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The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$3.8M
Granted FY2025still arriving
154
Grants FY2025still arriving
13
States reached
$490k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Education$5.3MPhilanthropy$5.1MAnimals$3.7MFood & Nutrition$2.5MHuman Services$2.3MYouth Development$1.6MArts & Culture$1.6MHealth$1.1MOther$0
02FY2025 · 154 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k58 grants · $208k
  • $10k–50k80 grants · $1.4M
  • $50k–250k13 grants · $941k
  • $250k+3 grants · $1.3M
$10,000
Median grant
13
States reached
$6.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
COLLEGE NOW GREATER CLEVELAND$490,000
NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION$400,000
American Online Giving Foundation$369,388
DUNELAND YMCA INC$125,000
GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK$100,500
CLEVELAND CLINIC FDN PHILANTHROP$100,000
ASM MATERIALS EDUCATION FOUNDATION$100,000
YMCA OF MARQUETTE COUNTY$75,000
ATRIUM MEDICAL CTR FOUNDATION$75,000
GREAT LAKES HISTORICAL SOCIETY$62,500
FOOD BANK OF NORTHWEST INDIANA$52,500
UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS$50,000
DEARBORN EDUCATION FOUNDATION$50,000
UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA$50,000
INDIANA DUNES ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER INC$50,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY21–25, $1.0M) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 49% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 11%Twilight Wish Foundation: $25 → 6%FIREFIGHTER CANCER SUPPORT NETWORK INC: $500 → 14%LINCOLN HILLS DEVELOPMENT: $30k → 17%Childrens Home Society of WV: $40k → 21%MISSION OF MERCY INC: $5k → 6%GLADE RUN FOUNDATION: $5k → 9%PERRY COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING: $15k → 17%THE CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY OF WV: $40k → 21%LINCOLN HILLS DEVELOPMENT: $5k → 17%Food for Thought Toledo Inc: $3k → 18%Butler County Family YMCA: $43k → 9%New Life Furniture: $700 → 16%THE CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY OF WV: $10k → 21%Tourist Center Senior Citizens Inc: $10k → 15%HANDI-CRAFTERS INC: $10k → 6%Richland County Childrens Auxiliary: $5k → 15%HANDI-CRAFTERS INC: $8k → 6%YMIC FOUNDATION: $10k → 6%YMIC Foundation: $10k → 6%The Lighthouse Foundation: $40k → 11%ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL: $15k → 21%North Shore Area Partners: $10k → 8%The Lighthouse Foundation: $40k → 11%ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL: $15k → 21%THE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION: $20k → 11%ZAMAN INTERNATIONAL: $10k → 21%GRACE BEYOND BORDERS NWI INC: $8k → 15%YMCA OF GREATER BRANDYWINE: $20k → 6%The Lighthouse Foundation: $20k → 11%THE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION: $11k → 11%YMCA of Greater Brandywine: $15k → 6%YMCA of Greater Brandywine: $15k → 6%YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO: $50k → 15%HOPE HOUSE RESCUE MISSION: $15k → 12%YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION: $50k → 15%Hope House Rescue Mission: $10k → 12%COMMUNITY YOUTH & WOMENS ALLIANCE: $5k → 6%DUNELAND YMCA INC: $125k → 9%The Healing Center: $2k → 16%DUNELAND YMCA INC: $125k → 9%DUNELAND YMCA INC: $125k → 9%Trillium House: $5k → 11%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA: $5k → 12%University Settlement: $8k → 17%MERRICK HOUSE: $10k → 17%Merrick House: $8k → 17%Merrick House: $8k → 17%May Dugan Center: $5k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
WA
MN
IL
MI
NY
MA
IA
IN
OH
PA
CA
CO
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
KS
TN
NC
DC
AL
GA
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

76%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$19M · 189 repeat orgs$6.0M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +15% since the first grant, against +12% for those funded once.

