The Thomas H. White Foundation will consider requests from tax-exempt, non-profit charitable and educational institutions located within Cuyahoga County, Ohio, if such organizations and their services and facilities primarily serve residents of the City of Cleveland. No capital campaign requests will be considered. The Foundation is interested in supporting programs that address three critical areas:
Early Childhood Enrichment
Programs which enhance and promote early learning for children ages 0-5:
- Literacy supports
- Parent support and engagement
- Professional development for early childhood educators
- Early intervention services
- Early mental health services
Educational Success
Programs that support students in grades K-12:
- Academic enrichment programming, including in-school residencies and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activities
- Out-of-school time activities that support learning
- Social-emotional development
- Workforce readiness and mentoring
- Post-secondary preparation and access
Workforce Readiness
Programs that help adults prepare for, secure, and maintain employment with the goal of self-sufficiency:
- Soft skills development
- Barrier removal
- Job search and placement services
- Job retention support
Staff Assistance
The Thomas H. White Foundation is staffed by Foundation Management Services, a grants management and advisory firm serving private foundations in Greater Cleveland, promoting effective philanthropy and collaborative funding partnerships. Applicants are encouraged to contact our office for further clarification of the Foundation’s grantmaking policies. As part of the review process, staff often make site visits to requesting organizations. They also reserve the right to contact other funders and professionals in the field regarding the grant applicants under review.