The Sears Swetland Family Foundation
Bratenahl, OH · EIN 34-6522143. Reported 152 grants totalling $1,212,503 to 85 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. 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. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Reserve Land Conservancy | Moreland Hills, OH | $155,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Cleveland, OH | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens | Boothbay, ME | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Nature Conservancy of Vermont | Monpelier, VT | $44,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Old Brooklyn Cdc | Cleveland, OH | $43,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cleveland Institute of Art | Cleveland, OH | $42,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cleveland Metroparks | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Nature Center of Shaker Lakes | Cleveland, OH | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ohio Environmental Council | Columbus, OH | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| 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 | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Footpath Foundation | Parma, OH | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hildene | Manchester, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Midcoast Conservancy | Edgecomb, ME | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Urban Community School | Cleveland, OH | $15,001 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ace Alliance for Climate Education | Oakland, CA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Case Swetland Center | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cwru Swetland Center for Environmental Health | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Environmental Law and Policy Center | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hospice of the Western Reserve | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lake Erie Nature and Science Center | Bay Village, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Planned Parenthood | Columbus, OH | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Foundry | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University Circle Inc | Cleveland, OH | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cleveland Zoological Society | Cleveland, OH | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Alliance for the Great Lakes | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| American Rivers Inc | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Birthing Beautiful Communities | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cleveland Museum of Art | Cleveland, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Global Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hunger Network | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Land Studio | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Metro Catholic School | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Rid All Farm | Cleveland, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Smokey House Center | Danby, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vermont Public Interest Research Group | Montpelie, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Spice Field Kitchen | Cleveland, OH | $8,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine | Cleveland, OH | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Downtown Cleveland Alliance | Cleveland, OH | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Alliance for Climate Education (ace) | Boulder, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Beyond Pesticides | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Beyond Pesticides Ohio | Cleveland, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Beyond Pesticides Ohio | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Building Hope in the City | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cleveland Neighborhood Progress | Shaker Heights, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cleveland Tree Coalition | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Edwins Leadership and Resturaunt | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Family Promise | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Cleveland Food Bank | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hathaway Brown School | Shaker Heights, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ideastream Public Media | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Rainey Institute | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Red Oak Camp | Willoughby, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rid All Green Partnership | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Trust for Public Land | Cleveland, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| 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 | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Union Farmers Market | Cleveland, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Slgc Charitable Projects Fund | Shaker Heights, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
37 of 85 (44%) received money in more than one year over the 4 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 61%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
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 recipient's own IRS classification, for the 82 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
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 |
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
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 75% of this one's giving went to organizations in Ohio. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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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 the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- 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 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
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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