Weiss Family Private Operating Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $900,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $121,000
• Geographic Focus: Cleveland area (primary), National and Israel (secondary)

Contact Details

• Phone: (216) 464-0540
• Address: 1999 Circle Drive Suite B, Cleveland, OH 44106
• Website: None
• Email: Not publicly available
• Primary Contact: Gary Weiss

Overview

Founded in 2017, the Weiss Family Private Operating Foundation is a Cleveland-based philanthropic organization with approximately $41.5 million in assets and annual grant distributions around $900,000. Despite its designation as a "private operating foundation," the foundation actively makes grants to external organizations, focusing exclusively on Jewish religious causes. The foundation is managed by members of the Weiss family, who have deep ties to Cleveland's Orthodox Jewish community and connections to American Greetings Corporation. The foundation operates without a public website or formal application process but does accept written applications through Gary Weiss.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants ranging from $1,000 to $121,000 based on trustee decisions.

Priority Areas

• Orthodox Jewish synagogues and religious institutions
• Jewish educational institutions and day schools
• Jewish summer camps and youth programs
• Israeli educational and religious organizations
• Jewish community outreach programs

What They Don't Fund

• Individual scholarships or personal assistance
• Non-Jewish organizations
• Secular causes

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (all serve without compensation):

• Zev Weiss
• Morry Weiss (former CEO of American Greetings Corporation)
• Jeffrey Weiss
• Gary Weiss (Primary contact for grant applications)
• Elie Weiss
• Judith Stone Weiss
• Mary Kay Incandela

The Weiss family has extensive connections to Cleveland's Orthodox Jewish community and maintains philanthropic ties to the broader Sapirstein-Stone-Weiss network of Jewish philanthropists.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process with published guidelines. However, they do accept written applications. Organizations should submit written forms with comprehensive information to Gary Weiss at the foundation's Cleveland address. The foundation requires detailed documentation to support charitable deductions.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's focus on Orthodox Jewish causes and Cleveland-area connections, organizations may benefit from:

• Connections through Cleveland's Orthodox Jewish community networks
• Relationships with Green Road Synagogue and other funded Cleveland institutions
• Participation in Orthodox Jewish educational initiatives
• Existing relationships with the Sapirstein-Stone-Weiss philanthropic network

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Decisions appear to be made at the discretion of the family board.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. In 2023, the foundation made 44 grants totaling $741,544.

Reapplication Policy

No information available regarding reapplication policies or waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's giving patterns:

• Strong alignment with Orthodox Jewish religious and educational missions
• Cleveland-area organizations appear to have priority
• Organizations with existing connections to the Weiss family network
• Jewish camps and youth programs receive significant support (Camp Stone received $121,000)
• Clear demonstration of community impact within the Orthodox Jewish community
• Written applications must include comprehensive documentation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation exclusively funds Jewish religious causes, with emphasis on Orthodox institutions
• Despite being a "private operating foundation," they actively make external grants
• No formal application process exists, but written applications are accepted through Gary Weiss
• Cleveland-area organizations and those with existing family connections have apparent advantages
• Grant sizes vary widely from $1,000 to $121,000, suggesting flexibility based on project merit
• The foundation's assets have grown significantly (from $14M in 2023 to $41.5M in 2024), potentially indicating expanded giving capacity
• Building relationships within Cleveland's Orthodox Jewish community may be essential for access

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Weiss Family Private Operating Foundation (EIN: 822287833), accessed February 2026
• Grantmakers.io Profile - Weiss Family Private Operating Foundation, accessed February 2026
• Cause IQ - The Weiss Family Foundation Cleveland, OH, accessed February 2026
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Weiss Family Foundation, accessed February 2026
• IRS Form 990 filings for tax years 2023-2024
• Foundation Group® - Private Foundation vs Private Operating Foundation article, accessed February 2026