In 2011, the holders of the 54 Donor Advised Funds at the Community West Foundation showed incredible generosity in making gifts that totaled $2,000,000.00 to 83 agencies.  Their commitment and concern inspires us all. 

Many of the fund holders have asked us for information on requests we have received from agencies to which they may be interested in making supporting gifts.  To further the interaction between agencies and our donors, we will be listing agencies that we know are in need of additional funding for projects that are extremely important to our community.  Please check this site frequently for updates.  If you would like to make a gift to any agency you see listed, contact us and we will handle all the necessary paperwork.

We begin in 2012 by listing three agencies that have received prior funding from the Community West Foundation:

Community Service Alliance, founded in 2004 at the former convent at St. Procop Church, serves men transitioning from homelessness to independence by providing affordable, short-term housing, work experience and employment assistance, and personal, behavioral and spiritual support and enrichment.

Community Service Alliance’s vision is to be nationally replicated as a program that works, based on the fact that 80% of the 850 men served by their programs have indeed achieved independence and self-sufficiency.  Alarmed by the fact that a disproportionate number of the men coming to their program are veterans, Community Service Alliance, working closely with Bay Presbyterian Church and several other community partners, were able to secure a second housing site – the former convent at Blessed Sacrament Parish -- to be used for meeting the housing, employment, and personal and spiritual needs of homeless veterans.  Community Service Alliance plans to open this second site in February of this year, and estimates it will need approximately $27,500 in additional support for this project.  The site will be home to 13 veterans, and your gift of $2,000 will help to cover the needs of one veteran at Sacrament House for one year.  Please visit their website at www.comservealliance.org, or see them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/comservealliance.

Journey of Hope, founded in 1999 and now located in Fairview Park has one focus:  to provide emergency financial assistance for critical survival needs to adult cancer patients. This assistance is given so that the patients may focus their efforts on getting well, free from the stress caused by financial hardship that results when they have their income and insurance interrupted or stopped entirely.  Journey of Hope relies primarily on contributions, especially from individuals.  They serve patients referred from social workers at nearly all area hospitals including Fairview, Lutheran, Lakewood, and the Veterans Administration Hospital.  Your gift of $1,000 would provide greatly needed support for a cancer patient going through a very difficult time.  Please visit their website at www.johcleveland.org.

Neighborhood Alliance, founded in 1927, is one of the premier social service agencies in Lorain County.  Through programs ranging from an extended stay Homeless Shelter, childcare and child enrichment programs, family support services, and home delivered meals and nutrition services for seniors, Neighborhood Alliance touches the lives of thousands of our neighbors every year. The Home Delivered Meals Program is of particular interest to the Foundation, and we support this program through our grantmaking.  Currently the agency prepares and delivers 97,739 meals and provides daily well-checks to over 400 homebound seniors.  Unfortunately, due to the government funding cuts they experienced, there is now a waiting list of 50 seniors who need our help. The agency needs $45,288 to complete their government funding match in order to get our seniors the services they need.  Your gift of $1,800 will provide one senior the comfort of  knowing that they will receive a year of home delivered meals from a familiar friendly face once the match portion is met.  Please visit www.myneighborhoodalliance.org for more information.

Please feel free to contact Peter Schindler at 216-476-2995 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   for more information on these or other programs in need of support, or for information about opening a donor advised fund.

  Why We Love
Our Donor Advised Funds

Harry A. Zilli, Jr.
Retired President and CEO
Erie Lackawanna, Inc.

Community West Foundation
Board of Directors

“A Donor Advised Fund at Community West Foundation is like having your own personal foundation to support your favorite causes, but without all of the work.  The process is very simple and makes giving efficient, effective and flexible.”

Christopher B.H. Harrington
President
Rockwell Metals Company, LLC

Community West Foundation
Board of Directors

“If you’re ready to make your giving more convenient, rewarding and effective, consider a Donor Advised Fund at the Community West Foundation.  A Donor Advised Fund makes it easy to donate to your favorite causes and charities – and you can give to any non-profit organization – locally, across the country, or around the world.”