Connor Group Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $25.3 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only model)
Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected organizations)
Grant Range: $500 - $13.8 million
Geographic Focus: National (with emphasis on Dayton, Ohio and Connor Group markets)
Total Assets: $62.2 million

Contact Details

Website: https://connorgroup.com/kids-and-community/

Phone: (937) 434-3095

Address: 10510 Springboro Pike, Miamisburg, OH 45342

Note: This foundation does not have a public application process. Contact is available for informational purposes only.

Overview

The Connor Group Foundation, operating as "The Connor Group Kids and Community Partners," was established in 2007 as the charitable arm of The Connor Group real estate investment firm. With assets totaling $62.2 million and annual giving of approximately $25.3 million in 2024, the foundation employs a distinctive "non-profit activist investing" approach focused on pulling children out of generational poverty. Founded by Larry Connor, managing partner of The Connor Group, the foundation has committed $190 million to non-profit work since inception and plans to invest $500 million over the next decade. The foundation operates with a rigorous, data-driven evaluation methodology adapted from Robin Hood Foundation's "Relentless Monetization" model, which quantifies the net present value of outcomes that lift children out of poverty. Rather than accepting unsolicited applications, the foundation proactively researches and vets organizations, typically evaluating 100 programs to find one worthy of investment.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate traditional grant programs with public application cycles. Instead, they make strategic investments in carefully selected organizations:

Strategic Alliances: Major multi-year investments in proven organizations (e.g., $2.8 million over 5 years to Bottom Line)
Accelerator Programs: Growth capital for expanding successful programs (e.g., $800,000 to SproutFive)
Operating Support: Substantial ongoing funding for initiatives they've founded (e.g., $1.9-4 million annually to The Greater Dayton School)
Contribution Programs: Targeted funding for specific initiatives (e.g., $800,000 to Task Force Antal)
Capital Projects: Major facility investments (e.g., $35 million for Greater Dayton School building)

Recent major grants include:

The Greater Dayton School: $4,091,462
Dayton Children's Hospital: $1,170,000
Bottom Line (college access): $2.8 million over 5 years
Lindner Center of HOPE: $1.25 million
Mayo Clinic: $600,000
Cleveland Clinic: Undisclosed
Connor Kids Academy: $402,298

Priority Areas

Education

College access and completion for first-generation students
Private education for under-resourced students
Kindergarten readiness programs
EdChoice voucher-supported schools

Health & Mental Health

Children's hospitals and pediatric care
Mental health treatment and research
Obesity prevention
Access to healthcare services

Breaking the Prison Pipeline

Juvenile justice diversion
Youth intervention programs

Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Dayton, Ohio area and cities where The Connor Group operates real estate properties (markets across the United States)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly:

Does not accept unsolicited grant applications
Does not fund organizations outside their strategic focus areas
Does not make small grants or one-time donations to numerous organizations (they prefer to be "narrow and deep")
Only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations

Governance and Leadership

Larry Connor - President & Founder

Managing partner of The Connor Group real estate firm
Works 1 hour/week on foundation matters (uncompensated)
Billionaire real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist
Has pledged 50% of his personal assets to Kids & Community Partners
"We've been very fortunate. We as a team, as a group of people, and so we think we have both the obligation and opportunity to give back."
"I am pledging $1 million but I am also asking community leaders to really think about what it means to have a world-class hospital in our back yard."

Ryan Ernst - Vice President & Trustee

Director of Kids & Community Partners
Partner at The Connor Group
Works 40 hours/week (compensated at $206,539)
Oversees day-to-day foundation operations

Michael J. McQuiston - Secretary, Treasurer & Trustee

Works 20 hours/week (uncompensated)
Manages foundation finances and governance

Charlton Denning - Vice President

Works 40 hours/week (compensated at $206,539)
Senior leadership role in foundation operations

Caleb Burke - Impact Investment Analyst

Works 40 hours/week (compensated at $83,250)
Conducts research and analysis on potential investments

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Connor Group Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

The foundation employs a proactive research model where they:

Identify areas of need aligned with their mission
Research hundreds of potential programs
Conduct extensive due diligence using their "Relentless Monetization" evaluation methodology
Select organizations that demonstrate exceptional outcomes and potential for impact
Approach selected organizations with investment offers

Organizations cannot apply to this foundation. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their strategic research and evaluation process.

Getting on Their Radar

The Connor Group operates in multiple real estate markets across the United States. Organizations in cities where The Connor Group has property investments may have a higher likelihood of being discovered, as the foundation prioritizes "Connor Group markets" for their community investments.

The foundation's funding model is directly tied to The Connor Group's real estate success. As stated on their website: "Every time we sell a property, approximately $1.5 million goes towards our non-profit endeavors." Connor Group property managers' performance directly benefits selected organizations, as increased property profits fuel non-profit investments.

Specific strategies for this funder:

Organizations in Dayton, Ohio and surrounding areas have geographical advantage as this is the foundation's home base
The foundation values data-driven outcomes and rigorous evaluation - organizations with strong outcome measurement systems may align with their methodology
They learned their "Relentless Monetization" model from Robin Hood Foundation in New York - organizations already using similar impact measurement approaches may be of interest
Larry Connor has stated they "typically vet 100 programs to find one" to invest in, indicating extremely selective criteria focused on exceptional performance
The foundation looks for organizations "nearing an inflection point in their impact/growth trajectory" - established programs ready to scale may be more likely to be noticed

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on trustee discretion without application cycles or fixed timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - there is no public application process. The foundation initiates all funding relationships.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply. The foundation maintains long-term relationships with selected partners, often providing multi-year funding commitments.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, these factors reflect what the foundation values in organizations they select for investment:

Rigorous Outcome Measurement: The foundation uses "Relentless Monetization" (RM) methodology adapted from Robin Hood Foundation. They assess 33 potential outcomes that pull kids out of generational poverty, assigning dollar values based on net present value. For example, a high school diploma is valued at $230,874, while avoiding juvenile correction is worth $72,980. Organizations must demonstrate measurable impact in these outcomes.

