Endowment / Foundation

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Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging was established in 1908 in Cleveland, Ohio, and has operated for over a century as both an applied aging-research...

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging logo

Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging

The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging was established in 1908 in Cleveland, Ohio, and has operated for over a century as both an applied aging-research organization and a direct service provider for older adults and their caregivers. Orion H. Bell IV serves as President and CEO, while the board is chaired by Sarah Dimling, a former private wealth advisor with AB Bernstein. The endowment's strategy spans buyout, early-stage venture, fund-of-funds, and expansion-stage investments, alongside physical real estate holdings. Its property portfolio includes the headquarters at 11890 Fairhill Road, the Margaret Wagner Apartments residential complex, and multiple Rose Centers for Aging Well sites in Cleveland, East Cleveland, and Oakwood Village. Research and community-service operations are supported by collaborations with Case Western Reserve University and funded by entities including the John A. Hartford Foundation and AARP Foundation. The institute maintains a professional network through the American Society on Aging and participates in the Medicare Advantage Learning Collaborative to explore partnerships with Medicare Advantage plans. Its physical footprint includes five senior community-service centers and a residential apartment building. The United Way of Greater Cleveland partners with Benjamin Rose on home-delivered meal programs. Structurally, Benjamin Rose is distinct among foundations because it directly operates real estate and community health programs rather than functioning purely as a grant-maker or passive endowment investor. The August 1908 bequest from Benjamin Rose established both the service mission and an endowment trust that continues to fund operations today, making it one of the oldest continuously operating aging-focused institutions in the United States.

General information

Firm type

Endowment / Foundation

Year founded

1908

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Cleveland

Corporate office

11890 Fairhill Road, Cleveland, OH 44120

Additional offices

East Cleveland, OH · Oakwood Village, OH

Principals

Orion H. Bell IV

President and CEO

Sarah Dimling

Board Chair

Sector focus

Healthcare ServicesReal Estate

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging?

The President and CEO, Orion H. Bell IV, oversees the institute's operations and endowment. The board is chaired by Sarah Dimling, a former vice president and financial advisor with AB Bernstein Private Wealth Management, suggesting professionally informed oversight of the institute's investment posture.

How is the institute's investment portfolio structured?

The endowment deploys capital across a broad range of strategies including buyout, early-stage venture, seed and start-up investments, expansion-stage companies, fund of funds, and natural resources. This is complemented by a direct real estate portfolio of residential and commercial properties concentrated in the greater Cleveland area.

What real estate assets does Benjamin Rose directly own?

The institute's owned properties include its headquarters on Fairhill Road, the Margaret Wagner Apartments residential building in Cleveland Heights, and multiple Rose Centers for Aging Well in Cleveland, East Cleveland, and Oakwood Village. These sites serve dual purposes as program delivery locations and balance-sheet assets.

Which organizations does Benjamin Rose partner with on research and programs?

Key research partners include Case Western Reserve University, particularly its Department of Community Dentistry, and the Cleveland Clinic. Major funding and program partners comprise the John A. Hartford Foundation, which supports dementia caregiving research, and the AARP Foundation, which collaborates on the Senior Community Service Employment Program.

Does Benjamin Rose function as a grant-making foundation or an operating entity?

It operates primarily as an operating entity — directly delivering home and community-based services, conducting applied aging research, and managing its real estate assets — rather than as a traditional grant-making foundation. The endowment funds both these direct operations and external investment allocations.

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