 million for major strategic initiatives
Geographic Focus: Cleveland, Ohio (primary); national and international (U.S. and Israel)

Contact Details

Address: 1000 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 875-6539
Email: grants@mandelfoundation.org
Website: www.mandelfoundation.org

Overview

Established in 1953 by brothers Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel, the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation is one of the nation's most significant philanthropic organizations with over $3.5 billion in assets. The foundation reached a milestone of $1 billion in total giving in 2019-2020. Its mission is to contribute to the flourishing of the United States and Israel as just, inclusive, compassionate, and democratic societies, improving the quality of life for all citizens in both countries. The foundation's strategic approach centers on investing in exceptional leaders who can drive societal change. In 2019, Morton Mandel received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, one of the highest honors in international philanthropy. Under the leadership of President and CEO Dr. Jehuda Reinharz since 2010 and Board Chair Stephen Hoffman (the first non-family chair, appointed in 2019), the foundation has expanded its geographic footprint while maintaining its commitment to transformative, high-impact partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through both signature leadership programs and strategic institutional grants:

Signature Leadership Development Programs:

Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP): 16-session, 11-month program for 20 Cleveland community leaders annually, covering program planning, fundraising, conflict resolution, and community engagement with dedicated coaching support
CDC Leadership Program: Empowering community development corporation leaders
Cultural Leadership Program: For leaders in cultural institutions
Early Career Educators Program: Supporting emerging educational professionals
Educational Leadership Program: Developing school and educational institution leaders
Executive Leadership Program: For senior nonprofit executives
Mandel Teacher Educator Institute: Training those who train teachers

Grant Range: Typical grants range from $5,000 to $500,000, with many awards in the $5,000-$10,000 range. However, the foundation has made transformational gifts exceeding these ranges for strategic initiatives, including a $90 million matching grant for Jewish Day School Transformation, $50 million to Cleveland Orchestra (2021), $30 million to Cleveland Clinic (2022), $20 million to DigitalC for broadband expansion, $10 million to United Way of Greater Cleveland, and $3.25 million to Cleveland Public Library.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on five core areas of engagement:

Leadership Development: Investing in leaders of educational, nonprofit, and public sector institutions to deepen their impact on society
Management of Nonprofits: Fostering excellence in nonprofit and public sector institutional management
Humanities: Promoting humanities as the foundation of human aspiration and experience, including major centers at Brandeis University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jewish Life: Helping successive generations discover the meaning of Judaism and Jewish culture, contributing to Jewish community vibrancy
Urban Engagement: Supporting neighborhood and community development as an expression of commitment to just, inclusive, and democratic societies

The foundation supports organizations in Cleveland, across the United States, and in Israel. Recent grants demonstrate flexibility beyond stated core areas, including major support for arts organizations, healthcare institutions, parks systems, museums, and community development.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publish explicit exclusions. However, its focus on high-impact institutional partnerships and leadership development suggests limited interest in projects outside these strategic areas. The foundation operates through established relationships and signature programs rather than responsive grantmaking for diverse projects.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Stephen Hoffman (Board Chair): Former CEO of Jewish Federation of Cleveland; serves on boards including Cleveland Clinic, Jewish Agency for Israel, and Cleveland Orchestra

Dr. Jehuda Reinharz (President and Chief Executive Officer): Former president of Brandeis University (1994-2011); author of over 100 articles and 34 books; Fellow of the Royal Historical Society

Additional Trustees (14 active trustees plus lifetime and founding trustee categories):

Reneé Chelm (Former Owner and President, Omni Sales, LLC)
Scott S. Cowen (Chairman, Parkwood LLC; President Emeritus, Tulane University)
Mala Garg (Former Partner, Ernst & Young)
Randall J. Korach (President and CEO, Roofing Corp. of America)
Adam B. Langsam (Chief Executive Officer, Parkwood LLC)
Dan A. Polster (United States District Judge)
Charles H. Ratner
Erika B. Rudin-Luria (President, Jewish Federation of Cleveland)
Nachman Shai (Dean, Hebrew Union College, Jerusalem Campus)
Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton (President Emeritus, Cuyahoga Community College)
Jeffrey J. Wild
Amira Ahronoviz (newest trustee, joined May 2025)

