Grantmaking Decision Logic
Program Grant Policy
- Saint Luke’s Foundation funds programs that serve the Woodhill, Buckeye-Shaker, and Mount Pleasant communities; and,
- All programs funded by Saint Luke’s Foundation must serve at least one of the three Saint Luke’s neighborhoods; and,
- In addition to serving St. Luke’s neighborhoods, funding consideration for programs extending outside of the Saint Luke’s footprint will be based upon the applicant’s:
- Volume of the proposed services within Saint Luke’s Footprint
- Existing programs within the Saint Luke’s Footprint
- Existing relationships with stakeholders of Saint Luke’s Neighborhoods
Operational Grant Policy
- Saint Luke’s Foundation considers operational grants to organizations that consistently serve Cuyahoga County and at least one of the three Saint Luke’s neighborhoods
- Grantees are considered for operational funding based on strategy alignment (e.g., the organization as a whole or a particular program) as well as our relationship with and knowledge of the organization.
Capital Investment Grant Policy
- All projects related to improving physical spaces must be located within Saint Luke’s footprint
Research & Policy Advocacy Support
- Saint Luke’s Foundation supports policy advocacy work impacting Cuyahoga County that is consistent with the advocacy objectives of our strategic plan
- Research & policy advocacy work does not have to take place within Saint Luke’s footprint
- Research and policy work funded by the Saint Luke’s Foundation must engage the impacted population within Cuyahoga County. Research must adhere to the principles of community based participatory research.
Discretionary Grant Policy
- Saint Luke’s Foundation allocates approximately seven percent (7%) of its grant budget to discretionary grantmaking determined by the board annually
- Support a variety of charitable campaigns for small scale projects, programs, events and initiatives throughout Cleveland that are aligned with the Foundation’s values
- Discretionary grants are generally capped at $15,000
- Discretionary grants are exempt from the geographic decision logic
- All activities funded must meet at least one objective of Saint Luke’s strategy
Exceptions to Geographic Decision Logic
- Discretionary grants up to the board mandated level, generally $15,000
- From time to time the Saint Luke’s Foundation will join forces with other local foundations for collective impact on an urgent local crisis
- On rare occasion the Saint Luke’s board may consider funding outside of its strategic focus for unusual, unique and unpredictable events such as natural disasters and other acts of God within Cuyahoga County
Note: Most philanthropic pooling efforts and rare situational funding events will align with our strategy.
