Serving the Community: A Timeline of Philanthropy, Charity, and Non-profit Organizations in Cleveland, Ohio
1900-1906
In the early 20th century, Cleveland earned a national reputation for innovation in organized philanthropy. In the early years, civic leaders organized agencies to address emerging social issues. Increasing specialization in fields such as law, medicine, and the fine arts resulted in tremendous growth in private giving. The first sustained campaign in the United States to raise funds for multiple charitable organizations regardless of religious sponsorship occurred in Cleveland. The Cleveland Foundation, also created at this time, premiered the concept of the community foundation.
| 1900 Bethel Associated Charities changes its name to Associated Charities to separate religion and private philanthropy; establishes charities clearing house and professional social worker training programs
1900 Committee on Benevolent Organizations formed by the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce to promote coordination of charity efforts and to avoid duplication and inefficiency 1901 Social Service Club established by YMCA members to provide medical services to poor and homeless men 1901 Visiting Nurse Association of Cleveland established to provide care to homebound and indigent patients 1902 Federation of Women’s Clubs of Greater Cleveland established by Sarah Porter to centralize educational, civic, and philanthropic efforts of local women’s clubs 1903 Jewish Community Federation founded as the Federation for Jewish Charities to centralize fundraising for Jewish charitable agencies by Edward Baker, Charles Eisenman, Emil Joseph, and Martin Marks, and other prominent Jewish businessmen 1903 Mt. Sinai Hospital founded by the Jewish Women’s Hospital Association (formerly known as the Young Ladies Hebrew Association) 1903 Holy Cross House for Crippled Children established by the Episcopalian Guild of the Holy Cross for Invalids; closed 1934 1904 Hebrew Free Loan Association founded to provide interest-free loans to poor Jewish immigrants 1904 A. M. McGregor Home (later The Meadow) established for the elderly by Tottie Barber McGregor and Sophia Barber McCrusky 1904 Anti-Tuberculosis League (later known as the American Lung Association of Northern Ohio) founded with Dr. John H. Lowman as president 1904 American Red Cross, Cleveland Chapter founded by Samuel Mather 1904 Rainey Institute social settlement established to serve the cultural needs of the Hough neighborhood 1905 Legal Aid Society of Cleveland founded by Isador Grossman and Arthur Baldwin to provide legal assistance to the poor and equity in the legal system 1906 Cleveland Society for the Blind (later Cleveland Sight Center) founded through the efforts of Linda Eastman 1906 Hebrew Orthodox Old Age Home (Menorah Park Center for the Aging) established to provide for the religious needs of the Orthodox Jewish elderly |
    
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| 1891-1899 | 1907-1914 |
