Community West Foundation
Community West Foundation is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic foundation based in Westlake, Ohio, that awards quarterly grants and manages agency funds for 100+ nonprofits across Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga, and Lorain Counties, while supporting Cleveland Clinic hospitals through fundraising events with over $180 million in assets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersWestlake, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Community West Foundation does
Community West Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private charitable foundation headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, that advances health and well-being across Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga, and Lorain Counties. Founded in 1997 as a freestanding organization when Fairview and Lutheran hospitals joined the Cleveland Clinic Health System (and renamed from Fairview/Lutheran Foundation in 2006), the foundation operates through multiple interconnected programs: a Quarterly Grants Program disbursing approximately $3.1 million annually to 100+ nonprofit organizations; the Schindler Assistance Fund supporting places of worship with grants ranging from $250 to $2,500; the Socks+ initiative providing essential items to unhoused neighbors; the Community Impact Fund pooling donor contributions; Donor Directed Giving across six cause areas; an Agency Partners Program managing $18.2 million in nonprofit endowments; and the Legacy Society for planned giving. The foundation also conducts signature fundraising events including the Gift of Life, Drive for Life Golf Scramble, Straight from the Heart Gala, and Lutheran Hospital Volleyball Tournament, all supporting Cleveland Clinic Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals. With over $180 million in assets, 11 full-time staff, and nearly three decades of operating history, Community West Foundation operates a traditional philanthropic model without proprietary technology products, relying instead on Grant Interface portal software, donor databases, and Formstack for newsletter management.
Community West Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Community West Foundation
- Legal name
- Community West Foundation
- Website
- https://communitywestfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Community West Foundation is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic foundation based in Westlake, Ohio, that awards quarterly grants and manages agency funds for 100+ nonprofits across Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga, and Lorain Counties, while supporting Cleveland Clinic hospitals through fundraising events with over $180 million in assets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Community West Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Philanthropy & Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
Keywords
Where Community West Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westlake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Community West Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Grantmaking: Community West Foundation generates and distributes charitable funds through multiple mechanisms: quarterly community grants to nonprofit organizations (averaging $3.1M+ per year), agency fund management for partner nonprofits (totaling $18.2M in 2024), donor-directed fund administration, and fundraising events supporting Cleveland Clinic Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals.
- Donor Contributions: The foundation receives donations through Community Impact Fund (pooled donor contributions), Socks+ program (supporting unhoused individuals), Legacy Society planned giving, and donor advised funds. 100% of Community Impact Fund donations go to mission.
- Hospital Partnership Events: Annual fundraising events including Gift of Life (supporting Fairview Hospital women and children services), Drive for Life Golf Scramble (supporting Fairview Moll Cancer Center), Straight from the Heart Gala (cardiovascular services), Lutheran Hospital Volleyball Tournament (behavioral health programs), and raffles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Agency Fund Management for nonprofits with $250,000+ in assets |
| Other | Annual | Schindler Assistance Fund grants for places of worship |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Community West Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Community West Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that distributes grants to nonprofit organizations serving Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga, and Lorain Counties, with focus areas including housing, food security, physical and mental health, addiction recovery, refugee/immigrant services, and reentry support. It also manages agency funds and donor advised funds for partner nonprofits and individuals, hosts annual fundraising events supporting Cleveland Clinic Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals, and operates targeted programs such as the Schindler Assistance Fund for places of worship and the Socks+ initiative for unhoused individuals.
Product overview
Community West Foundation is a philanthropic organization that serves as a grant-making foundation for nonprofits in Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga, and Lorain Counties. The organization operates through multiple interconnected programs including a Quarterly Grants Program, the Schindler Assistance Fund, and Socks+ initiative. Donor engagement is facilitated through the Community Impact Fund (collaborative giving), Donor Directed Giving (area-specific giving), and an Agency Partners Program for investment management. The foundation also organizes signature fundraising events including the Gift of Life event, Drive for Life Golf Scramble, Lutheran Hospital Volleyball Tournament, and Straight from the Heart Gala—all supporting Cleveland Clinic hospitals. The portfolio operates as a unified philanthropic platform where grants, donations, and events work together to advance community health and well-being.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Socks+: A program that provides essential items including socks, underwear, hygiene products, gloves, hats, backpacks, and sleeping bags to unhoused people in the community.
