Cleveland Foundation Grant

The Cleveland Foundation is a community-based philanthropic organization located in Cleveland, Ohio. It primarily serves Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties and offers a range of support to nonprofit organizations through grantmaking. As an accredited community foundation, it focuses on improving the quality of life for residents in Northeast Ohio by supporting innovative programs and solutions in a variety of sectors. The foundation funds a wide array of nonprofit initiatives and encourages applicants to align their proposals with the foundation's mission and strategic priorities. The foundation’s standard grant application process is accessible year-round through its Grants Gateway portal. While applications can be submitted at any time, there are four scheduled deadlines annually—March 31, June 30, September 15, and December 31—all due by 11:59 p.m. EST. Applications submitted after these deadlines are considered in the following grant cycle. This cyclical structure allows nonprofits multiple opportunities throughout the year to apply for funding and encourages thoughtful planning. To apply, an organization must first register through the Grants Gateway portal, which includes creating or updating its organizational profile. This registration must be completed at least two weeks in advance of any submission deadline to ensure timely processing and technical support if needed. Once registered, applicants can access and complete the general application form, which serves as a comprehensive introduction to the proposed program or project. Eligibility for these grants is primarily limited to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charities, as defined by the IRS, that are based in or serve communities within Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties. Government agencies and churches are also eligible to apply. Applications from donor-advised funds are not accepted through this process; instead, donor advisors select recipients based on alignment with their interests, though nonprofit profiles in the portal may still be reviewed for potential funding. The Cleveland Foundation does not provide assistance with proposal writing and instead refers applicants to Candid for support services such as proposal development workshops. Proposals are evaluated by a team of program officers who each possess specific areas of interest and expertise. While meetings with foundation staff prior to submission are not required, applicants are welcome to reach out for clarification or assistance with the submission process. Contact information for support includes the main office at 216.861.3810 and an email contact option available through the website. The physical address of the foundation is 6601 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44103. While the foundation does not publish specific award amounts or the total program budget, it encourages applicants to request funding amounts appropriate to the scale and scope of their proposed work. There are no restrictions on how many times an organization may apply within a year, though discretion is advised to prioritize impactful proposals.

Organizations are encouraged to register at least two weeks prior to deadlines. Keeping the organizational profile up to date is recommended, as staff may review it even for donor-advised fund distributions.