Louise Taft Semple Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 31-0653526 · since 1945ignitephilanthropy.com/lts·Cincinnati·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.8M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$5,000 to $75,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$15,000
Typical grant (median)
56 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • The foundation's stated priority is Cincinnati, Ohio, and most of its awards sustain the region's arts community, with some private education, civic and community, environmental and social service work, so a Cincinnati organisation in those areas fits its focus.
  • Do not apply for general operating expenses, for individuals or scholarships, for advocacy and community organising, or for projects already completed, and do not apply if you have outstanding requirements from a previous award or have submitted a proposal to the foundation within the past two years.
  • Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 187 grants fall between $5,000 and $75,000, and half were $15,000 or less, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling, since its largest grant was $300,000.
  • In its most recent filing, 77% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in one of the two filings before, which suggests relationships matter, so first email the foundation to confirm eligibility and find your deadline, noting that applications are due in February, May, August or October and that Ignite Philanthropy manages access to the portal.
  • You must demonstrate 501(c)(3) status and classification as not a private foundation under Section 509(a), and every award requires a grant evaluation report, so plan for that reporting.

Overview

Louise Taft Semple Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cincinnati, OH.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Louise Taft Semple Foundation supports programmes that benefit the people of Cincinnati, Ohio. The overwhelming majority of its awards sustain the region’s vibrant arts community. Its trustees also consider requests from select elementary and secondary private education institutions, usually with an eye to promoting arts education and cultural enrichment. When funding is available, the Foundation also supports civic and community projects and environmental initiatives. It accepts proposals for project and programme funding and capital improvements, and, in rare cases, endowments. Its history describes philanthropic support for artistic, cultural, educational, civic and social service organisations to enhance quality of life in Greater Cincinnati.

Themes

  • Arts
  • Private education
  • Civic and community projects
  • Environmental initiatives
  • Cultural organisations
  • Social services

Geographic Focus

Priority: Cincinnati, Ohio.

What They Don't Fund

  • General operating expenses
  • Individuals, including scholarships for specified individuals
  • Advocacy and community organizing
  • Grantees with outstanding requirements from previous awards
  • Organizations who have submitted a proposal within the past two years
  • Projects that have already been completed

How to apply

Applicants first email Jamie Markle to confirm eligibility, discuss the proposal and determine its deadline; Ignite Philanthropy manages access to the application portal.

Deadlines:

  • Applications are due in February.
  • Applications are due in May.
  • Applications are due in August.
  • Applications are due in October.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 77% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 187 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • Applicants must demonstrate 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and classification as not a private foundation under Section 509(a).
  • All awards require a grant evaluation report.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Ohio97%
Kentucky3%
New Mexico<1%
New York<1%
Connecticut<1%
Maine<1%

1 other state: <1%

  • The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to organisations Louise Taft Semple Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

56 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $15,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 56 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k2%
$1k–$2.5k2%
$2.5k–$5k5%
$5k–$10k9%
$10k–$25k48%
$25k–$50k7%
$50k–$100k20%
$100k–$250k5%
$250k–$500k2%

Median $15,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati · General
    $260,0002024 tax year
  • ArtWorks · General
    $150,0002024 tax year
  • Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled · General
    $100,0002024 tax year
  • Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center · General
    $100,0002024 tax year
  • Mercantile Library · General
    $75,0002024 tax year
  • Contemporary Arts Center · General
    $75,0002024 tax year
  • Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati · General
    $75,0002024 tax year
  • ArtsWave · General
    $70,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Mr Thomas W Taft — Secretary, Trustee
  • Mr Robert Lawrence — Trustee
  • Mr Michael S Mcgraw — Trustee
  • Mr John T Lawrence III — Treasurer, Trustee
  • Mrs Robert A Taft II — Trustee
  • Mr Dudley S Taft — Chairman, Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$2,310,837$1,939,500$33,989,575Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$2,216,109$1,942,750$36,077,976Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$2,202,326$1,830,750$40,378,242Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Start your 4-week free trialLearn More

Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know

Helpful Hinchilla

Applying to Louise Taft Semple Foundation?

Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.

Start your 4-week free trial

No credit card required

Contact