What Saint Luke's Foundation does

Saint Luke's Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1997 in Cleveland, Ohio, with assets originating from the dissolution of the historic Saint Luke's Medical Center. The foundation operates as a health equity-focused grantmaking organization, awarding grants to address social determinants of health across five interconnected strategic areas: Belonging and People Power, Economic Vitality, Placemaking and Placekeeping, Holistic Well-Being, and Lifelong Learning.

The foundation distributes capital through three distinct grant programs tailored to different scales and audiences. Board Grants exceed $25,000 and target long-term partnerships with established nonprofit organizations, reviewed quarterly by the Board of Trustees. Staff Discretionary Grants (up to $25,000, typically around $15,000) provide responsive, rolling-basis support managed by Program Officers. Community Grants (up to $6,000) are awarded by an 11-member Resident Advancement Committee composed of neighborhood residents from Buckeye-Shaker, Woodhill, and Mt. Pleasant, who oversee a $140,000 annual community grant budget. The foundation's Lift Every Voice 216 platform gathers community input to direct where grant dollars are allocated, with 4,000+ responses in 2022 shaping $1.125M in funding to 40 local nonprofits and businesses.

As a non-profit operating from endowment returns rather than revenue-generating activities, the foundation's business model centers on strategic capital deployment and community-driven participatory grantmaking. Since 1997, the foundation has awarded over $231 million in cumulative grants to 496+ organizations across Cuyahoga County, with a 1-10 person staff executing program management, grantee relations, and strategic oversight. Its primary customer base comprises community-based nonprofits, social services providers, advocacy organizations, and resident-led initiatives operating in Cleveland's Buckeye-Shaker, Woodhill, and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods. The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees (chaired by Dr. Teresa Dews) and led by President & CEO Timothy L. Tramble Sr., with co-funding partnerships spanning The Cleveland Foundation, LISC Cleveland, the Fund for Our Economic Future, and numerous Cleveland-area nonprofit partners.

Name

Saint Luke's Foundation

Legal name

Saint Luke's Foundation

Website

https://saintlukesfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Saint Luke's Foundation is a Cleveland-based private charitable foundation that awards health-equity grants to nonprofit organizations and resident-led initiatives across Buckeye-Shaker, Woodhill, Mt. Pleasant, and Cuyahoga County, with participatory grantmaking through an 11-member Resident Advancement Committee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Equity Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Health equity grants
• Charitable grantmaking
• Community foundation funding
• Participatory philanthropy
• Nonprofit grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grantmaking from Endowment: Saint Luke's Foundation was established in 1997 with charitable assets from the dissolution of Saint Luke's Medical Center. The foundation awards grants from its endowment and investment returns to support health equity initiatives across five strategic areas: Belonging and People Power, Economic Vitality, Placemaking and Placekeeping, Holistic Well-Being, and Lifelong Learning. Cumulative grant payments exceeded $100 million by 2012–2013, $150 million by 2017, and $231 million by 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Saint Luke's Foundation is a private charitable foundation that awards grants from its endowment to support health equity initiatives in Cleveland's Buckeye-Shaker, Woodhill, and Mt. Pleasant neighborhoods and across Cuyahoga County. It operates three grant programs—Board Grants (>$25,000), Staff Discretionary Grants (up to $25,000), and Community Grants (up to $6,000)—plus the Lift Every Voice 216 community engagement platform. The foundation has awarded over $231 million to 496+ organizations since 1997 across five strategic areas.

Product overview

Saint Luke's Foundation operates as a health equity-focused charitable grantmaking organization with a unified grantmaking platform. Its core offerings consist of three interconnected grant programs: Board Grants (exceeding $25,000 for long-term organizational support), Staff Discretionary Grants (up to $25,000 for responsive, timely funding), and Community Grants (up to $6,000 for resident-led initiatives awarded by the Resident Advancement Committee). The Foundation also operates Lift Every Voice 216, a community engagement platform that enables residents to participate in directing grant priorities. The Strategy Partners Program represents the Foundation's collaborative approach to grantmaking, treating grantees as strategic allies rather than passive recipients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lift Every Voice 216: A community engagement platform designed to empower residents to direct where grant dollars should go within their community.

