FAQs

Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel were the founders of Premier Automotive, a Cleveland, Ohio auto parts distribution company that evolved to become Premier Industrial Corporation, a worldwide leader in industrial manufacturing, distribution and research.

Inspired by their mother, Rose, the Mandel brothers’ commitment to civic engagement and philanthropy began at an early age and became a central tenet of their adult lives and led to the founding of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation. To learn more about the Mandel Brothers and the history of the Mandel Foundation click here.

Based on the philanthropic priorities and values established by the Mandel brothers, the Foundation is committed to five areas of engagement that guide its investments. These include leadership development, management of nonprofits, humanities, Jewish life and urban engagement. To learn more about these five areas of engagement, click here.

These areas of engagement were established by the Mandel brothers as a reflection of the issues that were most important to them.

Jack, Joe and Mort Mandel believed that outstanding leadership is an indispensable aspect of great institutions. Their commitment to Leadership Development cuts across all of our areas of engagement. At the same time, the Mandel brothers recognized that leaders cannot change the world by themselves, so they invested in programs and organizations that foster excellence in the Management of Nonprofits and public sector institutions.

The brothers felt that the Humanities are society’s repository of wisdom, beauty and insight, and exposure to the arts and philosophy creates empathetic and tolerant individuals. They focused their investments not only through cultural institutions but also in expanding access to high-quality humanities learning and career preparation.

Having lived during the pogroms in Poland, the Mandel brothers cared deeply about the future of the Jewish people and the vibrancy of Jewish communities. They had a long history of supporting Jewish Life in Cleveland, North America, and Israel, with a particular focus on ensuring access to high-quality Jewish educational experiences.

The Mandel brothers had deep roots in Cleveland, Ohio where they were raised and founded their business. They were committed to widening economic opportunities in Cleveland through the support of community development corporations and local civic organizations, which is achieved through the Mandel Foundation’s focus on Urban Engagement.

Over time, these five focus areas emerged as guideposts in determining which programs and partnerships would gain the most from our time, energy, and financial support.

To learn more about our areas of engagement click here.

We primarily fund programs and organizations in the United States, with a special interest in Cleveland, and Israel.

Grants are primarily made within our Areas of Engagement, as these represent the philanthropic priorities that have been the most important to the Founders. We are committed to building and investing in organizations and programs with strong leadership, sound financial practices and missions that align with our core values.

The Mandel Foundation is governed by an independent Board of Trustees. Steve Hoffman, Board Chairman, and Jehuda Reinharz, President and CEO, were personally appointed by the Founders. All Mandel Foundation Trustees have been selected for their ability to set priorities and make decisions that align with the values established by the Mandel brothers.

The lifetime impact of the Mandel brothers’ philanthropic giving exceeds $1 billion.

The Mandel Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Our grant application process is by invitation only.

We are unable to give funds to individuals or private entities. We only make grants to organizations with 501(c)3 public charity status.

We do not accept unsolicited grant requests or proposals and we are not able to give funds to individuals or private entities. However, if you have an idea or concept that aligns with our Areas of Engagement you may send a letter of inquiry to grants@mandelfoundation.org. The submitted material should be no more than two pages and should briefly describe an idea or potential initiative and why it aligns with our areas of engagement – it should not be a formal grant request.

All submissions will be reviewed; however, due to the volume of potential projects, we are not able to respond directly to each submission.

Click here for a list of past grant partners we have supported. This is not an inclusive list, but the grant summaries offer an overview of our grantmaking history and priorities.

We prefer to correspond by email with potential partners. You can send any questions or inquiries to grants@mandelfoundation.org.

Our transformative leadership development programs support Jewish educational leaders, nonprofit executives, community development professionals, and arts & culture leaders.

Community Development Corporation Leadership Development Program
The Community Development Corporation Leadership Program (CDCLP) is designed to enhance the leadership within organizations whose mission is to strengthen neighborhoods in Cleveland, Ohio. The CDCLP is a fourteen-session, ten-month leadership training program designed to enhance specific skills of leaders who are currently engaged in community development with an emphasis on issues and best practices that CDC leaders are facing.
Click here to learn about the CDCLP program.

Cultural Leadership Program
The Cultural Leadership Program is a two-year fellowship designed to support artists and cultural producers with high potential as agents of change in Jewish communities and beyond. The program aims to cultivate fellows’ creative wellsprings and work, leadership capacities and visions for change, and cross-boundary, collaborative networks.
Click here to learn more about the Cultural Leadership Program.

Educational Leadership Program
The Educational Leadership Program is an 18-month fellowship that empowers Jewish educational leaders from a wide range of settings to sharpen their educational visions, broaden their understanding of the educational landscape, and develop leadership skills to bring their visions to fruition.
Click here to learn more about the Educational Leadership Program.

Executive Leadership Program
The Executive Leadership Program is an 18-month fellowship designed to prepare outstanding mid-career professionals for senior leadership roles. Fellows analyze the changing communal landscape, sharpen their guiding visions of Jewish life, and expand their leadership and management skills.
Click here to learn more about the Executive Leadership Program.

Mandel Teacher Educator Institute
The Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (MTEI) is a powerful two-year journey of discovery for leaders in Jewish education. MTEI gives educational leaders the tools they need to become extraordinary teachers of teachers, helping educational leaders transform their schools into places where the teachers learn together in community over their whole careers.
Click here to learn more about MTEI.

Neighborhood Leadership Development Program
The Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) is a leadership training and development program designed for community leaders serving Cleveland neighborhoods and nonprofit organizations. It is a sixteen-session, ten-month cohort-based leadership development program for engaged Clevelanders who are committed to creating a city and region where everyone can thrive.
Click here for additional information about NLDP.

We are always eager to connect with exceptional people who support our core values and are committed to changing the world. Please visit our careers page for current openings.