Cleveland Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ENHANCE THE LIVES OF ALL RESIDENTS OF GREATER CLEVELAND, NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, BY WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR DONORS TO BUILD COMMUNITY ENDOWMENT, ADDRESS NEEDS THROUGH GRANTMAKING, AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP ON KEY COMMUNITY ISSUES.
- Income
- $302.8 million
- Spending
- $222.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 79.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 43%
- Employees
- 109
- Volunteers
- 80
- Highest pay
- $649,798, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 79.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $200.6 million spent. THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION IS A GRANTMAKING ORGANIZATION. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE GRANTS AUTHORIZED IN 2024 WERE DIRECTED BY THE BOARD TOWARD PRIORITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITIES AND RESIDENTS IN CUYAHOGA, LAKE AND GEAUGA COUNTIES. THROUGH OUR GRANTMAKING, INVESTMENTS AND LEADERSHIP, THE FOUNDATION RESPONDS TO IMMEDIATE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING LONG-TERM, COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO GROW OUR REGION, CREATE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO PROSPERITY. GRANTMAKING TOWARD LONG-TERM AND IMMEDIATE IMPACT INCLUDES THE AREAS OF ARTS AND CULTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOUTH & HUMAN SERVICES. IN ADDITION, SUPPORT FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITAL EXCELLENCE.THE OTHER HALF OF THE GRANTS AUTHORIZED IN 2024 WERE DESIGNATED OR ADVISED BY DONORS TO THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION IN VARIOUS TRUSTS, DESIGNATED FUNDS, DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, OR SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS. THESE GRANTS FURTHER THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION AND ARE MADE TO OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS. THESE GRANTS ALIGN WITH THE FOREGOING PROGRAM AREAS.IN TOTAL, THE LARGEST AREAS OF GRANTMAKING IN 2024 WERE EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIPS (23%), HUMAN SERVICES (18%), NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSING (17%), PHILANTHROPIC SECTOR (16%), HEALTH (12%), ARTS AND CULTURE (10%), ENVIRONMENT (3%), AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (1%).
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1945.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Independence, OH), EIN 91-2153073. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.