Products and services

• Board Grants Substantial grants exceeding $25,000 for nonprofit organizations seeking long-term support for local projects, programs, or initiatives addressing health equity in Cleveland neighborhoods and Cuyahoga County. Approved by the Board of Trustees through a 3 to 6 month review process with quarterly application deadlines.
• Staff Discretionary Grants Grants typically around $15,000 and up to $25,000 for organizations seeking timely support for local projects addressing health equity. Approved by Foundation Program Officers on a rolling basis with no deadline, with decisions typically within 2-4 weeks.
• Community Grants Grants up to $6,000 awarded by the 11-member Resident Advancement Committee to resident-led projects in the Buckeye-Shaker, Mt. Pleasant, and Woodland Hills neighborhoods. Residents can apply directly or through a fiscal sponsor on a quarterly basis.
• Lift Every Voice 216 A community engagement platform empowering Cleveland residents to direct where grant dollars should go within their community through surveys aligned with the foundation's five strategies and democratic participation mechanisms. Operated at lev216.org.
• Strategy Partners Program A collaborative model referring to grantees as essential strategic allies in strengthening communities through health equity efforts, encompassing Board Strategy Partners, Discretionary Strategy Partners, and Community Strategy Partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $231 million in grants awarded since 1997 to 496+ organizations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and foundational.

• The Fund for Our Economic FuturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Saint Luke's Foundation joined The Fund for Our Economic Future in 2004. The Fund is a collaborative of funders working to advance economic opportunity and growth in Northeast Ohio. This partnership enables collective impact grantmaking and co-funding of economic development initiatives across the region.
• Saint Luke's Medical CenterfoundationalOthers · 1 January 1997Saint Luke's Foundation was established in 1997 as a result of the dissolution of the historic Saint Luke's Medical Center. The foundation was funded with charitable assets from the medical center transition to a for-profit partnership. This founding relationship established the foundation's identity and mission focused on health equity in surrounding neighborhoods.
• LISC ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaint Luke's Foundation co-funds LISC Cleveland's Heirs' Property Program, which helps families protect homes and build generational wealth by providing estate planning services (simple wills, transfer-on-death affidavits) and resolving tangled property titles. In its first year, the program helped 191 residents complete estate planning services. The foundation also supports LISC Cleveland's Renew 2-1-6 Home Repair Program.
• Case Western Reserve UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCase Western Reserve University is a key research and implementation partner, notably for the Partnership for Evaluation, Research & Implementation (PERI), First Year Cleveland Equity Strategy Plan, and the Youth Justice Collaborative. CWRU also partnered with LISC Cleveland on the Heirs' Property Program, helping resolve tangled property titles. Received multiple board grants totaling over $300,000 across 2017–2024.
• Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMHA is a major strategy partner focused on the Buckeye-Woodhill Choice Neighborhood Initiative, housing stabilization, and digital inclusion. The foundation has awarded over $200,000 for these initiatives, including support for the CMHA-Woodhill Housing Stabilization, Digital Inclusion, and PAR Programs in 2025.
• Greater Cleveland Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA long-standing strategy partner working to increase access to food resources for partners and residents of the Saint Luke's service area. Multiple board grants totaling over $475,000 awarded from 2020–2025. Also received COVID-19 emergency response funding in 2020.
• Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA key community development partner receiving consistent operating support. Board grants totaling over $1.1 million from 2017–2025. Supports advancing comprehensive community development in the Buckeye-Woodhill area and catalytic neighborhood investments.
• Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. (BBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA cornerstone community development partner operating in Cleveland's southeast side neighborhoods. Multiple grants totaling over $500,000 from 2020–2025 for Buckeye Shaker Community Development Services, Purpose Built Communities, and COVID-19 response. CEO Timothy Tramble previously led BBC.
• Enterprise Community PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing and community development partner focused on housing safety and stability, financial stability, and policy advocacy. Awarded $280,000 for two years in 2025 and $140,000 in 2024 for operating support and housing stabilization initiatives.
• Village of HealingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor health equity partner providing holistic physical and mental health care services addressing gaps in culturally responsive care. Received $1,000,000 board grant in 2023 and $250,000 in Q2 2026 for operating support. Also received capacity building grants for marketing and fundraising ($10,000 in 2022, $25,000 in 2022).
• Policy Matters OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and policy advocacy partner focused on economic policy and health equity. Operating support grants totaling over $300,000 from 2019–2025. Work focuses on policy research supporting the foundation's advocacy objectives in Cuyahoga County.
• EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development and culinary arts training organization. Multiple grants totaling over $295,000 from 2017–2025 for operating support. Also received a 25th anniversary grant of $25,000 in 2022.
• Environmental Health WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental health organization providing lead prevention and healthy housing programming. Received $1,000,000 in 2023 for operating support, $15,000 in 2022 for leadership development, and $12,000 in 2019 for the Charmayne Lead Prevention/Intervention Awareness Program (CLAIPP).
• City Year ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing the Whole School, Whole Child initiative at Harvey Rice and A.J. Rickoff Elementary Schools in Cleveland. Board grants totaling over $296,000 from 2020–2026 for academic coaching, social and emotional learning, and positive school climate programming.
• Greater Cleveland CongregationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organizing and advocacy partner. Board grants totaling over $350,000 from 2021–2025 for operating support, focused on community engagement, systems change, and advocacy efforts in Cuyahoga County.
• CHN Housing Partners / CHN Housing CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing development and financing partner for the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition Loan Fund and housing stabilization programs. Board grants totaling over $335,000 from 2018–2020, including PRI and grant funding for the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition Loan Fund.
• YWCA of Greater ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's empowerment and family services partner. Board grants totaling over $205,000 from 2020–2026 for operating support, focusing on early childhood education, homelessness prevention, and family stability through a Two-Generational approach.
• The Legal Aid Society of ClevelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services partner working on building an equitable and healthy community. Board grants totaling over $235,000 from 2021–2025 for operating support, including work on racial impact statements examining disparate impacts on African American and Latino children.
• iobycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrowdfunding platform for civic projects in Cleveland, enabling resident-led initiatives. Board grants of $50,000 in 2023–2024 and $50,000 in 2022–2023 for ioby Cleveland operating support, helping activate community-led projects in the Saint Luke's footprint.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: National health-focused philanthropy and the largest U.S. foundation devoted to health. While operating at much greater scale and national scope, RWJF shares the social-determinants-of-health framing and is a thought leader whose frameworks Saint Luke's draws on for its health-equity model.

