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Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Annual Giving
$149.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $8.0M

Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $149 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $981.4 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $8 million (varies by program)
  • RFP Cycle Grants: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Concentrated Investments: Up to $100,000/year
  • Mini-Grants: Up to $1,000
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Cincinnati tri-state region (8 counties in OH, KY, IN)
  • Founded: 1963

Contact Details

Greater Cincinnati Foundation 720 E. Pete Rose Way, Suite 120 Cincinnati, OH 45202

Phone: 513-768-6122 Website: https://www.gcfdn.org Grantseeker Portal: grantinterface.com

Key Contacts:

  • Adison Nelson, Senior Director, Community Investments: 513-768-6108, [email protected]
  • Melissa Krabbe, Chief Financial Officer: 513-768-6143

Overview

Founded in 1963, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation is the 35th largest community foundation in the United States with $981.4 million in total assets. Since its founding, GCF has invested $1.8 billion into the Greater Cincinnati region. The foundation distributed $149 million in grants in 2023, supported by $243 million in gifts from donors. GCF serves eight counties across the tri-state region: Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana.

Under President and CEO Matthew Randazzo, who joined in July 2023 from The Dallas Foundation, GCF has announced an ambitious commitment to invest $1 billion over the next decade, with a historic $150 million directed toward three core strategic areas. The foundation emphasizes partnership over traditional funding relationships and developed its strategic plan through inclusive community input incorporating "500+ voices" from diverse stakeholders. GCF operates with an assets-based approach, focusing on recognizing and building upon the strengths of individuals and communities while incorporating voices of those with lived experience.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Leadership Grants (No public application process)

  • Focus areas: Economic Mobility, Affordable Housing, Racial Justice
  • Does not accept unsolicited proposals
  • Invitation-based or through strategic partnerships
  • Organizations can submit Community Leadership Inquiry Form if they believe they align with strategic priorities

Request for Proposals (RFP) Competitive Grants

  • Grant amounts: $10,000 - $50,000 per award
  • Competitive application process through published RFPs
  • Examples: Building Bright Futures (September 2025), Better Together (Late 2025)

Concentrated Investment Grants

  • Up to $100,000 per year
  • Strategic, focused funding for significant community challenges

Mini-Grant Programs

  • Learning Links and Summertime Kids programs
  • Grants up to $1,000 for organizations working with youth
  • Educational focus

Boots on the Ground

  • Nonprofit capacity building program
  • Strengthens organizational effectiveness and sustainability

Emergency Grants

  • For immediate funding needs to avoid total stop in services providing basic needs to vulnerable individuals

Other Funding Opportunities

  • Scholarships for higher education
  • Impact Investing (loans with financial returns)
  • Community Event Sponsorships
  • Private Foundation partnerships (donor-advised and other funds)

Priority Areas

Three Strategic Focus Areas:

  1. Education - "Two pivotal moments in a student's journey: early literacy and future pathways"

    • Kindergarten readiness
    • Third-grade reading proficiency
    • Post-secondary pathways and lifelong success
    • Evidence-based educational solutions

  2. Housing - Affordable housing development and preservation

    • Focus on professionals like nurses and teachers
    • Neighborhood revitalization
    • Housing stability initiatives

  3. Community and Cultural Vibrancy

    • Safe public spaces and accessible parks
    • Behavioral health and wellness
    • Arts and culture initiatives
    • Resident-led programs to strengthen individual and community well-being

Additional Investment Areas:

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Safety Net services
  • LGBTQ+ community support
  • Animal Welfare
  • Accessible Communities

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not extensively documented in available materials, applicants must:

  • Be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
  • In most cases, be located in the Greater Cincinnati area (8 counties: Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, Warren in OH; Boone, Campbell, Kenton in KY; Dearborn in IN)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Matthew Randazzo, President and CEO (since July 2023)

  • Previously led The Dallas Foundation ($570 million community foundation)
  • Philosophy: "I'm a fairly balanced head and heart guy. I'm analytical but relational. We need a healthy tension to change the lives of people living in poverty and crisis: We have to come up with solutions, but we have to have heart."
  • On urgency: "We need an urgency that matches the urgency of the people experiencing challenge. That drives me every day: We cannot forget that end size of one person when we talk about moving the needle for the 2.2M people in this region."
  • On education: "There is no magic bullet when it comes to poverty eradication. But the two biggest predictors for graduating from high school and earning a living wage are kindergarten readiness and third-grade reading levels. Education is the most consistent lever for lifting somebody out of poverty."

Rasheda Malcolm-Cromwell, Chief Impact Officer (since December 2023)

  • Leads GCF's community impact strategy and execution
  • Focuses on addressing the region's most pressing challenges through unrestricted grantmaking, coalition building, impact investing, and civic leadership
  • Quote: "This role is a signal to the entire community about our intention to drive measurable impact in all that we do. Elevating impact from a single department to an essential function among our executive team is about aligning our mission, vision and resources to create a better, more thriving region."