Senior Staff

Mark Madeja (Chief Operating Officer): Oversees operations including grant processing, board governance, and HR; CFA charter holder

Jennifer Ehrhardt Robock (Director of Grant Operations): Manages grantmaking, reporting, and compliance for the Foundation and family foundations

Michael White (Senior Policy Advisor & Program Director): Founder and program director of NLDP and CDCLP; former Mayor of Cleveland for twelve years

Eva Heinstein (Director, Mandel Institute): Appointed spring 2024; designed and launched the Cultural Leadership Program

Quotes from Leadership

Morton Mandel on investment philosophy: "I'm convinced that it's not a crazy idea to think you can change the world by changing the leaders. The fact is: You can... And those who stand out are the ones who change the world." He emphasized throughout his career the importance of "investing in people with the values, ability, and passion to change the world."

On evaluation and accountability: "We not only ask how you'll use the money, but in six months or six years – whatever makes sense – we want an evaluation."

On scale of giving: "When I talk about lighting candles, it doesn't have to be a $23 million contribution. It just has to be a good deed. Every gift, whether $10,000 or $10 million, pays tribute to a profound belief: that a single individual can change the world. Powerful ideas, driven by outstanding people, represent the best way to light candles in dark places."

Foundation philosophy: "The work of the Mandel Foundation is grounded in the belief that exceptional leaders, inspired by powerful ideas, are the key to improving society."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Mandel Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant requests for institutional funding.

However, there is some conflicting information in tax records indicating that the foundation "accepts unsolicited proposals" but provides minimal guidance on submission procedures. Organizations interested in contacting the foundation should:

Call directly: (216) 875-6539 to inquire about submission procedures
Send written inquiries to: 1000 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114
Email: grants@mandelfoundation.org

If permitted to submit, the foundation does not use a formal application form but requests a standard set of information including:

Description of the need
Financial information
IRS exemption status

Note: The foundation's signature leadership development programs (NLDP, CDC Leadership Program, etc.) have separate application processes with published guidelines and open recruitment periods.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation primarily operates through long-term partnerships and signature programs rather than responsive grantmaking. Key strategies specific to this funder:

Connect through their signature programs: The foundation has invested heavily in initiatives including:

Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP): Open applications for Cleveland community leaders; participating or being an alumnus creates direct connection to foundation leadership, particularly Michael White (former Cleveland Mayor and program founder)
Mandel Institute for Nonprofit Leadership: Programs in Cleveland and Boston
Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University
Participation in these programs establishes organizational credibility and direct relationships

Leverage Cleveland connections: With Stephen Hoffman (Board Chair) serving on Cleveland Clinic, Jewish Agency for Israel, and Cleveland Orchestra boards, and Michael White's extensive Cleveland civic network, organizations with Cleveland ties or board connections to these institutions may have relationship-building opportunities.

Align with established grantees: The foundation has decades-long relationships with organizations including Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Cleveland Metroparks. Partnerships or collaborations with these established grantees may create visibility.

Jewish community connections: With focus on Jewish life and leadership serving on major Jewish organizations (Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Jewish Agency for Israel), organizations should consider connections through Jewish communal networks.

Decision Timeline

No public information is available about review timelines or decision notification processes for institutional grants. Given the invitation-only nature, timelines are likely customized to each partnership discussion.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. With 266 grants made in 2023 from an invitation-only process, the foundation maintains highly selective partnerships focused on strategic alignment and transformational impact potential.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. The foundation maintains long-term relationships with grantees, with many organizations receiving support "since the 1960s" and grants spanning decades.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, the foundation's documented preferences and patterns reveal what they value:

Leadership-centered approach: The foundation's core philosophy, articulated by Morton Mandel, is "investing in people with the values, ability, and passion to change the world." Organizations must demonstrate exceptional leadership capacity—this is non-negotiable. The foundation looks for "leaders of educational, nonprofit and public sector institutions with the aim of deepening their impact on the larger society."

