Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation supports arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health and human services in Northeast Ohio.
IP TAKE: There is a three-step process to secure a grant for first-time grantseekers, but local organizations will still find this family foundation accessible and approachable.
PROFILE: Established in 1955, the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation is a private family foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Kelvin Smith and his brothers founded the Lubrizol Corporation, a company that makes specialty chemicals. The founding couple was interested in the natural environment, arts and their community, and their foundation aims to "support non-profit organizations that adhere to excellence in their missions, creativity in approach, fiscal responsibility and leadership in their service to the community, which ultimately makes a positive impact for the citizens of Northeast Ohio.” Today, the foundation funds local efforts for arts and culture, economic development, education, environment, health and human services.
The Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation is a locally focused with broad funding interests. The foundation does not outline specific goals for its funding initiatives. Instead, it emphasizes the changing needs of the city of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, its geographic priorities. Many recent grants have gone toward the development and improvement of the University Circle area of Cleveland. This funder provides general operating support, annual funds, project support and capital campaign support. However, it does not support individuals, endowments or political subdivisions.
Grants range between about $1,000 and $200,000. Grantmaking focuses on Northeast Ohio. Past local grantees include the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Cuyahoga County Public Library and the Great Lakes Theater. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records.
This foundation requests that first-time grantseekers contact the foundation staff to discuss a grant idea before submitting any paperwork. The staff then asks selected grantseekers to submit a letter of inquiry through its online system. After LOIs are reviewed, the foundation requests full applications from selected organizations. Organizations that have previously been funded by the Smith Foundation can bypass this initial process and skip right to the application process with an assigned access code. Letter of inquiry and proposal deadlines are the first of the months of February, July and October. Direct general questions to the staff at pme@kesmithfoundation.org or 216-591-9111.
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