The Sears Swetland Family Foundation
Bratenahl, OH · EIN 34-6522143. Reported 200 grants totalling $1,530,503 to 97 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Sears Swetland Family Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $10,000; the smallest was $1 and the largest $60,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Reserve Land Conservancy | Moreland Hills, OH | $165,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Cleveland, OH | $85,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens | Boothbay, ME | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Cleveland Institute of Art | Cleveland, OH | $57,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nature Conservancy of Vermont | Monpelier, VT | $54,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Old Brooklyn Cdc | Cleveland, OH | $43,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ohio Environmental Council | Columbus, OH | $40,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Metroparks | Cleveland, OH | $35,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cwru Swetland Center for Environmental Health | Cleveland, OH | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Nature Center of Shaker Lakes | Cleveland, OH | $35,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Central Lincoln YMCA | Damariscotta, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Swetland Center for Environmental Health | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| University Settlement | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| YMCA | Damariscotta, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| College Now Greater Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Footpath Foundation | Parma, OH | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Birthing Beautiful Communities | Cleveland, OH | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Museum of Art | Cleveland, ME | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Hildene | Manchester, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lake Erie Nature and Science Center | Bay Village, OH | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Midcoast Conservancy | Edgecomb, ME | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Smokey House Center | Danby, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| University Circle Inc | Cleveland, OH | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Vermont Public Interest Research Group | Montpelie, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Urban Community School | Cleveland, OH | $15,001 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ace Alliance for Climate Education | Oakland, CA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Alliance for the Great Lakes | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| American Rivers Inc | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Case Swetland Center | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cleveland Neighborhood Progress | Shaker Heights, OH | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Environmental Law and Policy Center | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Global Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Hospice of the Western Reserve | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hunger Network | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Land Studio | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood | Columbus, OH | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Foundry | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Spice Field Kitchen | Cleveland, OH | $13,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Zoological Society | Cleveland, OH | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Downtown Cleveland Alliance | Cleveland, OH | $12,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Building Hope in the City | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Cleveland Tree Coalition | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Conservancy for Cuyahoga National Park | Peninsula, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Drink Local Drink Tap | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Environmental Law and Policy | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Famicos Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of Breakthrough Schools | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Greater Cleveland Food Bank | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Hathaway Brown School | Shaker Heights, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ideastream Public Media | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Metro Catholic School | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Rainey Institute | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Rid All Farm | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rid All Green Partnership | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Trust for Public Land | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Westside Market | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine | Cleveland, OH | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Beyond Pesticides | Washington, DC | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Red Oak Camp | Willoughby, OH | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Alliance for Great Lakes | Buffalo, NY | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of Hildene | Manchester, VT | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Cleveland, OH | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Action for the Climate Emergency | Charlston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Alliance for Climate Education (ace) | Boulder, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Beyond Pesticides Ohio | Cleveland, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Beyond Pesticides Ohio | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Brookdale Orchard | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Edwins Leadership and Resturaunt | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Environmental Law and Policy Center - Ohio Programs | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Family Promise | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fare | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Great Lakes Science Center | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Greater Ohio Policy Center | Columbus, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lake Erie Nature and Science Museum | Bay Village, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Montessori Development Partnership | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ohio Citizen Action Education | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ohio State Extension Services | Columbus, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Preterm | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Matthew United Methodist Church | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Bennington Garden Club | Arlington, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Land | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Two Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Union Miles Cdc | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Urban Community College | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Vermonters for a Clean Environment | Danby, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Village of Healing | Euclid, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lake View Cemetary Association | Cleveland, OH | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| North Union Farmers Market | Cleveland, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Slgc Charitable Projects Fund | Shaker Heights, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Moca | Cleveland, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Council of Michigan Foundations | Detroit, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Great Lakes Funder Collaboration | Detroit, MI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Nature Conservancy of Ohio | Columbus, OH | $1 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University Hospital Angie's Institute | Cleveland, OH | $1 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
54 of 97 (56%) 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 63%, 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.
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.
- Old Brooklyn Cdc
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH - Cleveland Museum of Art
FINE ARTS GARDEN RESTORATON - Cleveland Institute of Art
CLIMATE CHANGE ADVOCACY IN OHIO - The Land
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS REPORTING - Spice Field Kitchen
AGRICULTURAL CAMPERSHIP PROGRAM - Two Foundation
SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 108 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 | 44 | $335,003 | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 25 | $280,000 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 36 | $278,500 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 47 | $319,000 | $5,000 |
| 2025 | 48 | $318,000 | $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
74% of its giving went to organizations in Ohio. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Ohio.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Sears Swetland 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: 13003 Lakeshore Blvd, Bratenahl, OH, 44108. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 34-6522143 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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