James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation
Shaker Heights, OH · EIN 20-8004503. Reported 383 grants totalling $6,266,408 to 126 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation told the IRS it does not accept unsolicited requests: it contributes only to organizations it selects itself.
Does this foundation accept applications?
No -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation to check a box if it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds". James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation checked it on its most recent filing, as 78% of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered did. An unsolicited request is unlikely to go anywhere.
Organizations it funds that make grants of their own
3 of the organizations James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation funded make grants themselves, and it reported 23 grants totalling $1,173,610 to them. That is 23% of the $5,186,510 of its giving we could match to a registered organization. Each is classified by the IRS as a philanthropy or grantmaking organization, reported grants to at least 25 organizations of its own, and has at least 10 funders behind it.
All of them file Form 990, which never asks whether an organization funds only groups it picks, so there is no answer on record either way.
What that does not mean. It does not mean an application to any of them reaches this foundation's money. A private foundation's grant to a community foundation or a federated campaign is often a donor-advised fund or a gift designated for a purpose the foundation chose, and has nothing to do with any open programme the receiving organization runs. Its return's purpose text sometimes names a family fund or a designated purpose, which is the plainest case of money no applicant can reach; where it names none, neither return says which. The list is who this foundation paid that also makes grants. Whether any of them would fund you is a question for its own page.
| Grantmaker | Kind | State | Received | Grants | Years | Last | Only funds organizations it picks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Cleveland | federated giving programme | Ohio | $861,110 | 15 | 5 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
| United Way of Greater Cleveland | federated giving programme | Ohio | $225,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
| The Cleveland Foundation | community foundation | Ohio | $87,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 | Its form does not ask |
A floor, not a full list. A grantmaker appears here only where this foundation's return named it clearly enough for us to match the name to an EIN, which we manage for about two thirds of 990-PF grant rows, and only where that grantmaker has a page on this site. There may be more. Dollars here are summed by EIN across every spelling on its returns, so a figure can differ from the matching row in the full list below, which groups names as written. And the IRS classification cannot tell a grantmaker from a funders' association or a donor-advised fund sponsor, so a payment to one of these may be dues or an account rather than support for a grants programme.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,500 and $15,000; the smallest was $350 and the largest $300,000.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Hospitals of Cleveland | Beachwood, OH | $1,080,000 | 9 | 5 | 2025 |
| Park Synagogue | Pepper Pike, OH | $900,935 | 20 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jewish Federation of Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $861,110 | 15 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Museum of Art | Cleveland, OH | $525,000 | 9 | 5 | 2025 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $267,000 | 7 | 5 | 2025 |
| Playhouse Square Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $165,000 | 8 | 5 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio | Columbus, OH | $150,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Way of Greater Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $135,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Musical Arts Association | Cleveland, OH | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| New Israel Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| J Street Education Fund | Washington, DC | $91,800 | 8 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Way Services | Cleveland, OH | $90,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cleveland Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $87,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Save the Children Federation Inc | Fairfield, CT | $85,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hammer Museum | Los Angeles, CA | $83,332 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Medwish International | Cleveland, OH | $70,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Lillian & Betty Ratner School | Pepper Pike, OH | $66,750 | 7 | 3 | 2023 |
| Ht Ministries | Burton, OH | $65,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Greater Cleveland Food Bank Inc | Cleveland, OH | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Friends of Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design Inc | New York, NY | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| New Israel Fund | New York, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Slavic Village Development | Cleveland, OH | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Hanna Perkins School | Shaker Heights, OH | $49,400 | 14 | 5 | 2025 |
| Physicians for Human Rights Inc | New York, NY | $45,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| MOBILEMED1 Inc | Lyndhurst, OH | $32,500 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Milestones Autism Resources | Warrensville Hts, OH | $31,183 | 6 | 3 | 2024 |
| Little Red School House Inc | New York, NY | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Pef Israel Endowment Funds Inc | New York, NY | $30,000 | 7 | 5 | 2025 |
| US Holocaust Memorial Museum | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage | Beachwood, OH | $27,000 | 5 | 4 | 2025 |
| Bethany Baptist Church | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Givat Haviva Educational Foundation | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Health Equity Fund of Greater Ohio | Akron, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Medisys Health Foundation | Richmond Hill, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mq Foundation | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ohio Progressive Collaborative Education Fund | Columbus, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Uli Foundation | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University Circle Inc | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| World Zionist Organization American Section Inc | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Ratner School | Pepper Pike, OH | $23,750 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shaker Heights Development Corp | Shaker Hts, OH | $20,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Open Books Ltd | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Legal Aid Society of Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $16,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Inc | Montgomery, AL | $16,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hopewell Inn | Chagrin Falls, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The Ellen P Hermanson Foundation | East Hampton, NY | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shaker Schools Foundation | Shaker Heights, OH | $13,500 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Jewish Committee | New York, NY | $12,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| American Jewish World Service Inc | New York, NY | $12,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Facing History & Ourselves National Fndn | Boston, MA | $12,500 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Ohio Contemporary Ballet | Shaker Hts, OH | $11,100 | 2 