The Sauerland Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 1994 and granted tax-exempt status in December 1995. Based in Milford, Ohio, the foundation operates as a non-operating private foundation making grants on an ongoing basis to support charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.8M
+46.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+56.9% YoY
Grant Count
51
+21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+29.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on a wide range of charitable purposes including:
- Environment and natural resources
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Science
- Public safety and crime prevention
- Community and economic development
- Housing development
- Human services
- Education
- Arts and culture
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated significant growth in grantmaking activity, increasing from 18 awards in 2020 to 51 awards in 2024.
Grant Range
$3,000 to $250,000
Average Grant
$34,286
Review Cycle
- Accepts applications
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofits in Ohio, with particular emphasis on Cincinnati and Cleveland. The foundation also has some national reach, supporting initiatives across multiple U.S. states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $28,789,296
- Total revenue: $11,372,595
- Total grants and contributions: $10,803,593
- Investment income and dividends: $447,452
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $121,550
- Total expenses: $2,301,993
- Total liabilities: $0
Giving Rate: 7.9% of assets
Historical Asset Growth: The foundation has experienced significant growth, with assets increasing from approximately $3 million in 2015 to $28.8 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,789,296 | $19,720,854 | $8,384,157 |
| Revenue | $11,372,595 | $12,778,606 | $5,275,924 |
| Expenses | $2,301,993 | $1,441,449 | $661,456 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,260,589 | $1,440,200 | $660,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $447,452 | $154,917 | $132,239 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,829,643 | $1,004,700 | $506,362 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by three trustees: John, Paul, and Robert Sauerland, sons of Franz L. Sauerland and Elizabeth Ellen (Ivins) Sauerland.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN SAUERLAND | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| PAUL SAUERLAND | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ROBERT SAUERLAND | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 600 Falls Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Phone: (440) 247-2881
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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