Case Western Reserve University

The Mandel Foundation’s long history with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) began in 1939 when Mort Mandel enrolled at Adelbert College, a predecessor of CWRU, on a full scholarship. Mort left after his freshman year, going into business with his brothers Jack and Joe before enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War II. After completing his remaining credit hours and a senior capstone requirement, Mort graduated in May 2013, at the age of 91.

In 1988, the Foundation became a major supporter of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS) at CWRU, one of the oldest university-affiliated graduate degree programs in social work. Since then, the Foundation has continued investing to strengthen what has become a nationally ranked, award-winning program. In 2007, the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, now the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Community Studies Center, was built to house MSASS research and training centers. An investment of $5 million in 2023 established the Mandel Dean’s Scholarships helping ease the financial burden faced by many graduate students.

More recently, a $3.5 million investment supports humanities research projects, particularly those that drive innovative ideas through scientific collaborations, and established the Mandel Fellowship in the Experimental Humanities. This new major integrates the study of humanities and STEM. The Foundation also donated to establish the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Experimental Humanities Hub in the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building where faculty and students in the humanities can collaborate with their science and engineering peers.

In 2026, the Foundation announced a historic $125 million commitment to CWRU, the largest commitment in the Foundations’ history and believed to be the largest gift ever made to higher education in Ohio. The investment will support a new Mandel Humanities Building, expand scholarships at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, establish the Morton L. Mandel Presidential Chair, and further strengthen the Experimental Humanities Program.