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Joseph & Florence Mandel Family Foundation - Weinberg Family Fund

Annual Giving
$6.2M
Grant Range
$0K - $3.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,201,571 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: $14 - $2,964,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Ohio (Cleveland/Beachwood area), with some grants to New York, Florida, California, Maryland, Texas, and New Jersey

Contact Details

Address: 1000 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114-1117

Website: Not available

Phone: Not available

Email: Not available

Note: This foundation does not have a public application process or contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Joseph & Florence Mandel Family Foundation - Weinberg Family Fund (also known as the Penni M. and Stephen J. Weinberg Family Fund) was established in 2019 as a private foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. With assets of approximately $165 million, the foundation distributed over $6.2 million in grants in 2023 across 159 awards. The fund is named after Penni Weinberg (daughter of Joseph Mandel) and her husband Stephen Weinberg, and operates as part of the broader Mandel family philanthropic network. The foundation focuses on Jewish education and continuity, healthcare, human services, and community development, reflecting the Mandel family's longstanding commitment to strengthening Jewish life and improving quality of life in Cleveland and beyond. Trustees include family members Penni M. Weinberg, Pamela M. Kahn, and Jennifer W. Dinner.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees and range from small contributions of $14 to major gifts exceeding $2.9 million.

Notable grants include:

  • University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center: $5 million for the Wolstein Center caregiver training facility and related healthcare initiatives
  • Jewish Day Schools: Support for the Jewish Day School Transformation Project
  • Friendship Circle: Ongoing support for programs serving children with disabilities
  • Jewish Federation of Cleveland: Support for the YLD Weinberg Mission to Israel

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants, the foundation supports:

  • Jewish Education: Jewish day schools, Jewish community centers, and cultural heritage preservation
  • Healthcare: Medical centers, neurological institutes, and caregiver training programs
  • Human Services: Organizations serving people with disabilities and family support services
  • Jewish Community: Federation programs, missions to Israel, and Jewish continuity initiatives
  • Leadership Development: Consistent with the broader Mandel family focus on nonprofit leadership

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the foundation appears focused on:

  • Organizations in the Cleveland area and select other U.S. cities
  • Jewish institutions and causes
  • Healthcare and education initiatives

Non-Jewish organizations outside these priority areas are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Penni M. Weinberg: Daughter of Joseph Mandel (founder of the Joseph & Florence Mandel Family Foundation); Trustee for Life of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland
  • Pamela M. Kahn: Daughter of Penni and Stephen Weinberg
  • Jennifer W. Dinner: Daughter of Penni and Stephen Weinberg

Family Leadership

Stephen J. Weinberg: President and CEO of Weinberg Wealth Management; former board chair of Friendship Circle (2014-2018); served on Jewish Community Federation Board and as Menorah Park life trustee. Along with Penni, he established the Steve and Penni Weinberg Teen Volunteer Award at Friendship Circle.

Joseph C. Mandel: Penni's father and patriarch of the Mandel family philanthropy. Joseph co-founded the Mandel Foundation in 1953 with his brothers Jack and Morton. The Mandel family philosophy emphasizes that "qualified personnel are fundamental to the effective implementation of any social program."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees. There is no application portal, published guidelines, or process for submitting unsolicited proposals.

Grants appear to be made to organizations with which the family has existing relationships or through the trustees' direct knowledge and engagement with the community.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented giving patterns, organizations that have received support share these characteristics:

  • Active trustee involvement: Stephen Weinberg served on the Friendship Circle board for years before major grants were awarded. The family has deep ties to organizations they support.
  • Cleveland Jewish community connections: The family maintains close relationships with the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, where Penni and Stephen are Trustees for Life. Organizations connected to this network may have greater visibility.
  • Healthcare institutions: The Weinbergs have a documented interest in University Hospitals and have supported multiple UH facilities over time, suggesting a pattern of multi-year partnerships.
  • Jewish education sector: The Joseph and Florence Mandel Jewish Day School in Beachwood is named after Penni's parents, indicating the family's commitment to this area.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates without a public application process, the following factors appear relevant based on documented grants:

  • Long-term relationships: The Weinbergs support organizations where they have personal involvement, such as Stephen's four-year tenure as Friendship Circle board chair
  • Alignment with Jewish values: The family's commitment to Jewish continuity and education is central to their giving
  • Healthcare innovation: Major support for University Hospitals suggests interest in cutting-edge medical care and caregiver training
  • Leadership development: The broader Mandel family philosophy emphasizes developing qualified personnel and effective nonprofit leadership
  • Cleveland roots: While some grants extend beyond Cleveland, the family's primary focus is on their home community
  • Multi-generational impact: Projects like the Jewish Day School Transformation Initiative that benefit future generations align with family values

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications; grants are made at trustee discretion to organizations with existing family relationships
  • The foundation is part of the broader Mandel family philanthropic network, which emphasizes Jewish education, leadership development, and community strengthening
  • Major grants focus on Jewish education, healthcare, and human services in the Cleveland area
  • Personal involvement by family members appears to precede significant funding commitments
  • Connections to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and other established Jewish community organizations may provide indirect pathways to visibility
  • Grant sizes vary widely from small contributions to multi-million dollar commitments, with an average grant of approximately $34,000
  • The foundation made 159 grants in 2023, suggesting relatively broad distribution despite being a private family foundation

References

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