The Brian Ratner Foundation
Shaker Heights, OH · EIN 20-5983302. Reported 295 grants totalling $1,859,063 to 101 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". The Brian Ratner 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
5 of the organizations The Brian Ratner Foundation funded make grants themselves, and it reported 20 grants totalling $379,000 to them. That is 25% of the $1,503,313 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 | $250,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
| Mile High United Way Inc | federated giving programme | Colorado | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
| Community Foundation Boulder County | community foundation | Colorado | $44,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
| United Way of Greater Cleveland | federated giving programme | Ohio | $32,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 | Its form does not ask |
| Robin Hood Foundation | federated giving programme | New York | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 | 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 $1,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,000 and $5,000; the smallest was $250 and the largest $100,000.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $250,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| International Rescue Committee Inc | New York, NY | $215,000 | 7 | 5 | 2025 |
| Dallas Symphony Association | Dallas, TX | $200,000 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| University of Colorado Foundation | Denver, CO | $159,000 | 7 | 4 | 2025 |
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Inc | Cleveland, OH | $77,575 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Inc | Cleveland, OH | $65,300 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dallas Holocaust Museum | Dallas, TX | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mile High United Way | Denver, CO | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $46,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Community Foundation Serving Boulder County | Boulder, CO | $44,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boulder Community Health Foundation | Boulder, CO | $42,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| St Baldrick's - Nccf | Monrovia, CA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation | New York, NY | $26,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| American Symphony Orchestra League | New York, NY | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of Colorado Hospital Foundation | Aurora, CO | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University School | Shaker Heights, OH | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Visiting Nurse Association of Texas | Dallas, TX | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| US Holocaust Memorial Museum | Washington, DC | $22,188 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Inc | Lexington, KY | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America | New York, NY | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Food Bank of the Rockies | Denver, CO | $19,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Baylor Health Care System Foundation | Dallas, TX | $17,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United Way Services | Cleveland, OH | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| United Way-Metro Dallas | Dallas, TX | $17,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Musical Arts Association | Cleveland, OH | $15,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Way of Greater Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Bravo Colorado at Vail-Beaver Creek | Vail, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation | Aurora, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| International Rescue Committee Inc | Albert Lea, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Seattle Art Museum | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Way-Metro Dalla | Dallas, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Visiting Nurses Association Hospice of Vna | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jazz at Lincoln Center | New York, NY | $9,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Edwin J Gregson Foundation | Arcadia, CA | $8,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| North Texas Food Bank | Plano, TX | $8,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Cu Boulder Hillel Foundation | Boulder, CO | $8,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Salvation Army National Corp | Alexandria, VA | $8,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Colorado Chautauqua Association | Boulder, CO | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund | Elmhurst, IL | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Inc | Montgomery, AL | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation | Saratoga Springs, NY | $5,750 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Food Bank Inc | Cleveland, OH | $5,500 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Belmont Child Care Association Inc | Elmont, NY | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Brady Center to Prevent Gun Voilence | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Center for Constitutional Rights | New York, NY | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Community Food Share | Colorado, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Del Mar Foundation | Del Mar, CA | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Museum of Racing | Saratoga Springs, NY | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| One Laptop Per Child Foundation | Miami, FL | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio | Columbus, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rex Foundation | San Anselmo, CA | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Salvation Army | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas, TX | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Ryan Anthony Foundation | Dallas, TX | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| There With Care | Boulder, CO | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Tulane University | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of Colorado | Denver, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation | Dallas, TX | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Backstretch Employee Service Team | Elmont, NY | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity | Evergreen, CO | $4,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boulder Rural Firefighter Foundation | Boulder, CO | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Caf Momentum | Dallas, TX | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| National Park Foundation | Washington, DC | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Race Track Chaplaincy of America New York Division | Elmont, NY | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Torrey Pines Association | Del Mar, CA | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Nations Foundation | Washington, DC | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Video Veracity Inc | New Orleans, LA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Waterorg | Kansas City, MO | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Catchafire Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rocky Mountain Institute | Boulder, CO | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Executives in Action | Addison, TX | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Grand Canyon Conservancy | Grand Canyon, AZ | $2,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Greater Cleveland Food Bank Inc | Cleveland, OH | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation | New York, NY | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| One Love Foundation | Bronxville, NY | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| One Love Foundation Iho Yeardley Love | Baltimore, MD | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Robin Hood Foundation | New York, NY | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| American Red Cross | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Citysquare | Dallas, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Inc | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Grants Central Station | Kihei, HI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hawaii Community Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hawaii Wildfire Fund | Paia, HI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| New Vocations | Lexington, KY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ny Race Track Chaplaincy | Elmont, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| One Love Foundation Iho Yeardley Love | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Robinhood | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Torrey Pines Conservancy | Del Mar, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| United Nations Association | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vogel Alcove | Dallas, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Humane Society of Boulder Valley | Boulder, CO | $750 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Carma | Arcadia, CA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hebrew Free Loan Association | Beachwood, OH | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ohio CASA | Columbus, OH | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sea Pines Museum & Forest Preserve Foundation | Hilton Head, SC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stella Maris Inc | Cleveland, OH | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Humane Society | Bellevue, WA | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Old Friends Inc | Georgetown, KY | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
62 of 101 (61%) 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 74%, 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.
- Jewish Federation of Cleveland
CAMPAIGN FOR JEWISH NEEDS - Dallas Symphony Association
$50,000 TO THE ANNUAL FUND/$20,000 TO YOUNG MUSICIANS - Dallas Holocaust Museum
BUILDING FOUNDATION OF HOPE CAMPAIGN - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Inc
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION 2023 - University of Colorado Foundation
CU-ANSCHUTZ FUND FOR EXCELLENCE AND UC HEALTH GREATEST NEEDS FUND - Community Foundation Serving Boulder County
BOULDER COUNTY CRISIS FUND
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 199 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 | 64 | $383,325 | $2,000 |
| 2022 | 64 | $368,250 | $1,000 |
| 2023 | 67 | $435,250 | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 55 | $364,988 | $1,000 |
| 2025 | 45 | $307,250 | $1,250 |
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
28% 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 The Brian Ratner 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 20-5983302 · 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.