Foundations
Strengthening Communities and Those Most in Need
Through strategic grantmaking, collaboration and advocacy, the three Sisters of Charity Foundations serve people in Northeast Ohio and South Carolina by addressing root causes of poverty, nurturing the growth of healthy communities, and supporting the needs of youth and families.
Established in 1996 with funds from the sale of hospital assets in Ohio and South Carolina, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland and Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina each serve a distinct but complementary role to the Health System’s ministries. While the ministries deliver direct services, the Foundations focus on strategic philanthropy, systems change and community capacity-building. The Sisters of Charity Foundations invest millions of dollars annually in grants to strengthen their communities and those most in need.
Our Foundation Ministries
Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland has improved the lives of those most in need with special attention to families, women and children living in poverty, while also working to sustain the ministries of women religious. After 28 years of impactful partnership in investment in the community, the Foundation paused external grantmaking at the end of 2024, as the Sisters of Charity Health System reshaped the future of its mission and work.
In 2026, the Foundation will re-emerge to further the work and mission identified within the new St. Vincent Charity Health & Healing Hub. The Foundation will fund, by invitation only, initiatives that address the social determinants of health and strengthen the residents of Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. These efforts will help enhance services to the Central community and ensure that the inspiring legacy and mission of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine carries on.
Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton
Canton, Ohio
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton focuses on grantmaking while also serving as a convener, facilitator and collaborator on community issues affecting the poor and underserved. The Foundation is committed to the following areas:
- Behavioral Health
- Early Childhood
- Homelessness
The Foundation primarily serves Stark County, Ohio, awarding grants to nonprofit organizations that address these areas of focus, and programs and services that impact the root causes of poverty. However, funding requests are also considered from Carroll, Holmes, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties in Ohio.
Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina uses its resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership. With a focus on economic mobility, housing security and health care, the Foundation strategically focuses on creating systems-level change at the state and local levels.
Through grantmaking, research that centers people’s lived experience with poverty and participation in coalitions that seek effective policy change, the Foundation partners with communities to shape a more just and inclusive future for all South Carolinians.