189 repeat relationships: 106 still active in FY2025, 83 since wound down; 39 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

189
322

Total granted

$19M
$5.5M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+15%
+12%

Still filing today

77%
48%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 87% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $438k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’21’22’23’24’25
EducationHuman ServicesArts & CultureFood & NutritionYouth DevelopmentEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • NF
    NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
    4× · 2021–2025 · $2.7M · revenue +35%
  • CN
    COLLEGE NOW GREATER CLEVELAND INC
    5× · 2021–2025 · $1.5M · revenue +109%
  • FB
    FOOD BANK OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC
    5× · 2021–2025 · $718k · revenue +4%

Funded once

  • NF
    NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE
    one grant, 2024 · $800k
  • BM
    Benevity - MGAmerican Online Giving Foundation
    one grant, 2022 · $366k
  • UW
    United Way of Greater Cincinnati
    one grant, 2021 · $194k · revenue +3%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
United Way of Central Ohio Inc

United way of central ohio is the local organization that harnesses the power of communities working together - people, nonprofits, businesses and government - to create a stronger, more equitable central ohio. see schedule o.we do this…

Philanthropy
2
Greater Cleveland Volunteers

Greater cleveland volunteers enriches the community and indivuduals through volunteer service. volunteers age 18 and older are recruited and placed in the agency's programs or referred to local nonprofit or public organizations to help…

Philanthropy
3
Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce

Advancing a thriving central ohio commmunity by serving as a catalyst for all businesses to grow and flourish. our mission pillars are connections, government relations, strategic business solutions and talent/workforce.

—
4
Ohio United Way

To strengthen the capacity of United Ways across Ohio and to advance the common good for Ohioans.

Philanthropy
5
Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Inc

Central indiana corporate partnership (cicp) is an alliance of indiana's business and research university leaders coming together to foster long-term prosperity for the region. cicp's mission is to transform the economy of indiana in order…

Community Improvement
6
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership

The mission of great lakes community action partnership is to create partnerships and opportunites to help individuals, families and communities thrive.

Human Services
7
Global Cleveland

Global cleveland is dedicated to growing northeast ohio's economy by welcoming and connecting international people to opportunities and fostering a more inviting community for those seeking a place to call home.

Human Services
8
United Way of Bucks County

United way of bucks county creates opportunities for quality education, financial stability, and good health to ensure real, lasting change for individuals and our communities.

Philanthropy
9
United Way of North Central Ohio Inc

At united way of north central ohio, we bring people, organizations, and resources together to create solutions that improve the lives of every person in every community in our region.

—
10
Union Health System

To serve our communities by provding innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Health
11
Philanthropy Ohio

To lead and equip ohio philanthropy to be effective partners for change in our communities.

Philanthropy
12
Cedar Valley United Way

Uniting our community to empower individuals and families to thrive.

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is United Way of Greater Cleveland; the most unlike its peers is Jim Gillach Memorial Fund. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

340 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 340 of the 560 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

9
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
60
Early backer (in before they grew)
332/340
Grantees still filing
195/340
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE: $800,000 · OtherNATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFEBenevity - MGAmerican Online Giving Foundation: $365,563 · Other+135 more: $9,353,088 · Other+135 moreFRIENDS OF BREAKTHROUGH SCHOOLS: $1,550,000 · EducationFRIENDS OF BREAKTH…COLLEGE NOW GREATER CLEVELAND INC: $1,472,000 · EducationCOLLEGE NOW GREATE…GOLDEN BEAR FOUNDATION: $350,000 · EducationGOLDEN BEAR FOUNDA…ASM MATERIALS EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $235,000 · EducationASM MATERIALS EDUC…+11 more: $447,102 · Education+11 moreAMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC: $1,275,547 · PhilanthropyAMERICAN ONLINE GI…MIDDLETOWN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,194,300 · PhilanthropyMIDDLETOWN COMMUNI…UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $652,500 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF NORT…UNITED WAY OF GREATER CLEVELAND: $317,579 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF GREA…United Way of Greater Cincinnati: $194,493 · Philanthropy+6 more: $366,250 · Philanthropy+6 moreNATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION: $2,700,000 · AnimalsNATIONAL FIS…+2 more: $105,800 · AnimalsFOOD BANK OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $718,000 · Food & NutritionGREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK INC: $480,500 · Food & NutritionMEALS ON WHEELS INC: $86,500 · Food & NutritionCommunity Bread Basket Inc: $70,500 · Food & NutritionGLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN: $62,000 · Food & NutritionCHESTER COUNTY FOOD BANK: $58,000 · Food & Nutrition+6 more: $218,000 · Food & NutritionUSS CLEVELAND LEGACY FOUNDATION: $300,000 · Arts & CulturePlayhouse Square Foundation: $200,000 · Arts & CultureFIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $125,000 · Arts & CultureTHE CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE: $85,000 · Arts & CultureCLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $75,000 · Arts & CultureNATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME INC: $66,100 · Arts & CultureASSOCIATION FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL GAR: $50,000 · Arts & CultureThe Musical Arts Association: $45,000 · Arts & Culture+4 more: $109,500 · Arts & CultureDUNELAND YMCA INC: $375,000 · Human ServicesTHE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION: $130,500 · Human ServicesTHE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO INC: $100,000 · Human ServicesTHE CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF WEST VIRGINIA INC: $90,000 · Human ServicesYMCA OF GREATER BRANDYWINE: $50,000 · Human ServicesBUTLER COUNTY FAMILY YMCA: $43,117 · Human ServicesZAMAN INTERNATIONAL: $40,000 · Human ServicesLINCOLN HILLS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: $35,000 · Human Services+2 more: $50,000 · Human Services
Other$10,518,651Education$4,054,102Philanthropy$4,000,669Animals$2,805,800Food & Nutrition$1,693,500Arts & Culture$1,055,600Human Services$913,617

