Cleveland Clinic commits $50 million over five years to expand hunger relief efforts across three states

A multi-year commitment aimed at strengthening food access networks

Cleveland Clinic announced a five-year, $50 million commitment designed to reduce hunger and improve access to nutritious food in communities where the health system operates in Ohio, Florida and Nevada. The funding is structured as multi-year support intended to provide stability for food banks and community organizations that distribute food and operate related programs.

The commitment is set to be deployed through direct support for food banks and other community-based providers, with the stated goal of strengthening local infrastructure that connects families to reliable sources of nutritious food. Cleveland Clinic framed the initiative as part of a broader approach to improving health outcomes by addressing food insecurity as a foundational barrier to wellbeing.

Where the money is expected to go

The pledge includes support for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and additional food banks, pantries and markets serving Northeast Ohio, Florida and the Las Vegas, Nevada, area. The health system described the investment as a way for partners to plan ahead, expand established programs and build long-term capacity rather than rely on shorter-term, uncertain funding streams.

Food insecurity affects a wide range of residents, including children, seniors and working families. National federal estimates cited by Cleveland Clinic place food insecurity at roughly one in seven U.S. households, underscoring the scale of the issue the investment is meant to address.

• Timeframe: five years

• Total commitment: $50 million

• Geography: Ohio, Florida and Nevada

• Recipients: food banks and community-based organizations, including the Greater Cleveland Food Bank

How this builds on earlier investments

Cleveland Clinic said the new pledge builds on earlier hunger-related funding and programs. The health system reported contributing $2 million to local food banks in 2025 and committing $10.4 million in 2023 to support new and expanded food-access initiatives. Those initiatives included a teaching kitchen for nutrition education, food vouchers and grocery delivery for eligible patients and their families, and “food pharmacy” models intended to connect patients to healthier food options.

In Northeast Ohio, the announcement arrives amid continued high demand for emergency food assistance. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank has reported serving more than 400,000 people in the prior year and described food insecurity levels as remaining elevated, with notable month-to-month surges in food distribution.

The new commitment is structured as multi-year funding, a model often used by large institutions to help community partners sustain staffing, procurement and distribution planning across multiple seasons and economic cycles.

What happens next

Cleveland Clinic did not release a public, line-item breakdown of annual allocations or individual grants as part of the initial announcement. The health system said the pledge will support partners across the three states over the five-year period, with an emphasis on scaling proven programs and expanding capacity to reach people experiencing food insecurity.

Further details on partner selection, timelines for disbursement and program benchmarks are expected to shape how quickly the commitment translates into additional food distribution and expanded services in the communities involved.