Mandel Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Mandel Foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, though an organisation whose idea fits one of its five areas of engagement - leadership development, management of nonprofits, the humanities, Jewish life and urban engagement - may send a short letter of inquiry of no more than two pages.
- Its geographic focus is the United States and Israel, with priority given to Cleveland, Ohio.
- A modest request is realistic, as half of its 774 grants to organisations were $12,500 or less, with most falling between $1,000 and $445,000.
- The foundation is strongly relationship-led: 97% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the previous two years' filings, so timing and persistence matter less than an existing connection or a well-aligned idea.
- It does not fund individuals, private entities, or organisations without 501(c)3 public charity status, so these should not apply.
Overview
Mandel Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cleveland, OH.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Mandel Foundation makes long-term investments in carefully selected fields where it has the experience, knowledge and capacity to make a difference. Its five areas of engagement are leadership development, management of nonprofits, the humanities, Jewish life and urban engagement. Within those areas, it invests in leaders of educational, nonprofit and public sector institutions, and in organisations and programmes with strong leadership, sound financial practices and missions aligned with its core values. Its grantmaking is guided by these priorities, which encompass institutional leadership and development as well as the Foundation’s work in the humanities, Jewish life and urban engagement.
Themes
- Leadership development
- Management of nonprofits
- Humanities
- Jewish life
- Urban engagement
Geographic Focus
United States; Israel. Priority: Cleveland, Ohio.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals or private entities
- Organizations without 501(c)3 public charity status
How to apply
Formal grant requests are by invitation only. An organisation with an idea aligned to an area of engagement may email a letter of inquiry; the submission should be no more than two pages and briefly describe the idea.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 774 grants to organisations were $12,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation favours organisations and programmes with strong leadership, sound financial practices and missions aligned with its core values.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 39%
- The largest single recipient received 34% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations Mandel Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 5% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Israel).
- 49% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 284 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Mandel Foundation - Israel · Annual Operating Support$35,080,3742024 tax year
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation · Endowment Funding$6,250,0002024 tax year
- Jewish Federations of North America · Program Support$3,083,5002024 tax year
- Musical Arts Association · Endowment Funding$3,000,0002024 tax year
- Western Reserve Land Conservancy · Capital Campaign$2,100,0002024 tax year
- Musical Arts Association · General Operating Support$1,750,0002024 tax year
- American Friends of the Hebrew University · Program Support$1,250,0002024 tax year
- Musical Arts Association · Endowment Funding$1,247,3762024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Amira Ahronoviz — Trustee
- Lavonda D Napka — Assistant Secretary
- Nachman Shai — Trustee
- Jeffrey J Wild — Trustee
- Adam B Langsam — Trustee
- Erika Rudin-Luria — Trustee
- Renee Chelm — Trustee
- Scott S Cowen — Trustee
- Jerry Sue Thornton — Trustee
- Charles H Ratner — Trustee
- Dan A Polster — Trustee
- Randall J Korach — Trustee
- Mala Garg — Trustee
- Jehuda Reinharz — CEO & President
- Stephen H Hoffman — Chairman
- Mark A Madeja — COO, Treasurer & Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $269,165,348 | $75,317,747 | $1,997,413,740 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $312,774,500 | $91,612,651 | $2,307,299,628 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $289,679,764 | $77,001,782 | $2,336,811,642 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Mandel Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (216) 875-6500
- grants@mandelfoundation.org
- Cleveland, OH
- mandelfoundation.org
Applying to Mandel Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (216) 875-6500
- grants@mandelfoundation.org
- Cleveland, OH
- mandelfoundation.org