Adison Nelson, Senior Director, Community Investments

  • Successfully led GCF's competitive grant cycles
  • Primary contact for grantmaking inquiries

Dora Anim, Chief Operating Officer

Melissa Krabbe, Chief Financial Officer

Governing Board

Board Chair: Ellen van der Horst

  • Former President and CEO of Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
  • 22 years with PNC Financial Services Group (Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Retail Bank)
  • Currently chairs boards of both GCF and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

Vice Chair: Joel Stone

Immediate Past Chair: George H. Vincent, Esq.

Board Members: Matt Barney, Robyn F. Chatman, MD, Sheila Cohen, PhD, Keith Dailey, John Domaschko, Nirvani Head, Stephen L. Hightower, Vada Hill, Brian Hodgett, Steve Jemison, Ernest F. McAdams, Jr.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For RFP Competitive Grants:

  1. Monitor the RFP page on GCF's website (https://www.gcfdn.org/rfp/) for published Request for Proposals
  2. Review RFP requirements when published - each includes specific focus areas, eligibility, and grant amounts
  3. Attend RFP workshops offered by GCF for application process overview
  4. Submit applications through GCF's online Grantseeker Portal at grantinterface.com
  5. Grant cycles are announced with specific deadlines

For Community Leadership Grants:

  • GCF does not accept unsolicited proposals for these strategic priority areas
  • Organizations can complete a Community Leadership Inquiry Form if they believe they align with strategic priorities
  • If unclear about alignment, use GCF's alignment guide on their website
  • Welcome to reach out to a program officer for feedback

For Emergency Grants:

  • Defined as immediate need for funding to avoid total stop in services providing basic needs to vulnerable individuals
  • Contact GCF directly for emergency funding consideration

Application Requirements:

  • IRS determination as nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization
  • In most cases, location in Greater Cincinnati area (8 counties)
  • Demonstrate assets-based approach: recognize and build on strengths of individuals and communities
  • Incorporate voices of those with lived experience

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines vary by grant program and are announced with each RFP. The foundation publishes grant recipient lists after each funding cycle, which are available on their Recent Grants page organized by year and program.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, grants are described as "competitive" across multiple programs, indicating selective funding processes. The foundation runs numerous grant programs simultaneously, from mini-grants of $1,000 to concentrated investments of up to $100,000, creating multiple pathways for funding at different scales.

Reapplication Policy

In most cases, an organization must wait 24 months after final payment of a grant or decline of an application before it is eligible to reapply to the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Assets-Based Approach is Critical

All grant applicants must reflect an assets-based mindset in their work. This means proposals should recognize and build on the strengths of individuals and communities rather than focusing solely on deficits. Incorporate the voices of those with lived experience to shape solutions - this is not optional but a core requirement.

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

GCF emphasizes alignment with their three strategic focus areas: Education (particularly kindergarten readiness and third-grade reading), Housing (affordable housing for working professionals), and Community and Cultural Vibrancy (public spaces, behavioral health, arts). As CEO Matthew Randazzo stated, the foundation needs "a healthy tension to change the lives of people living in poverty and crisis" - demonstrating how your work addresses root causes while providing immediate support strengthens applications.

Evidence-Based and Scalable Solutions

The foundation seeks "ambitious, innovative, large-scale solutions that address the region's most critical challenges." They prefer to participate with other donors in supporting specific projects rather than being sole funders, indicating a preference for collaborative, leveraged funding approaches.

Regional Focus and Collaboration

GCF values partnerships that "work together across sectors and the Ohio River" within their eight-county service area. Demonstrate how your organization collaborates with others and understands the interconnected nature of community challenges across the tri-state region.

Use of Foundation Resources

Take advantage of GCF's support resources:

  • Attend grant workshops for application process overview
  • Use their alignment guide if uncertain about fit
  • Reach out to program officers for feedback after submitting inquiries or proposals
  • Review recent grant lists to understand funding patterns

Preference for Participation, Not Sole Funding

The foundation typically prefers to participate along with other donors in the support of specific projects. Structure proposals that demonstrate additional funding sources or collaborative funding models.

Demonstrate Urgency and Impact

Randazzo emphasizes the need for "urgency that matches the urgency of the people experiencing challenge" while not forgetting "that end size of one person when we talk about moving the needle for the 2.2M people in this region." Balance large-scale impact goals with specific individual outcomes.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multiple pathways exist: From $1,000 mini-grants to $100,000 concentrated investments, identify the right program scale for your organization
  • Assets-based approach is mandatory: Frame your work around community strengths and include voices of those with lived experience
  • Monitor RFP announcements: Competitive grants are announced through RFPs with specific deadlines; check their website regularly
  • Education focus on two critical moments: If applying in education, emphasize kindergarten readiness and/or third-grade reading proficiency
  • 24-month waiting period: Plan carefully as declined or completed grants require a two-year wait before reapplication
  • Leverage program officer relationships: GCF encourages reaching out for feedback and guidance; use this resource
  • Think collaboratively: Demonstrate partnerships with other funders and organizations; GCF prefers to co-invest rather than be sole funder
  • Be specific about regional impact: Show deep understanding of the eight-county tri-state area and how your work addresses local challenges

References

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