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Greenacres Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.0M
Grant Range
$100K - $0.4M
Decision Time
3mo

Greenacres Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,951,629 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $580.5 million (2023)
  • Decision Time: 3 weeks for LOI review; 2 months for full proposal (Agriculture Research Grants)
  • Grant Range: $25 - $4,800,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Cincinnati/Ohio region for arts; national for agriculture research

Contact Details

Address: 8300 Spooky Hollow Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45242
Phone: 513-891-4227
Website: https://green-acres.org/
EIN: 31-1250075

Overview

Established in 1988 by Louis and Louise Nippert, the Greenacres Foundation is a private operating foundation with total assets of $580.5 million as of 2023. The Nipperts purchased Greenacres Farm in 1949, eventually expanding it to nearly 600 acres, with the mission "to preserve for the public an area reflecting the traditional environment of Indian Hill" while encouraging conservation and appreciation of nature. The foundation operates under a dual mandate: managing the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund, which provides major support to Cincinnati's premier arts organizations, and advancing regenerative agriculture and environmental research through competitive grant programs. The foundation now serves over 30,000 students annually through its educational programs and operates a working farm using rotational grazing principles.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund (No Public Application Process)

  • Major, multi-year grants to Cincinnati arts institutions
  • Recent 2023 grants: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ($4.8M), Cincinnati Opera ($823K), Cincinnati Ballet ($387K), Cincinnati May Festival ($343K)
  • These grants are awarded through trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations

Agriculture Research Grants: $100,000 - $400,000

  • Competitive program for regenerative agriculture research
  • Two-step application process: LOI opens January 5, 2026; deadline February 2, 2026
  • Projects should be completable within 36 months
  • Indirect costs are not funded
  • Land may be available for research projects upon request

Ecology and Environment Research Grants

  • Competitive grant program for environmental research
  • Application details available on foundation website

Other Grants

  • Small to medium grants to educational institutions and community organizations
  • Recent 2023 grant: Xavier University ($85K)

Priority Areas

Regenerative Agriculture Research:

  • Linking ecosystem services to food nutrient density
  • Integrated crop-livestock systems
  • Perennial weed control without herbicides
  • Organic methods for reducing biting insects on livestock
  • Soil biology's nutritional contributions to food crops (special track)

Arts & Culture:

  • Symphony orchestras, opera, ballet, and performing arts organizations
  • Primarily Cincinnati-based institutions

Education & Conservation:

  • Environmental education programs
  • Natural resource conservation
  • Youth education in plant and animal life

What They Don't Fund

  • Indirect costs on research grants
  • Unsolicited proposals for the Musical Arts Fund
  • Organizations outside their established giving areas (Cincinnati arts, agriculture research)

Governance and Leadership

Founding Members (deceased):

  • Louis Nippert
  • Louise Dieterle Nippert
  • Marie Eberhard

Current Board of Trustees:

  • Carter F. Randolph, PhD (Chair)
  • Martin Cooper
  • Lawrence Kyte Jr.
  • Brad Lindner (President of United Dairy Farmers, aspiring horticulturist)
  • Ginger Warner
  • Meredith Leslie
  • Beth Hellman
  • Louie Randolph
  • Helen Black (environmental leader in Southwest Ohio)

The board comprises 11 trustees including some of the region's leading environmentalists and business leaders, reflecting the foundation's commitment to environmental stewardship and community impact.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Agriculture Research Grants:

The foundation uses a two-step competitive application process:

  1. Letter of Intent (LOI) - One-page document that should describe:

    • The research question and its significance
    • The approach that will be used to answer the research question
    • Overall budget estimate (excluding indirect costs)
    • Submit through online application form at green-acres.org/research/agriculture-research-grant/

  2. Request for Proposal (RFP) - Applicants receiving additional consideration will receive a link to complete a detailed RFP, due within 8 weeks

For Musical Arts Fund:

This fund does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded to pre-selected Cincinnati arts organizations through trustee discretion based on pre-existing relationships.

For Other Grants:

The foundation states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Decision Timeline

Agriculture Research Grants:

  • LOI Review: All letters reviewed within 3 weeks of submission deadline
  • Full Proposal: Selected applicants have 8 weeks to submit detailed RFP
  • Total timeline from LOI to decision: Approximately 3-5 months

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $6,951,629 in 2023, with a median grant of $20,000. For agriculture research grants, the two-step competitive process suggests a selective acceptance rate, though specific percentages are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

For agriculture research grants, unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent funding cycles. Annual LOI deadlines provide recurring opportunities for researchers.

Application Success Factors

For Agriculture Research Grant Applicants:

  1. Translational Focus: The foundation explicitly prioritizes "translational research projects that include both researchers and practitioners." Applicants must demonstrate "an interest in sharing knowledge with land owners, farmers and/or ranchers."

  2. Practical Outcomes: Research should have clear applications to regenerative farming practices. Priority outcomes include ecosystem services linked to food nutrient density, integrated crop-livestock systems, and organic pest management methods.

  3. Collaborative Approach: Projects involving partnerships between researchers and working farms/ranches are strongly preferred.

  4. Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be "researchers, graduate students, and extension professionals from domestic non-profit (501(c)(3)) organizations."

  5. Budget Considerations: Indirect costs are not funded - budget accordingly. The foundation may also provide land for research projects upon request, which could strengthen proposals.

  6. Timeline: Projects should be completable within 36 months of funding date.

  7. Foundation Values: The foundation operates under five core principles: Giving (generosity), Grace (humble service), Green (holistic environmental thinking), Good Neighbor Policy (community respect), and Generative (building for future generations). Aligning your research narrative with these values, particularly "Green" and "Generative," could strengthen your application.

Example Success Story: In 2024, the Noble Research Institute received a Greenacres Foundation grant to further regenerative agriculture research in pecans, demonstrating the foundation's interest in projects that combine traditional agriculture with innovative regenerative practices.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Two distinct funding streams: The Musical Arts Fund operates by invitation only for Cincinnati arts organizations, while agriculture/ecology research grants are competitively awarded through a structured application process
  • Translational research emphasis: If applying for agriculture grants, demonstrate clear pathways for knowledge transfer to practitioners - this is explicitly prioritized
  • Strong LOI is critical: With only one page to make your case, the Letter of Intent must concisely articulate research significance, methodology, and budget
  • No indirect costs: Budget proposals must exclude indirect costs entirely, which may affect university-based researchers
  • Values alignment matters: The foundation's commitment to education, preservation, and generational impact should be reflected in how you frame your research's broader significance
  • Geographic focus varies: Arts funding is Cincinnati-centric, while research grants are open to domestic non-profit organizations nationally
  • Annual cycle: Agriculture research grants follow a predictable annual timeline (LOI opens early January), allowing for strategic planning and reapplication

References

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