- Schindler Assistance Fund
- Community Impact Fund
Products and services
- Quarterly Grants Program Quarterly grant funding awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga, and Lorain Counties addressing basic needs including food, shelter, and physical and mental health care. Applications accepted via invitation-only process through the Grant Interface portal.
- Schindler Assistance Fund A fund supporting programs at places of worship that help disadvantaged individuals and families by offering community meals, food pantries, clothing, and more. Grants range from $250 to $2,500. Organizations may request one grant per year via invite-only application process. Named in honor of Senior Grantmaker Peter Schindler for his 27 years of dedicated service.
- Socks+ Program providing essential items including socks, underwear, hygiene products, gloves, hats, backpacks, and sleeping bags to unhoused people in the community, delivering dignity and well-being to those in need. Distributed through community partners including NEOCH, Neighborhood Alliance, United Way of Greater Lorain County, and The Lantern Center of Recovery.
- Community Impact Fund A collaborative giving initiative that pools donor contributions to tackle critical issues like homelessness and food insecurity, with 100% of donations going to mission. Awarded $748K to grantees in 2024.
- Donor Directed Giving Giving program where donors choose specific cause areas including Housing, Food & Water, Refugees & Immigrants, Physical & Mental Health, Addiction Recovery, and Formerly Incarcerated. Operationalized through Donor Advised Fund vehicles.
- Agency Partners Program Investment program for nonprofits, churches, and agencies with at least $250,000 in assets, providing professional investment management, reduced advisor fees, lower investment fees, no administrative fees, quarterly portfolio reports, simple distribution requests, and payments processed within three business days. Agency funds totaled $18.2M in 2024.
- Gift of Life Event Annual fundraising event supporting programs and services for women and children at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, held at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo featuring the Asian Lantern Festival.
- Drive for Life Golf Scramble Annual golf event supporting patients at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital Moll Cancer Pavilion, with proceeds enhancing cancer care services and resources.
- Lutheran Hospital Volleyball Tournament Annual volleyball tournament supporting Behavioral Health Programs and Services at Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital.
- Straight from the Heart Gala Annual gala supporting cardiovascular services and heart health initiatives at Cleveland Clinic Fairview, Avon, and Lutheran Hospitals. The campaign has supported cardiovascular services for over 22 years, with ZOLL Cardiac Management Solutions as a partner donating AEDs to community locations such as Padre Pio Academy.
- Legacy Society Planned giving program recognizing individuals who have made lasting impact through charitable giving via estate planning, bequests, and other planned giving instruments.
Quantifiable outcome
- $4.6 million in total support for grantees ($3.1M community grants + $1.54M mission-aligned donors) in one annual period
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Community West Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Community West Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Community West Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cleveland Clinic (Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals)coreLong-standing partnership rooted in shared history as hospital conversion foundation. Community West Foundation supports Cleveland Clinic Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals through fundraising events, campaign management, and initiatives benefiting patients and caregivers. Focus areas include heart health, breast health, women and children's services, behavioral health, and cancer care.
- ZOLL Cardiac Management SolutionsminorPartnership for the Straight from the Heart Campaign where ZOLL donated a ZOLL AED Plus to Padre Pio Academy. Campaign has supported cardiovascular services at Cleveland Clinic Avon, Fairview, and Lutheran Hospitals for over 22 years.
- LAND StudiominorPartnered with LAND Studio to coordinate installation of the Be Welcoming sculpture by Timothy Schmalz at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.
- National Committee for Responsive PhilanthropyminorProfessional membership organization for philanthropy committed to social justice and equity.
