City Club Forum Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 50% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE CITY CLUB FORUM FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND'S MISSION TO CREATE CONVERSATIONS OF CONSEQUENCE THAT HELP DEMOCRACY THRIVE. WE DO THIS IN PURSUIT OF OUR VISION OF STRONG,(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $463,327
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- 117.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $292,226, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 117.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 71% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 5 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
- $231,276 spent. TO FULFILL OUR MISSION, THE CITY CLUB PRODUCES FORUMS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS FOR A VARIETY OF AUDIENCES. THE BACKBONE OF OUR PROGRAMMING IS THE FRIDAY FORUM, A LUNCHTIME PROGRAM DEVOTED TO SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONCERNS. WE ALSO HAVE FORUMS ON OTHER DAYS, AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND VENUES (WHEN IN-PERSON), INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD BARS AND PUBLIC SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND AND VIRTUALLY FOR LIVESTREAMING AUDIENCES. IN TODAY'S POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, OUR WORK HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CRITICAL BECAUSE COMMUNITIES NEED A FORUM FOR UNDERSTANDING THE NUANCES OF VARIOUS ISSUES AND REFORMS IN RELATION TO THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES. SOME OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL FORUMS ARE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) DEVELOPED BY MEMBER-LED TEAMS AND STUDENTS. EVERY ELECTION SEASON, YOU CAN COUNT ON THE CITY CLUB TO CONVENE CANDIDATE AND ISSUE DEBATES. ALL TOLD, WE PRODUCE ABOUT 100 PROGRAMS EVERY YEAR, FROM SMALL, DEEP DIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH EMERGING COMMUNITY VOICES TO LARGE SCALE EVENTS, SUCH AS THE STATE OF THE CITY.OUR ORGANIZATION PROMOTES AND ENCOURAGES DIVERSITY BY WELCOMING SPEAKERS, MEMBERS, GUESTS OF VARIOUS RACE, CULTURE, AND ORIENTATION. WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT THAT IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MEET AMBITIOUS TARGETS FOR SPEAKER DIVERSITY. OUR SPEAKERS TELL US THAT SPEAKING AT A CITY CLUB FORUM CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN CONTRIBUTING TO PUBLIC DIALOGUE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.THE CITY CLUB'S PRIMARY MEDIA PARTNER IS IDEASTREAM PUBLIC MEDIA. IDEASTREAM PROVIDES PRODUCTION SUPPORT TO CAPTURE THE CONTENT OF NEARLY ALL OF OUR FORUMS, AND PROVIDES A WEEKLY BROADCAST ACROSS THE REGION AND STATE ON MULTIPLE CHANNELS. THEY ALSO HELP US PROVIDE A FREE DIGITAL ARCHIVE AND LIVE STREAM OF ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS.
- A GROWING NATIONAL DIVIDE IS REFLECTED IN THE FRACTURES WE SEE IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST OHIO. WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, THE BARRIERS THAT DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITY ARE PARTICULARLY DESTRUCTIVE. THE CITY CLUB AIMS TO BRIDGE THIS DIVIDE THROUGH FOUR DISTINCT PROGRAMS THAT SERVES STUDENTS AND THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY: CITY CLUB YOUTH FORUMS, STUDENT PARTICIPATION, THE FREE SPEECH ESSAY CONTEST, AND THE ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIP. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1997, MORE THAN 14,000 STUDENTS HAVE ATTENDED CITY CLUB YOUTH FORUMS. STUDENTS TAKE CHARGE OF EVERYTHING IN THE FORUM, FROM TOPIC SELECTION TO PANEL MODERATION AND DELIVERING INTRODUCTIONS. THESE FORUMS ARE EXECUTED BY A (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) PLANNING COUNCIL OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO COME FROM AREA HIGH SCHOOLS (BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE) TO MEET MONTHLY TO SELECT TOPICS AND INVITE THE SPEAKERS FOR AS MANY AS FIVE FORUMS EACH YEAR. YOUTH FORUMS PROVIDE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS BY HOLDING GROUP DISCUSSIONS ON CURRENT EVENTS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT FORUMS, DEVELOP ANALYTICAL THINKING ABILITIES BY DEBATING THE TOPIC AND POINTS OF VIEW REFLECTED BY THE FORUM SPEAKER, AND ENCOURAGING POSITIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BY PROVIDING A DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH ENGAGED DIALOGUE-THE VERY FIBER OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.EVERY YEAR THE HOPE AND STANLEY ADELSTEIN FREE SPEECH ESSAY CONTEST CHALLENGES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXAMINE THE ROLE OF FREE SPEECH IN THE 21ST CENTURY. THIS ESSAY CONTEST WAS ESTABLISHED WITH A GENEROUS GIFT FROM THE ADELSTEINS TO HONOR THEIR DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE CITY CLUB OF CLEVELAND. NORTHEAST OHIO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE AND CITY CLUB MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS SERVE AS GUEST JUDGES SCORING THE ESSAYS ON THEIR CLARITY, CONTENT, ORIGINALITY, AND SIGNIFICANCE. WINNING ESSAYS ARE POSTED ON THE CITY CLUB WEBSITE AND THE TOP WINNERS ARE INVITED TO READ THEIR ESSAYS AT THE CITY CLUB. WINNERS RECEIVE A TOTAL OVER MORE THAN $4,000 IN PRIZES, INCLUDING $1,000 TO THE TOP WINNING ESSAY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1940.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.