Community West Foundation invests more than $500K in nonprofits to strengthen communities


Westlake-based Community West Foundation, with a mission to advance the health and well-being of the community, last week awarded $566,100 in fourth quarter grants to support the work of local nonprofit organizations.

The grants include $443,000 approved by the foundation’s board of directors and $123,100 distributed through the foundation’s Community Impact Fund—an initiative that combines donations of all sizes with other donors' funds to support nonprofits already receiving grants and help make a meaningful difference in the community.

Every dollar contributed to the Community Impact Fund goes directly to nonprofit grant recipients, ensuring that donations reach those in need while advancing the Foundation’s mission to illuminate hope and restore dignity.

The latest round of funding supports a diverse array of organizations that provide essential services to those in need in Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga, and Lorain Counties.

Organizations receiving grants in the fourth quarter include:

Cuyahoga County

Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation for Brain Health offers arts enrichment to help with isolation and improve the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Community of Hope creates communities and a sense of belonging for homeless youth and young adults who age out of foster care without a family and links youth to mental health services, job programs, school tutoring, GED courses, and parenting support.

Frontline Service is the backbone of behavioral health services in Cuyahoga County for those with the highest barriers to services, including people who are homeless, severely mentally disabled, in psychiatric crisis, and those who have been traumatized by violence.

Community of HopeCommunity of HopeJourney Center for Safety and Healing serves those affected by child abuse and domestic violence through a 24-hour helpline, an emergency domestic violence shelter, trauma services, and its Justice System Advocacy Program.

Lakewood Community Services Center provides bi-monthly home delivery of food to low-income clients in Lakewood, Rocky River, and Westlake.

May Dugan Center addresses inequities in access to health care, food, and living wages through behavioral health and basic needs services, refugee resettlement, its Seniors on the Move program, trauma recovery, and education resource center.

Merrick House provides Moms First and Fatherhood Initiative programs to reduce racial disparities in poor birth outcomes and infant mortality in the City of Cleveland.

Nueva Luz Resource CenterNueva Luz Resource CenterNueva Luz Urban Resource Center provides people living with HIV/AIDS with wraparound services including housing assistance, legal aid, addiction recovery, and food programs to address the root causes and impacts of systemic poverty.

Scranton Road Ministries works to break the cycle of poverty through a legal clinic, academic enrichment center, and youth jobs partnership.

Seeds of Literacy improves lives by providing one-to-one adult education and GED tutoring in physical classrooms and online.

Transformations by Cleveland Angels provides volunteer community support to fostering families to ensure healthy, affirming, and lasting relationships.

West Side Catholic Center provides food, clothing, shelter, job training, rent subsidies, and case management through its Resource Center, Workforce Development Program, Moriah House shelter, the Family Engagement program, Zacchaeus Housing Solutions, Culinary Academy, and Family Success Network.

Lorain County

Avon/Avon Lake Community Resource Services provides short-term assistance and connections to financial literacy, health and wellness, education, and job training programs.

North Ridgeville Community Care provides utility and housing assistance, senior outreach, and household essentials to North Ridgeville residents.

Oberlin Community Services serves the community through food access, emergency assistance, and resiliency programs; conducts food rescue, food distribution, and food delivery.