Grantmaking

Each year, the Cleveland Foundation awards $80 million to $85 million in grants, primarily to nonprofit organizations in Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties. Those grants fell into three categories:

• Proactive. A growing percentage of our grantmaking dollars is awarded proactively in areas judged most vital to Greater Cleveland’s future. Grants in these areas are generally made to our long-term partners with the goal of creating significant, widespread impact. Learn more about the vital issues to which we proactively direct grant dollars. 
• Donor-Directed. Approximately half of our grant dollars are awarded at the recommendation of donors through donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, and scholarships. The foundation assists donors in making informed decisions about projects and organizations that best match their philanthropic goals.
• Responsive. The rest of the Cleveland Foundation’s grants are made in response to direct requests from the community, as described below.

We give priority to programs that:

1. Improve access to services and programs for vulnerable and underserved populations.
2. Strengthen nonprofit organizations.
3. Test new ideas and different partnerships.
4. Support policy and advocacy.
   

In general, responsive grants are made in (but not restricted to) the areas of arts and culture, community development, economic development, education, environment, health, and human services.

Other sources of information on Cleveland Foundation grantmaking:

• Begin the process of applying for a grant from the Cleveland Foundation.
• Grantees: Access forms and resources in our Grantee Tool Kit.  
• Watch video of Kathy Hallissey, director of community responsive grantmaking, discussing the foundation's grantmaking priorities and interests.
  • You may also listen to this Cleveland Foundation podcast, in which Kathy Hallissey talks about Cleveland-area nonprofits and ways in which they are coping with the recession.
• The Cleveland Foundation offers a number of affiliated grantmaking and leadership programs, as well as the following special funding opportunities:
  • Time Warner-Cleveland City Council Neighborhood Technology Fund
  • Fenn Educational Fund
  • Major Capital Grants Program
  • Supporting Organizations
• The Cleveland Foundation is now awarding capital grants only to organizations that adopt “green building” principles.
• View lists of grants made by the Cleveland Foundation in previous years:
  • 2008: .PDF file or interactive 
  • 2007
  • 2006 
  • 2005 
• Check out past issues of our grantee newsletter