Showing the 200 largest grantees by grant value.

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION: $2,700,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetFRIENDS OF BREAKTHROUGH SCHOOLS: $1,550,000 over 4y, 3.5% of budgetCOLLEGE NOW GREATER CLEVELAND INC: $1,472,000 over 5y, 1.7% of budgetAMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC: $1,275,547 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMIDDLETOWN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,194,300 over 5y, 24% of budgetFOOD BANK OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $718,000 over 5y, 1.2% of budgetUNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $652,500 over 4y, 6.5% of budgetGREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK INC: $480,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDUNELAND YMCA INC: $375,000 over 3y, 3.4% of budgetGOLDEN BEAR FOUNDATION: $350,000 over 2y, 84% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER CLEVELAND: $317,579 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetUSS CLEVELAND LEGACY FOUNDATION: $300,000 over 2y, 16% of budgetMAUMEE VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: $270,000 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetMANUFACTURING ADVOCACY & GROWTH NETWORK INC: $250,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetINDIANA DUNES ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER INC: $250,000 over 3y, 6.7% of budgetTHE GREAT LAKES HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $250,000 over 4y, 2.6% of budgetASM MATERIALS EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $235,000 over 4y, 5.6% of budgetSecond Harvest Northland: $212,500 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetDEARBORN EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $211,000 over 5y, 19% of budgetPlayhouse Square Foundation: $200,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetUnited Way of Greater Cincinnati: $194,493 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TOLEDO AND THE TOLEDO NEWSBOYS ASSOCIATION: $173,670 over 5y, 2.1% of budgetATRIUM MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION: $150,000 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetROCK RIDGE YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION: $150,000 over 3y, 52% of budgetSCIENCE OLYMPIAD INC: $146,000 over 4y, 3.1% of budgetTHE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION: $130,500 over 5y, 3.0% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTHEAST OHIO: $128,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetFIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $125,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $125,000 over 3y, 13% of budgetTHE UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $115,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetMETROPARKS TOLEDO FOUNDATION: $110,000 over 3y, 2.5% of budgetUNITED WAY OF RICHLAND COUNTY: $105,000 over 5y, 2.9% of budgetAssociation for Iron and Steel Technology: $104,500 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetBUTLER COUNTY UNITED WAY: $100,000 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetGIRL SCOUTS OF NORTH EAST OHIO: $100,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetTHE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO INC: $100,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetBEAT THE STREETS CLEVELAND: $100,000 over 2y, 4.9% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROVIDENCE HOUSE INC: $93,667 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetTHE METROHEALTH FOUNDATION INC: $90,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF WEST VIRGINIA INC: $90,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSHARED HARVEST FOODBANK INC: $89,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetMEALS ON WHEELS INC: $86,500 over 3y, 3.0% of budgetTHE CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE: $85,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetLEGAL AID SOCIETY OF CLEVELAND: $85,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetCLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $75,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE FOREST PRESERVES: $75,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE ROUGE: $74,300 over 3y, 2.2% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

John W Anderson Found…Nisource Charitable F…Porter County Communi…Duluth-Superior Area …Legacy Foundation IncMinnesota Power Found…The Cleveland Foundat…The Westfield Insuran…First Financial Found…The Reinberger Founda…The Char and Chuck Fo…The George Gund Found…
John W Anderson FoundationIN53.5× affinity26 shared granteesties to 6 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: John W Anderson Foundation · Nisource Charitable Foundation · Porter County Community Foundation Inc · Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation · Legacy Foundation Inc · Minnesota Power Foundation · The Cleveland Foundation · The Westfield Insurance Foundation · First Financial Foundation · The Reinberger Foundation · The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation · The George Gund Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%6%23%51%90%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 11%
  • City Year Inc: 11% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
101report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 560 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Cleveland-Cliffs’ filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home