Cleveland, OH – September 2, 2026 – The Board of Trustees of the Saint Luke’s Foundation has approved grants totaling $1,943,750 for ten organizations during its third-quarter board meeting. These investments advance the Foundation’s mission and refined strategies to achieve health equity across five strategic areas:
- Belonging and People Power
- Economic Vitality
- Placemaking and Placekeeping
- Holistic Well-Being
- Lifelong Learning
Tim Tramble | President & CEO
“Strong communities are built when residents have the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need not only to navigate immediate challenges, but to shape what comes next. This quarter of strategy partners reflects the breadth of that work, from strengthening financial stability and preserving homeownership to advancing educational opportunity, health, civic participation, and neighborhood resilience. These investments recognize that lasting change requires both meeting people where they are today and building the conditions for families and communities to thrive for generations.”
Dr. Teresa Dews | Board Chair
“Our board is proud to support organizations that are deeply connected to the communities they serve and are translating that connection into meaningful, lasting impact. These investments address some of the most fundamental conditions that influence quality of life, including safe and stable housing, economic opportunity, access to education and wellness, and the ability for residents to have a voice in the decisions that affect them. These strategy partners demonstrate what is possible when community knowledge, trusted relationships, and thoughtful investment come together.”
Q3 2026 STRATEGY PARTNERS
Centers for Families and Children
$175,000 | 21 Months ● Life-long Learning
This grant supports The Centers’ wraparound services at Harvey Rice Wraparound School, helping scholars and families overcome barriers to academic success, health, and family stability. Through attendance support, academic interventions, access to food and basic necessities, healthcare and mental health referrals, and social-emotional programming, The Centers connects families with critical resources while strengthening student wellbeing, school engagement, and academic achievement in Cleveland’s Buckeye-Shaker/Woodhill community.
The Meeting Place Learning Center, Inc.
$87,500 | 21 Months ● Life-Long Learning
This grant provides operating support for The Meeting Place Learning Center’s(TMPLC) early childhood and out-of-school-time programming. TMPLC serves children and families through preschool, after-school and summer enrichment, nutritious meals, and safe transportation, creating a supportive environment where students can learn, grow, and build meaningful relationships. Funding also supports the organization expand enrollment and respond to the evolving needs of families in the surrounding community.
NuPoint Community Development Corporation
$437,500 | 15 Months ● Placemaking and Placekeeping
This grant provides general operating support to NuPoint Community Development Corporation as it strengthens neighborhood revitalization and long-term community stability on Cleveland’s Southeast Side. NuPoint works to improve business corridors, support renters and homeowners, protect community real estate assets, expand access to capital, and deepen resident engagement in Mount Pleasant while building the organizational capacity and partnerships needed to advance larger-scale economic and community development.
Life Exchange Center
$87,500 and $20,000 for capacity building | 21 Month ● Holistic Wellbeing
The grant provides operating and capacity-building support to Life Exchange Center (LEC) as it delivers peer-led recovery services for adults experiencing mental health and substance use hurdles. Through social support, life skills training, educational programming, job readiness, and transitional housing for young adults aging out of foster care, LEC helps members strengthen their wellbeing and independence while preparing to transition to an accredited Clubhouse model.
Assets Under Movement (Formerly Amalgamated Charitable Foundation)
$750,000 | 36 Months ● Belonging & People Power
The grant supports the Partnership for Equitable and Resilient Communities (PERC) in building a community-led collective impact initiative across Greater Buckeye. PERC will bring together local organizations and residents to strengthen collaboration, invest in community-driven solutions, and build the infrastructure needed for long-term impact. Through its trust-based approach, PERC centers community voice, shared decision-making, and local leadership in advancing equitable and resilient neighborhoods. This funding leverages $1 million from national sources to carryout this collaborative effort in Buckeye.
Food Strong
$70,000 and $5,000 for capacity building | 21 Month ● Holistic Wellbeing
The grant supports Food Strong’s expansion of its Food Sovereignty and Workforce Development programming at John Adams. Through hands-on gardening, nutrition education, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, and career exploration, students will build practical skills while learning about healthy eating, food systems, and environmental sustainability. Funding will also strengthen outdoor learning infrastructure, including a teaching kitchen that supports year-round experiential education.
Local Initiatives Support Corp
$100,000 | 12 Months ● Economic Vitality
The grant supports LISC Cleveland’s Heirs’ Property Resolution Program in the Buckeye/Woodhill neighborhood, helping residents preserve homeownership and build generational wealth. Through legal counseling, estate planning, title resolution, and educational services, the program helps families address complicated property ownership issues, protect neighborhood assets, and create pathways to long-term housing and financial stability.
Mt. Pleasant Ministerial Alliance
$30,000 | 12 Months ● Belonging & People Power
The grant supports the Mount Pleasant Ministerial Alliance’s voter engagement and civic participation efforts. Through trained voter captains, door-to-door canvassing, church-based outreach, and community education, the Alliance connects residents with information about voter registration, identification requirements, voting dates, voter rights, and opportunities to participate in elections. The initiative strengthens civic engagement and collective power in Mount Pleasant and across Cleveland.
The Phe’be Foundation
$81,250 and $10,000 for capacity building | 1 Year ● Economic Vitality
The grant supports the Phe’be Foundation’s Legacy Builders initiative, helping families in Buckeye-Woodland and Buckeye-Shaker strengthen their financial wellbeing and economic mobility. Through financial education, personalized coaching, workforce support, and benefits navigation, participants will build skills in budgeting, credit, saving, investing, homeownership, and asset protection while creating pathways toward greater financial stability and long-term generational wealth.
Undivided Cleveland
$100,000 | 15 Months ● Placemaking & Placekeeping
The grant supports Undivided Cleveland’s Clean Home Lead Safe initiative to reduce lead exposure and create safer housing conditions for families in Mount Pleasant. Through home lead remediation, education, case management, and connections to health, legal, relocation, and food assistance resources, the initiative takes a preventive approach to protecting children and families while advancing environmental and health equity.
This quarter’s grants exemplify the Foundation’s commitment to fostering positive change and improving community health and well-being.
About Saint Luke’s Foundation
The Saint Luke’s Foundation is dedicated to achieving health equity by addressing social determinants of health for people in neighborhoods surrounding Saint Luke’s and throughout Cuyahoga County. Saint Luke’s is committed to demonstrating grantmaking that is responsive to the community and believes that people thrive as a result of living free of racism and poverty and experiencing equitable economic opportunities and conditions that enable them to lead healthier lives. Since it was established with the charitable assets of the Saint Luke’s Medical Center in 1997, the Foundation has awarded over $233 million in grants. For more information, visit saintlukesfoundation.org.
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