Direct peers

• Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation: Cleveland-area health-focused foundation also originating from a hospital conversion. Operates in similar geographies and grants to overlapping health-equity-focused nonprofits, including shared personnel history (the Saint Luke's accountant also serves as Mt. Sinai Financial Officer).
• The Cleveland Foundation: Cleveland's community foundation and one of the largest in the U.S., also focused on Greater Cleveland/Cuyahoga County. Saint Luke's co-funds initiatives with The Cleveland Foundation (e.g., $550K racial justice initiative in 2020), making them the most directly comparable peer operating in the same geography and thematic areas.
• Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland: Catholic-sponsored health and human services foundation based in Cleveland, focused on Cuyahoga County and addressing root causes of poverty. Comparable mission scope in health equity and family strengthening.
• George Gund Foundation: Cleveland-based private foundation funding education, economic development, and human services across Northeast Ohio. Operates with a similar private-foundation grantmaking model and overlapping thematic areas (racial equity, community development, arts).
• The Raymond John Wean Foundation: Northeast Ohio private foundation focused on community development, equitable economic opportunity, and resident-led change in Greater Warren/Youngstown area. Comparable as a private foundation deploying participatory and trust-based grantmaking approaches in under-resourced communities.
• Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation: Cleveland-based private foundation supporting arts, education, economic development, and human services in Northeast Ohio. Directly comparable in scale, private-foundation structure, and regional thematic focus.
• Deaconess Community Foundation: Cleveland-area faith-rooted foundation focused on health, housing, and economic self-sufficiency in Cuyahoga County. Comparable in operating geography, health-equity orientation, and multi-program grantmaking structure.

Others

• ABFE (Association of Black Foundation Executives): National membership association for Black philanthropic leaders; Saint Luke's is a grantee ($150K in Q2 2026) and peer-network connector. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem participant that shapes standards for racial-equity-anchored grantmaking practice.
• Cuyahoga Land Bank: A core strategy partner and major Cleveland nonprofit addressing property blight, housing stabilization, and neighborhood revitalization. While not a peer foundation, it represents the type of anchor organization Saint Luke's deploys capital to and competes for funding collaboration with in the same neighborhood footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@saintlukesfoundation
• Xx.com/saintlukesfdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/saintlukesfoundationcleveland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Saint Luke's Foundation