Focus on People, Plans, and Processes: According to their investment model, the foundation prioritizes "people in leadership being most critical." Strong, capable leadership is essential. They also evaluate whether organizations have solid plans and effective processes.

High Return on Investment: The foundation calculates the total value created by a program against annual operating expenses. They seek programs that deliver exceptional return on investment for disadvantaged children. For example, The Greater Dayton School invests $30,000 per student annually - three times the national average - to achieve transformational outcomes.

Outcomes Over Outputs: The foundation explicitly invests in "outcomes, not outputs." They don't care about simple metrics like "number of students served" but rather actual life-changing results like college graduation, avoiding incarceration, or achieving economic independence.

Counterfactual Analysis: A critical part of their evaluation is determining "how many of the participants would have attained these outcomes if the program never existed." They subtract counterfactual outcomes to assess true program impact.

Readiness for Growth: The foundation seeks organizations "nearing an inflection point in their impact/growth trajectory" - proven programs ready to expand their reach and deepen their impact.

Alignment with Connor Group Markets: Organizations operating in cities where The Connor Group has real estate investments appear more likely to receive consideration, particularly in the Dayton, Ohio region.

Long-term Commitment Potential: The foundation prefers to be "narrow and deep" rather than spreading resources across many organizations. They make substantial, multi-year commitments to selected partners (e.g., 5-year $2.8 million commitment to Bottom Line).

Examples of Funded Work:

Bottom Line helps first-generation college students get through college with 75% graduation rate and 20% more students graduating in four years compared to peers (randomized control trial results)
The Greater Dayton School provides $30,000 per student annually over 10 years ($300,000 total investment per child) for Ohio's first private non-religious school exclusively for under-resourced students
Lindner Center of HOPE provides mental health research and treatment with $1 million dedicated to research institute and $250,000 to patient financial assistance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process exists - This foundation cannot be approached with traditional grant proposals. They proactively identify and select organizations for investment.
Extreme selectivity - They "typically vet 100 programs to find one," indicating only the most exceptional organizations with proven, measurable outcomes will be selected.
Data-driven impact measurement is essential - Organizations must demonstrate rigorous outcome measurement aligned with the foundation's 33 quantified outcomes that pull children out of generational poverty.
Geographic considerations matter - Organizations in Dayton, Ohio and other Connor Group real estate markets have higher visibility. The foundation explicitly focuses on "Connor Group markets."
Long-term, substantial investments - When selected, organizations receive multi-year commitments with significant funding (grants range from $500 to $13.8 million, with median around $80,000).
Funding is tied to real estate success - Approximately $1.5 million flows to non-profit work every time The Connor Group sells a property. The foundation expects to complete $500 million in non-profit work over the next decade.
Focus areas are narrow - Education (especially college access and schools for under-resourced students), health/mental health, and breaking the prison pipeline. Organizations outside these areas should not expect consideration.

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Connor Group Foundation (EIN: 208499807). Form 990 filings. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/208499807
Cause IQ - The Connor Group Kids and Community Partners profile. Financial and grant data. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/connor-group-foundation,208499807/
The Connor Group - Kids & Community Partners. Official foundation website. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://connorgroup.com/kids-and-community/
The Connor Group - Kids & Community Partners Investment Model. Methodology and evaluation criteria. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://connorgroup.com/kids-and-community/investment-model/
Grantmakers.io - Connor Group Foundation Profile. 2023 grant recipients and board information. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/208499807-connor-group-foundation-aka-the-connor-group-kids-and-community-partners/
Fast Company - "Relentless Monetization: The Moneyball Approach To Fighting Poverty." Evaluation methodology explanation. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://www.fastcompany.com/2682181/relentless-monetization-the-moneyball-approach-to-fighting-poverty
Dayton Daily News - "Larry Connor on spending millions to fly to space and where most of his fortune will go when he dies." Larry Connor quotes on philanthropy. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/larry-conner-on-spending-millions-to-fly-to-space-and-where-80-percent-of-his-fortunate-will-go-when-he-dies/IW6534C73FCLVKXX55YR54PGOY/
The Connor Group - "An investment worth the wait." Bottom Line partnership details. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://connorgroup.com/news/an-investment-worth-the-wait/
Lindner Center of HOPE - "Lindner Center of HOPE Receives $1.25 Million Pledge from The Connor Group Kids & Community Partners." Press release with Larry Connor quotes. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://lindnercenterofhope.org/news/lindner-center-of-hope-receives-1-25-million-pledge-from-the-connor-group-kids-community-partners/
Dayton Daily News - "Connor Group's $35M Dayton school project gets board OK." Greater Dayton School funding model. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/35m-new-greater-dayton-school-gets-approval-over-some-objections/RJYG5PGNRJFBJJTOFUXZ5HBHZ4/
The Connor Group - "GDS bucking national education trends." Greater Dayton School investment details. Accessed January 14, 2026. https://connorgroup.com/news/gds-bucking-national-education-trends/