Looking back on a year of partnership and impact

The Cleveland Foundation granted more than $195 million in 2025 – supporting the non-profit community and advancing a comprehensive strategy to strengthen neighborhoods, expand economic mobility, and position Greater Cleveland for long-term growth.  

Total grantmaking supported 2,221 organizations, reflecting the foundation’s use of its full range of philanthropic tools, including board‑ and staff‑directed grants, donor‑advised grants, organizational fund distributions, and program‑related investments. Together, these investments demonstrate a coordinated, forward‑looking strategy shaped through collaboration and shared priorities across Greater Cleveland. 

Advancing the Cleveland Foundation Impact Agenda 

2025 marked the first year of the foundation’s Impact Agenda, a strategy to deliver on what communities need now while setting the foundation for transformational change. The foundation’s board and staff directed $63.9 million across 428 grants aligned to the Impact Agenda.  

• Of that total, 331 grants totaling $31.5 million supported immediate impact priorities, including wellbeing and critical needs, new and emerging ideas, nonprofit sustainability, and capital projects. In 2025, these investments stabilized essential services while reinforcing the long-term capacity of organizations that anchor the Cleveland community. 
   

• For long-term impact, the foundation continued to take on complex, systemic challenges to grow the region, strengthen neighborhoods and connect people to prosperity. In 2025, 97 grants totaling $26.9 million advanced long-term impact initiatives designed to reshape opportunity across Greater Cleveland. 

Together, these investments reflect the foundation’s unique role as the community’s foundation: tackling immediate needs while mobilizing partnerships and organizations for measurable impact in the long-term. 

Growing Philanthropic Momentum with Donor Partners 

The foundation received more than $140 million in new gifts in 2025, underscoring the deep generosity and commitment of donors to investing in critical needs and issues. At the same time, more than 315 nonprofit organizational fund partners continued to build endowments that strengthen their financial resilience. This momentum reflects a community deeply committed to solutions that will shape Cleveland’s next chapter. 

2025 Key Impact Stats 

• More than $195 million grant (including board and staff directed grantmaking, donor directed grantmaking, organizational fund distributions, impact investments) 

• 2,221 organizations supported 

• $63.9 million Impact Agenda grantmaking (428 grants)  

• • $31.5 million for immediate impact priorities 

• • $26.9 million for long-term impact priorities

• • • $11.6 million to Grow Our Region — strengthening economic vitality, talent retention, and regional competitiveness
    • $9.9 million to Invest in Vibrant Neighborhoods — advancing place-based strategies that build stability, opportunity, and resilience 
    • $5.4 million to Connect People to Prosperity — increasing economic mobility and dismantling barriers to opportunity 

• More than $140 million in gifts received 

• Partnerships with 315+ nonprofit organizational fund partners 

Looking back, 2025 was a year of shared purpose – of working together toward a vibrant Northeast Ohio where no Clevelander is left behind. The foundation will build on this work in 2026 with continued investments in the Impact Agenda and deep partnerships with donors and community that will move bold ideas forward. 

Check out our impact in action!