- Council on FoundationsminorProfessional membership organization serving foundations and philanthropic families.
- St. Augustine Catholic ChurchminorHost site for the Be Welcoming sculpture installation, a bronze work by Timothy Schmalz gifted to Community West Foundation by an anonymous donor. The church provides the setting for this public art reflecting compassion and human dignity.
- NEOCH (Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless)minorSocks+ community partner for distributing essential items to people experiencing homelessness in Cleveland.
- Neighborhood AllianceminorSocks+ community partner helping distribute essential items to people experiencing homelessness in Lorain County.
- United Way of Greater Lorain CountyminorSocks+ community partner and grantee supporting community assistance programs.
- The Lantern Center of RecoveryminorSocks+ community partner providing recovery services and distributing essential items.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Community West Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Kresge Foundation: National private foundation with a far larger endowment (multi-billion-dollar asset base) and broader U.S. grantmaking footprint. Comparable in mission areas (human services, health) but operates at materially greater scale and geographic breadth than Community West.
Direct peers
- The Nord Family Foundation: Amherst, Ohio-based community foundation serving Lorain County and broader Northeast Ohio with similar grantmaking in basic needs and human services — overlapping directly with Community West's service geography.
- Cleveland Foundation: The Cleveland Foundation is the largest community foundation in the U.S. and operates directly in the same Greater Cleveland geography as Community West Foundation, with overlapping grantee networks in basic needs, housing, and health. It is the most direct comparable peer.
- Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland: Cleveland-based foundation focused on health, human services, and community development with a similar regional grantmaking model. Directly comparable peer serving overlapping populations.
- George Gund Foundation: Cleveland-based private foundation making grants in education, human services, economic development, and the arts. Shares Northeast Ohio geography and grantmaking focus areas with Community West Foundation.
- GAR Foundation: Akron, Ohio-based community foundation with regional grantmaking across Northeast Ohio in human services, education, and arts — comparable structure and community focus to Community West.
- Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation: Cleveland-based foundation with a specific health care mission and grantmaking focus. Closely aligned with Community West's health and well-being priority areas and hospital partnership heritage.
- Deaconess Community Foundation: Cleveland-area community foundation serving Northeast Ohio with grantmaking in health, housing, and basic needs. Comparable in geographic focus and grantee profile to Community West.
- St. Luke's Foundation of Cleveland: Cleveland-based community foundation with a similar mission focus on health and human services. Directly comparable as a regional community grantmaker in Northeast Ohio.
Regional players
- Elyria Community Foundation: Lorain County-focused community foundation that operates in Community West Foundation's broader service region. Smaller scale and narrower geographic scope, but directly comparable community grantmaking model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Community West Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceCommunity West Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Community West Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Community West Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Community West Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Community West Foundation
What does Community West Foundation do?
Community West Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that distributes grants to nonprofit organizations serving Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga, and Lorain Counties, with focus areas including housing, food security, physical and mental health, addiction recovery, refugee/immigrant services, and reentry support. It also manages agency funds and donor advised funds for partner nonprofits and individuals, hosts annual fundraising events supporting Cleveland Clinic Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals, and operates targeted programs such as the Schindler Assistance Fund for places of worship and the Socks+ initiative for unhoused individuals.
Is Community West Foundation a public or private company?
Community West Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Community West Foundation founded?
Community West Foundation was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Community West Foundation based?
Community West Foundation is headquartered in Westlake, United States, in the North America region.
How does Community West Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Grantmaking is the primary driver. The others are donor Contributions and hospital Partnership Events.
Who are Community West Foundation's main competitors?
The Kresge Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are The Nord Family Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, George Gund Foundation, GAR Foundation, Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, Deaconess Community Foundation and St. Luke's Foundation of Cleveland. Elyria Community Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does Community West Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Community West Foundation.
What industry is Community West Foundation in?
Community West Foundation's product category is Community Philanthropy & Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.