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Public Theatre Inc | Cleveland, OH | $10,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center | Cleveland, OH | $10,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Bikur Cholim of Greater Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $10,300 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Center for Arts-Inspired Learning | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cure Violence | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Friends of Horseshoe Lake | Shaker Height, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Israaid US | Beverly Hills, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Jgive-Friends of Asor Fund USA Inc | Lakewood, NJ | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Milestones Organization | Warrensville Hts, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sci-Arc | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 2 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sparkyouth Nyc Inc | New York, NY | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Friends of E Prep Schools Breakthrough Schools | Cleveland, OH | $9,500 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Menorah Park Foundation | Beachwood, OH | $8,500 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Values-in-Action Foundation | Mayfield, OH | $8,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| ACLU of Ohio | Cleveland, OH | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Anti-Defamation League | New York, NY | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hebrew Free Loan Association | Beachwood, OH | $7,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ort America | New York, NY | $7,265 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Teach for America Inc | New York, NY | $7,000 | 3 | 2 | 2025 |
| Cleveland State University Foundation Inc | Cleveland, OH | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Conservancy Guardians USA Fund Inc | Reston, VA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ideastream Public Media | Cleveland, OH | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Teach for America Inc | Cleveland, OH | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Brooklyn Community Housing & Services | Brooklyn, NY | $5,800 | 5 | 4 | 2025 |
| ACLU of Cleveland Inc | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cleveland Kids' Book Bank | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Music School Settlement | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Inc | New York, NY | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Facing History & Ourselves National Fndn | Cleveland Hts, OH | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Israel Tennis Centers Assoc Inc | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jewish National Fund | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kol Israel Foundation Inc | Beachwood, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lakewood Community Services Center | Lakewood, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| League of Conservation Voters Education Fund | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rosa Vera Fund | Douglas, AZ | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Jewish Cemeteries | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Washington University | St Louis, MO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| YWCA Greater Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Smile Train | New York, NY | $4,500 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Metro Health Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $4,250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $4,000 | 3 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ideastream | Cleveland, OH | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Kent State University Foundation | Kent, OH | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Natural Resource Defense Council | New York, NY | $3,500 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cleveland Film Society the | Cleveland, OH | $3,333 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Israel Tennis Centers Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Israel Tennis Centers Foundation Inc | Deerfield Beach, FL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dunham Tavern Museum | Cleveland, OH | $2,750 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Camp Nejeda Foundation | Stillwater, NJ | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Drink Local Drink Tap Inc | Cleveland, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Independence Initiative Inc | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Judes Children Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wingspan Care Group | Shaker Heights, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cleveland Marshall College of Law | Cleveland, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cleveland Marshall Educational Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Global Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Trustees of Boston University | Boston, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Forward Assoc Inc | New York, NY | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| A Caring Hand | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons Inc | East Hampton, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Every Mother Counts | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fistula Foundation | San Jose, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Forward | New York, NY | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Integrity First for America | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| International Planned Parenthood Federation | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pelham Jewish Center | Pelham, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Piano Cleveland | Shaker Hts, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Film Collaborative | Los Angeles, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tiger Strikes Asteroid | Brooklyn, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lulu & Leo Fund | New York, NY | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mt Sinai Health Care Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $350 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
69 of 126 (55%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 68%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one, and this foundation told the IRS it does not.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- University Hospitals of Cleveland
JAMES & SUSAN RATNER SCHOLARS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISCOVERY - Jewish Federation of Cleveland
CAMPAIGN FOR JEWISH NEEDS - Case Western Reserve University
PRESIDENT'S STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND - Cleveland Museum of Art
CMA ART'S RESILIENCE CAMPAIGN - Cleveland Foundation
CUYAHOGA COUNTY IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICE FUND - Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
THE CARE. NO MATTER WHAT. CELEBRATION
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 271 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93 | $1,366,599 | $3,500 |
| 2022 | 74 | $1,509,100 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 76 | $1,062,639 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 70 | $1,301,120 | $5,000 |
| 2025 | 70 | $1,026,950 | $5,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
84% of its giving went to organizations in Ohio.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more. Unlike this foundation, none of them is on record as funding only organizations it picks, and each page says what its filings show.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from James and Susan Ratner Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 3401 Tuttle Road 350, Shaker Heights, OH, 44122. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS.
EIN 20-8004503 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.