Evaluation and accountability expectations: Morton Mandel stated clearly: "We not only ask how you'll use the money, but in six months or six years – whatever makes sense – we want an evaluation." Organizations must be prepared for rigorous outcome measurement and long-term accountability.

Enthusiasm and vision: Mandel advised philanthropists to look for organizations "full of enthusiasm." Applications should convey genuine passion and compelling vision for societal impact.

Strategic alignment with five focus areas: Projects must align with leadership development, nonprofit management, humanities, Jewish life, or urban engagement. However, the foundation has demonstrated flexibility—their $50 million Cleveland Orchestra grant (2021) shows willingness to support exceptional opportunities beyond stated priorities.

Transformational scale and impact: Recent grants reveal preference for catalytic investments that leverage additional funding or fundamentally transform institutions. Examples include:

$20 million DigitalC investment catalyzed state and local broadband funding
$10 million United Way grant was structured as a matching gift to inspire donor engagement
$3.25 million Cleveland Public Library grant (largest in library's 153-year history) enabled creation of Digital Innovation Center

Long-term partnership orientation: The foundation maintains relationships spanning decades. Tax records and grant patterns show they seek "high-impact programs and institutions" for sustained engagement, not one-time projects.

Cleveland connections matter: While national and international organizations receive funding, Cleveland-based institutions or those serving Cleveland communities have clear advantage. Recent major grants went to Cleveland Public Library, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Public Theatre, and Cleveland Clinic.

Geographic scope: Organizations in Israel receive significant support alongside U.S.-based institutions, reflecting the foundation's binational focus.

Insider perspective: According to Inside Philanthropy, this foundation represents "an uphill climb for new grantseekers" due to its focus on signature programs and established relationships. Organizations without existing connections face significant barriers to entry.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is an invitation-only funder – there is no public application process for institutional grants. Building relationships and getting on their radar must precede any funding conversation.
Leadership is everything – The foundation's entire philosophy centers on "exceptional leaders, inspired by powerful ideas, are the key to improving society." Your organization's leadership team and their vision for societal change are the primary evaluation criteria.
Think transformational, not transactional – With typical grants ranging $5,000-$500,000 but strategic initiatives reaching $90 million, demonstrate how funding would catalyze systemic change, leverage additional resources, or fundamentally transform your institution's impact.
Cleveland connection is a significant advantage – While national and international grants are made, Cleveland-based organizations or those serving Cleveland communities receive substantial priority. Leverage local board connections, partnerships with established Cleveland grantees, or participation in signature programs.
Prepare for rigorous evaluation – The foundation expects detailed outcome measurement over multi-year timeframes. Don't approach this funder unless you can commit to substantial accountability and reporting.
Participate in their leadership programs – For Cleveland organizations, participating in NLDP, CDC Leadership Program, or other Mandel Institute programs creates direct relationships with foundation leadership and demonstrates alignment with their values. This is the most direct pathway for new organizations.
Long-term relationship building is essential – With grant relationships spanning decades and $1 billion in giving since 1953, this foundation invests in sustained partnerships. Initial conversations should focus on mission alignment and shared vision, not immediate funding needs.

References

Jack Joseph And Morton Mandel Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Financial data and 990 filings (Accessed December 2025)
Mandel Foundation Official Website - Mission, programs, and leadership information (Accessed December 2025)
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation | Inside Philanthropy - Application guidance and insider analysis (Accessed December 2025)
What We Fund | Mandel Foundation - Funding priorities and program descriptions (Accessed December 2025)
Our Team | Mandel Foundation - Leadership and staff directory (Accessed December 2025)
Morton L. Mandel – Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy - Biography and philanthropic philosophy (Accessed December 2025)
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation Awards Cleveland Public Library $3.25 Million - Recent grant announcement (August 2022)
United Way of Greater Cleveland Receives $10 Million Grant - Grant details and matching structure (Accessed December 2025)
Neighborhood Leadership Development Program | Mandel Foundation - Signature program details (Accessed December 2025)
Our Story | Mandel Foundation - Foundation history and strategic evolution (Accessed December 2025)
Contact | Mandel Foundation - Contact information (Accessed December 2025)
Our Grantees | Mandel Foundation - List of funded organizations (Accessed December 2025)