Frequently Asked Questions: Grantmaking

Can I get money from the Cleveland Foundation if I have a personal dire need?

The Cleveland Foundation does not make grants or loans to individuals. As a community foundation, it is designed to serve the charitable and educational needs of tax-exempt (nonprofit) organizations in the Greater Cleveland area.

How do we know if our organization would be eligible for a grant or if our project would be of interest to the Cleveland Foundation?

The Cleveland Foundation makes most of its grants to tax-exempt agencies classified as 501(c)(3) organizations (public charities as defined by the Internal Revenue Service). Some grants are also made to government agencies and churches.  Grants to organizations fall within two categories:

Proactive:  About two-thirds of our flexible grantmaking dollars are awarded proactively in areas judged most vital to Greater Cleveland’s future. Grants in these areas are generally made to our long-term partners with the goal of creating significant, widespread impact.

Responsive: About one-third of our flexible grantmaking dollars are given in response to direct requests from the community. In general, responsive grants are made in (but not restricted to) the areas of arts and culture, civic affairs, economic development, education, environment, health, and human services. 

Priority is given to programs that:

• Create and improve quality services and programs for vulnerable and underserved populations.
• Increase the quality, effectiveness and viability of nonprofit organizations.
• Develop or test/evaluate new, creative community solutions.
• Promote problem-solving that supports partnerships and collaboration.
  

How do I apply for a grant?

Organizations requesting funding from the Cleveland Foundation are required to submit an electronic grant inquiry through Gifts & Grants Online. For more information, visit grantmaking on our website, or frequently asked questions related to Gifts & Grants Online. Once the grant inquiry is reviewed, you may be invited to submit a full grant application.

Can I apply for a grant from a donor-advised fund?

Grants from donor-advised funds are made to nonprofit organizations based on the donor’s areas of interest. Therefore, applications are not necessary. However, donors and advisors can review your organization's profile or project in Gifts & Grants Online and decide whether to recommend a grant from their funds.

Can I apply for a grant from a specific fund?

Yes. Please indicate this request on the grant inquiry or application. Some funds may use a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for grantmaking. RFPs are generally issued to a closed list, but open RFPs are posted on our website.

If I am preparing a proposal to send to the Cleveland Foundation, what must I do and where do I send it? 

Paper proposals are no longer being accepted by the foundation. Rather, all organizations applying for funding are required to submit an electronic grant inquiry through Gifts & Grants Online. For more information, visit grantmaking on our website, or frequently asked questions related to Gifts & Grants Online. Once the grant inquiry is reviewed, you may be invited to submit a full grant application.

How do we get a password for Gifts & Grants Online?

The executive director of your organization must e-mail Cleveland Foundation Grants Management with the contact information for the person authorized to submit inquiries and applications on behalf of your organization. This person may be the executive director or a designee. On a limited basis, other staff may be given access to view information but will not have the ability to submit inquiries or applications.

What are the deadlines for submitting a grant application?

The Cleveland Foundation generally does not have deadlines as grant applications are reviewed as they are received.

What if I have questions or need help with submitting my grant application?

Contact Grants Management at 216-615-7254 or e-mail grantsmgmt@clevefdn.org.

Can anyone at the Cleveland Foundation help me write a proposal?

We do not provide assistance with writing proposals. However, we suggest you contact the Foundation Center, which frequently conducts workshops on proposal writing, among other services. Visit its website to find a location near you. The Cleveland location phone number is 216-861-1934.

Can you refer me anywhere else for funding?

A good resource for both individuals and organizations is the Foundation Center. It does not provide funding, but it is well equipped to provide online resources to help grantseekers identify appropriate funders and develop targeted proposals. Visit its website to find a location near you. The Cleveland location phone number is 216-861-1934.

Once our grant application is submitted, when can we expect to hear a decision?

Once your application is received, a program officer or director is assigned to review your request and can answer any questions and provide guidance regarding the timetable for making a decision. Grant applications that request significant amounts of funding, those that deal with complex or new programs, or those that have significant unanswered questions will likely require longer review times. In these cases, you should allow eight to 10 weeks for full review of your proposal from submission of the grant inquiry to decision.

How can I check the status of my grant application?

Contact Grants Management at 216-615-7254 or e-mail us.

How often can we apply?

The Cleveland Foundation does not set a limit on the number of times an organization can apply for funding. Generally we prefer that organizations use discretion and submit requests only for top-priority projects and programs.

Who will review my request?

Program and donor relations staff reviews all incoming grant inquiries to determine whether a grant application should be submitted.

If our previous grant request was declined, can we apply again?

Yes, each application is considered on its own merits.

Can we meet before we submit our grant application or inquiry?

Generally, no. The grant inquiry will serve as an introduction and summary of your project. Upon review, staff may either invite your application or contact you if a meeting or more information is necessary.

How much money should we ask for?

There is a wide range in the dollar amounts of grants awarded. Organizations should request the amount actually needed to successfully complete the proposed project.