The Distribution Committee gives priority to grant requests that address one of the Foundation's four inter-related program areas:

• Poverty
• Education
• Physical and Mental Disabilities
• Aging

Eligibility/Geographical Boundaries

Grants are limited to tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations based within Cuyahoga County. Rare exceptions may be made, on a case-by-case basis, for organizations headquartered outside the County that maintain facilities within the County, fall within our priority program areas, and serve the residents of Cuyahoga County.

Preferred Types of Grants

Requests for program, start-up or emergency operating and capital support will be considered. Applicants are discouraged from submitting requests for endowment, general operating expenses, research, symposia / seminars or fundraising events. No grants are awarded to individuals, nor does the Foundation respond to mass mailings or annual campaign solicitations.

Multi-Year Grants

The great majority of grants awards are for one year, although grants for programs that have been documented to be effective may be renewed for several years in succession. The Foundation does not, however, make a permanent commitment of support to any project.

Occasionally, multi-year grants are awarded when a strong case for such support is made, usually for capital campaign awards and for start-up program support.

Capital Campaigns

The Foundation will consider requests to support capital campaigns under certain conditions. A Capital Campaign Checklist has been developed and applicants should provide answers to these questions in a separate document that must be included with any capital campaign request for funding.

Access Capital Campaign Checklist

Grants for Technology

Recognizing the benefits information technology can have in advancing the missions of the nonprofit organizations it supports, the Bruening Foundation has recently adopted a Technology Checklist to guide grantseekers who want to submit a technology-related grant request. Applicants should provide answers to the questions on this checklist in a separate document that must be included with any technology-related grant proposal.

Access Technology Checklist

Staff Assistance

Applicants are encouraged to contact our office for further clarification of the Foundation's grantmaking policies.