← Back to US Funders Directory

Oliver Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.4M
Grant Range
$10K - $1.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.4 million
  • Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $1,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Cincinnati, OH (exclusively)

Contact Details

Administrative Agent: U.S. Bank NA
Address: P.O. Box 1118 CN-OH-W7PT, Cincinnati, OH 45201-1118
Phone: 513-632-4292
Website: None
Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Oliver Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1992 with assets exceeding $40 million as of 2024. The foundation distributes approximately $2.4 million annually to support charitable organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area. Operating through trustee discretion rather than an open application process, the foundation focuses on youth services, civic organizations, arts and culture, healthcare, and poverty alleviation. The foundation has demonstrated significant growth from $8 million in assets in 2011 to over $40 million in 2024, making it one of Cincinnati's substantial local funders. Administration is managed through U.S. Bank NA as agent, ensuring professional management of grant disbursements.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants through trustee discretion in the following ranges:

  • Major Gifts: $500,000 - $1,000,000 (capital campaigns, endowments)
  • Substantial Support: $100,000 - $499,999 (program support)
  • Operating Support: $10,000 - $99,999 (annual giving)

Priority Areas

  • Youth Services - Programs advancing the well-being of children and youth
  • Arts and Culture - Supporting Cincinnati's major cultural institutions
  • Parks and Nature - Environmental conservation and public spaces
  • Civic Organizations - Community infrastructure and services
  • Healthcare - Essential medical services for underserved populations
  • Poverty Alleviation - Addressing basic needs including hunger relief

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside Greater Cincinnati
  • Individual requests
  • Non-501(c)(3) organizations

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Richard D. Oliver
  • John C. Oliver
  • Debra C. Oliver
  • Vere W. Gaynor
  • Christine A. Buttress, Esq.

All trustees serve without compensation, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to maximizing charitable disbursements. The foundation operates with 97.2% of expenses going directly to charitable grants.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations they identify and select. The foundation operates through U.S. Bank NA as administrative agent, which manages the grant disbursement process.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on known grant patterns, organizations that have successfully received funding share these characteristics:

  • Well-established presence in Greater Cincinnati with demonstrated community impact
  • Participation in collaborative community initiatives such as the Greater Cincinnati Foundation or United Way partnerships
  • Board members or leadership with connections to Cincinnati's philanthropic community
  • Major cultural institutions or organizations addressing critical community needs

The foundation has been known to support organizations during collaborative fundraising efforts, such as their participation in the COVID-19 Regional Response Fund alongside the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and United Way.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal application timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of organizations that have received funding:

  • Established Cincinnati Presence: All known recipients are well-established Cincinnati institutions with strong local reputations
  • Collaborative Participation: Organizations involved in community-wide initiatives and partnerships appear more likely to receive support
  • Significant Community Impact: Recipients demonstrate measurable impact on Cincinnati residents, particularly in youth services and cultural enrichment
  • Professional Operations: All known recipients maintain professional standards with transparent operations and strong governance
  • Multi-Year Relationships: Evidence suggests the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with recipient organizations rather than one-time grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation operates without a public application process, making relationship-building essential
  • Focus efforts on becoming a recognized leader in Cincinnati's nonprofit community
  • Consider partnerships with organizations already supported by the foundation
  • The foundation has capacity for major gifts ($1 million) for transformational projects
  • Geographic focus is strictly limited to Greater Cincinnati - do not approach if based elsewhere
  • With $40+ million in assets and growing, this foundation represents a significant but selective funding source
  • Professional administration through U.S. Bank suggests formal grant agreements and reporting will be required

References

🎯 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

Join the Launch ListLearn More
← Back to US Funders Directory