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The Cleveland Foundation
The Cleveland Foundation reported $302.8 million in revenue and $222.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $90.25 went to program services, $6.65 to management and general costs and $3.10 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 57.7% of the total. Government grants made up 15.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $649,798 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 152% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $222MFor context, the median across 1,001 covered philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities: $91.65 programs, $6.50 management, $1.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $303MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.2% | 90.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.7% | 6.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.1% | 1.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 57.7% | 79.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 15.1% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $649,798 | $325,675 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.29% | 1.56% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 30 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 154.9 | 56.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseThe 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…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 60.00 hrs/week | $595,261 | $0 | $54,537 | $649,798 |
| CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER/CFO Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $406,589 | $0 | $71,142 | $477,731 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $279,803 | $0 | $48,941 | $328,744 |
| SENIOR VICE PRESENT/GENERAL COUNSEL Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $247,853 | $0 | $56,466 | $304,319 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $227,783 | $0 | $43,659 | $271,442 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $234,197 | $0 | $36,727 | $270,924 |
| CHIEF TECHNOLOGY&INFORMATION OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $222,863 | $0 | $47,956 | $270,819 |
| VICE PRESIDENT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $194,354 | $0 | $48,074 | $242,428 |
30 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Cleveland Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b15 · 15 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5109
- Volunteers Part I, line 680
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MONTICELLO ASSOCIATES Investment advisor | $600,000 |
| SANGFROID STRATEGY LLC Program related consulting | $503,002 |
| THOMPSON HINE LLP Legal | $440,804 |
| STELLAR TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS Hosting & customizations - software lice | $416,391 |
| ROOT INTEGRATED SYSTEMS LLC Technology consulting | $408,022 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 21 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to The Cleveland Foundation totaling $1.4M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Cleveland Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Cleveland Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Cleveland Foundation spent in 2024, $90.25 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities · Largest charities in Ohio
Questions people ask
How much of The Cleveland Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, The Cleveland Foundation reported that 90.2% of its $222.3 million in expenses went to program services, 6.7% to management and general and 3.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Cleveland Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Cleveland Foundation reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $649,798, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Cleveland Foundation get its money?
Of $302.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 57.7% came from contributions and grants (including 15.1% from government grants) and 0.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Cleveland Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 34-0714588 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202543189349305969 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423149349300537 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303189349316490 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203159349307580 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123149349305302 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202033109349302258 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 34-0714588: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.