Cleveland Foundation

The Cleveland Foundation, a prominent community foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio, provides funding to support nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations in the Northeast Ohio region. With a commitment to fostering a vibrant, equitable, and resilient community, the Foundation offers grants to 501(c)(3) organizations and certain government entities and churches within Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties. These grants are awarded through a standard application process and aim to support a wide range of community-centered initiatives and services. The Foundation maintains an open application cycle throughout the year. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis but must be submitted before specific deadlines to be considered for the current grant cycle. Applications submitted after the posted deadline are deferred to the following cycle. It is essential for applicants to register their organizations in the Foundation’s Grants Gateway platform at least two weeks before the deadline to ensure timely review. Organizations new to the portal must complete a detailed registration, including IRS verification details and contact information for executive leadership and other authorized users. All applicants are required to create or update their organization’s profile in the Grants Gateway before submitting a grant request. This profile enables Cleveland Foundation staff to better understand and evaluate the organization. Applications are submitted exclusively through the Grants Gateway portal, and while the Foundation does not assist with proposal writing, it recommends external resources like Candid for training and workshops on grant writing. Funding decisions are made by a team of program officers who specialize in various areas of community need. While applicants are not required to meet with a staff member prior to submission, the grantmaking staff is available for inquiries. Grant awards vary in size and should be requested based on the actual costs required for the proposed initiative. There is no limit to the number of times an organization may apply, although proposals should be limited to high-priority projects. Questions about the application process or specific proposals can be addressed through the Grants Gateway system or by contacting the Cleveland Foundation directly. The foundation’s office is located at 6601 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44103, and can be reached by phone at 216.861.3810 or via email through their website. While some donor-advised funds at the Foundation have different procedures and do not accept applications, the organization encourages all applicants to keep their profiles updated for possible funding opportunities.