We provide grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in Cuyahoga County that help people in need to build careers that sustain them and their families. The Foundation commits nearly $2 million in funding annually. All of the grantmaking is guided by the Foundation’s strategic plan.

We feel it is important to be clear to grantseekers that most of our grantmaking is dedicated to furthering strategies with specific program goals. While you are welcome to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), we generally do not fund unsolicited proposals.

Our grantmaking is targeted in workforce development. Before submitting a proposal, we recommend that you carefully read this page, which help applicants determine whether their idea for a grant fits a particular grantmaking strategy.

Our Grant Partner Requirements

• Be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and provide your tax ID (EIN) number
• Be a publicly supported charity

If you are unsure if you meet these criteria, please contact Cathy Belk at cbelk@deaconessfdn.org

What We Don’t Fund

Through its grantmaking, Deaconess will not fund:

1. For-profit institutions
2. Endowments
3. Political campaigns

Grantmaking Philosophy

At Deaconess Foundation, we are committed to making a lasting impact on the Cuyahoga County community and especially those impacted by poverty. Our grantmaking philosophy is rooted in the belief that meaningful change is achieved through a combination of trust-building, data-informed decision making, ecosystem support, innovation, intentional commitment to advancing equity, and a balanced approach to systems change and programmatic activity.

Core Belief:

Deaconess Foundation believes all people deserve a career which pays a family sustaining wage. This belief motivates us to improve systems, eliminate barriers for the underserved, champion innovative practices, and continuously learn.

How We Fund – Grant Types

DF grants may be grouped into five categories:

1) Programmatic:  Deaconess Foundation provides programmatic grants to organizations engaged in workforce development activities that fill gaps needed in the Cuyahoga County ecosystem. DF funding specifically supports workforce development programming and initiatives that address workforce systems change, or other related workforce-focused activities.

2) General Operating: Deaconess makes general, operating grants for organizations, collaboratives, or initiatives whose primary activity is workforce development (supporting beneficiaries or addressing systems change in the ecosystem.) General operating grants are reserved for long-term grantees.

3) Multiyear: Deaconess will invite multi-year requests for organizations that fit within specific criteria detailed below:

• • • • • The organization has been a partner receiving grants from Deaconess Foundation for at least 5 years, indicating fit with our strategies and strong consistent performance.
        • The organization and/or its program fulfills a role or need in the ecosystem the Deaconess staff team deems critical, part of the core of services needed in the ecosystem.

What Types of Activities we Fund

Workforce Activities in In-Demand Sectors with Career Pathways

Deaconess remains committed to working in sectors in which individuals do not need a 2- or 4-year degree in order to (immediately or eventually) earn a family-sustaining wage.

In 2025, Deaconess anticipates working on workforce issues with other actors in these sectors, in ways from modest to meaningful, and at either the systems or the programmatic level or both:

• • • • Aviation/aeronautics/maritime
      • Behavioral Health (early childhood and adult)
      • Built Environment jobs (construction, broadband, green energy, building and maintenance, among others; this is a large grouping of various sectors which may all be important given high wages)
      • “Greening” of jobs
      • Finance, Accounting and Insurance
      • Healthcare
      • IT
      • Manufacturing

Additional sectors can also emerge through the year as civic conditions change, such as receipt of Federal grant opportunities.

Focus for Programmatic, General Operating and Multiyear Grants

The focus of Deaconess Foundation is career advancement services. Career advancement services refer to programs and supports designed to help low-income individuals either employed or under-employed in entry-level or low-wage positions progress into higher-paying, more stable careers that provide a family-sustaining wage. These services focus on skill-building and career navigation that enables Black and Latinx individuals living in poverty to access better job opportunities without requiring a 2- or 4-year degree.

Examples of Career Advancement Services

Youth

• • • • ​Career readiness and work-based learning experiences (summer jobs and internships)

Adults

• • • • Work-based learning experiences (short-term jobs and pre-apprenticeships)
      • Occupational skills training (targeted hands-on instruction aligned with high-demand industries and employer needs)
      • Secured job (in-demand industries within DF in-demand sectors for career pathways)
      • ​Earn industry credentials (certification, license, or other formal qualification that verifies an individual has acquired the technical skills and knowledge necessary to perform a specific job or occupation)

Other services also help people advance in their careers but fall outside of DF’s core investment areas. These include:

• • • • Core academic programs (traditional K-12 curricula that focuses on broad, foundational subjects as opposed to direct workforce preparation)
      • ​Personal enrichment (non-vocational, self-improvement, or recreational programs that focus on personal interests, hobbies, or general skill development)
      • ​Career exposure (generally introduce individuals to industries, occupations or career pathways)
      • ​Degree programs (structured long-term, 2- or 4-year degree programs or higher)

Performance Outcomes

DF places a high priority on funding for efforts that work towards these outputs or outcomes:

Youth

• • • • Completion of work-based learning experiences (summer jobs and internships)

Adults

• • • • Completion of work-based learning experiences (short-term jobs and pre-apprenticeships)
      • Average wages at placement
      • Completion of occupational skills programs
      • Credential attainment
      • Job placement in career pathways
      • Advancement in racial equity in employment and wages
      • Connections/referrals to external workforce services/training/education

Prioritized Career Pathways

To learn more about Career pathways go here.
DF recognizes that many career pathways may be attractive to individuals and important to our local economy. The Foundation focuses specifically on efforts that offer both high opportunity – defined as pathways to higher wages – and high accessibility – requiring less than a 2- or 4-year degree for entry. Each year, DF aims for the overwhelming majority of our grants to support initiatives that empower individuals on their career pathways. We also allocate a very small portion of our funding for projects outside of career pathways. These grants should all align with one of our strategic objectives and remain consistent with our mission.

Workforce Development Ecosystem

DF looks for certain Success Elements in supporting grantees that the Foundation provides programmatic, general operating grants and multiyear funding, recognizing that not all will be relevant for every project. This chart serves as a tool to help Deaconess staff assess alignment with the Foundation’s priorities and determine which organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Organizational Characteristics 

The Foundation will consider both existing and start-up organizations. When working with existing nonprofits, DF looks for some combination of these organizational characteristics:

Executive Leadership
DF prioritizes and supports strong leadership, defined as those who…

• • • Build strategic partnerships
    • Navigate and respond to a shifting workforce landscape
    • Recognize and address organizational challenges
    • Engage transparently with the Foundation

Race Equity
DF supports an organization that demonstrates a commitment to race equity, defined as those who…

• • • Serve Black and Latinx people
    • Study the potential differential impact of its services on different racial groups
    • Has Black and Latinx leadership
    • Address race equity in its own practices

Financial Stability
DF values and supports a financially stable organization, defined as those who…

• • • Avoids a structural deficits
    • Have independent verification of finances
    • Have adequate assets and cash flow to sustain the organization and deliver programming
    • Have a diversity of funding sources

Collaboration
DF encourages and supports a collaborative organization, defined as those who…

• • • Partner for efficiency and effectiveness

Continuous Improvement
DF seeks and supports organizations that…

• • • Measure impact
    • Demonstrate culture of learning and improvement
    • Innovate when appropriate