About

Originally known as the Fairview/Lutheran Foundation, Community West has been supporting these Cleveland Clinic hospitals as well as many community nonprofit agencies through grantmaking since 1997. After decades of Illuminating Hope, the amazing people, partners and donors that make up our foundation continue to move their philanthropic and innovative spirit deeper into the community and farther west than ever before. Under the guidance of the Board of Directors, Community West has grown its giving exponentially over the past 25 years. In 2023, Community West distributed $7.8 million in grants. 

Community West is most well-known for granting funds to local nonprofit agencies that align with our mission, but there are many other ways we offer philanthropic support to the community.  These include managing funds for and organizing fundraising events that benefit Fairview and Lutheran hospitals to support operations and programming.  We also serve as fiscal agents for several philanthropic agencies as well as individuals. 

The mission of Community West Foundation is to advance the health and well-being of our community. The staff and Board of Directors are guided by the words in Matthew 25:35-40: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Our Affiliations 

- National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

- The Council on Foundations

- Fund for Our Economic Future

1986 – Lutheran Medical Center joins Fairview General Hospital in forming Health Cleveland, Inc. Fairview Foundation expanded to become Fairview/Lutheran Foundation. 

  

1997 –  Fairview and Lutheran hospitals became part of the Cleveland Clinic Health System. When this happened, the Fairview/Lutheran Foundation became a freestanding philanthropic organization governed by its own board of trustees and independent of the health system. Henry Jacques, who previously led the Fairview Hospital Foundation, was named President of the newly formed organization.

1999 – Inaugural year for the foundation’s community-wide grantmaking efforts. The foundation provided community grants to 11 organizations totaling $180,600. Henry Jacques retired after 16 years of service, announcing David T. Dombrowiak as his successor.

2006 –  Fairview/Lutheran Foundation became Community West Foundation. The name change was meant to reflect the foundation’s focus on community-wide grantmaking while still supporting both Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals.

2014 – Community West Foundation started the Socks+ initiative after learning that socks were, and still are, the number one requested item by the homeless.

2020 — Community West Foundation provided 70 grants to community organizations, the most in the foundation’s history, totaling $2.4 million. President and CEO, David T. Dombrowiak, retired after 21 years of service, announcing Martin Uhle, 10-year term board of directors member, as his successor. The foundation reached $150.1 million in assets.  

2022 - Community West Foundation awarded $3.4 million in quarterly grants to over 100 nonprofits.