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The Columbus Foundation

Annual Giving
$307.0M
Grant Range
$0K - $10.0M
Decision Time
1mo

The Columbus Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $307 million (2024)
  • Assets Under Management: $2.3+ billion
  • Grant Range: $100 - $10 million (most common: $1,000-$10,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Franklin County and central Ohio
  • Number of Grants: 5,050 nonprofits funded (2024)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; typically 2-3 weeks to several months

Contact Details

Address: 1234 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205-1453

Phone: 614-251-4000

Email: contactus@columbusfoundation.org

Website: https://columbusfoundation.org

Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET, Monday-Friday

General Grant Inquiries: Dan A. Sharpe, Vice President – Community Research and Grants Management

Overview

The Columbus Foundation was established in 1943 by Columbus businessman Harrison M. Sayre and other civic leaders during World War II, receiving its first gift of $25 in 1944 from teacher Olga Anna Jones. Today, it has grown into one of the 10 largest community foundations in the United States, holding more than $2.3 billion in assets. In 2024, the Foundation awarded more than $307 million in grants to 5,050 nonprofits across central Ohio. The Foundation serves more than 3,000 individuals, families, and businesses through donor-advised funds, supporting foundation grants, and specialized programs. The organization's mission is "to assist donors and others in strengthening and improving our community for the benefit of all its residents." In 2025, the Foundation launched new initiatives including the Emergency Response Fund II and a Center for Change Management to help nonprofits navigate funding shifts, program realignment, technology adoption, workforce pressures, and strategic transitions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Note: The majority of The Columbus Foundation's grants are directed by living donors through Donor Advised Funds and do not require a formal application process. However, the Foundation operates several competitive grant programs that accept applications:

Focused Funds (Rolling)

  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $25,000 (majority $1,000-$10,000)
  • Application Schedule: Two annual deadlines - First Friday in May (Spring) and First Friday in October (Fall)
  • Applications available one month before each deadline
  • Categories include: Historic Preservation, Beautification/Civic Projects/Public Art, Medical & Health Education, Substance Abuse, Adoption & Foster Care, Summer Camp Maintenance, Hospice & End-of-Life Care
  • Available funding varies by category ($4,400 to $197,000 per category)

Core Support Grants (Fixed Deadline)

  • Multi-year unrestricted support for up to three consecutive years
  • Applications accepted every three years on the first Friday in March
  • Next application cycle: March 2027
  • Focus areas: Health/Habitat/Care of Domestic Animals, Service Animals, Domestic Violence, Family Planning, Deaf/Hard of Hearing Populations, Vision Protection/Services for Blind or Visually Impaired
  • Eligibility: Organizations must have existed for 3+ years with primary impact in Franklin County

Community Garden Grants (Annual)

  • Support for community gardens in Columbus and Franklin County
  • Application deadline: Mid-February annually
  • Decision notification: Approximately 2-3 weeks after deadline

Capacity Building Grants

  • Designed to improve mission delivery, quality, facilities, and finances of nonprofit programs and services
  • Specific program details vary

Racial Equity Grants

  • Benefit BIPOC communities in Franklin County
  • Focus areas: Economic opportunity, awareness and training, disparity reduction, system change

Supporting Foundations

The Columbus Foundation also administers grants through four independent foundations with separate boards and grantmaking processes:

Ingram-White Castle Foundation

  • Focus: Education and critical human needs
  • Service area: Franklin County

Columbus Youth Foundation

  • Focus: Sports and recreational programs for urban youth
  • Service area: Central Ohio

Paul G. Duke Foundation

  • Focus: Services for children and families
  • Service area: Miami County

Siemer Family Foundation

  • Focus: Education, literacy, and programs serving underprivileged families
  • Service area: Central Ohio

Priority Areas

  • Health and Special Populations
  • Basic Needs
  • Animals
  • Environment
  • Youth & Education
  • Arts & Culture
  • Community and Gardens
  • Neighborhoods
  • Capacity Building

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions vary by grant program. Contact the Foundation directly for program-specific restrictions.

Governance and Leadership

Governing Committee

The Columbus Foundation is governed by a nine-member Governing Committee of civic leaders chosen for their knowledge of community needs. Members serve seven-year terms. More than 55 community leaders have served on this committee throughout the Foundation's history.

Current Governing Committee (2025):

  • Clark Kellogg – Chairperson
  • Jeffrey W. Edwards – Vice Chairperson
  • Jane Grote Abell
  • George S. Barrett
  • B.J. Hicks, MD
  • Lisa Ingram
  • Katie Wolfe Lloyd
  • Marchelle E. Moore
  • Matthew A. Scantland

Key Staff

Douglas F. Kridler – President and CEO

Scott Heitkamp, CPA – Senior Vice President and CFO

Angela G. Parsons, JD, CAP® – Vice President, Donor Services

Dan A. Sharpe – Vice President, Community Research and Grants Management

Amy Vick – Vice President, Communications and Marketing

Gregg Oosterbaan – Vice President, Information Technology

J. Bradley Britton, JD, LLM – Director of Planned Giving and General Counsel

Kate Oliphint – Director, Center for HumanKindness

Dr. Sharee Blackmon, SHRM-SCP – Director of Human Resources

Steven Moore – Chief of Staff

Recent Recognition

2025 Harrison M. Sayre Award: The Edwards Family – recognized for leadership in philanthropy and contributions to central Ohio development

2025 Columbus Foundation Award: ProMusica Chamber Orchestra – receiving a $100,000 unrestricted grant for anchoring the arts sector

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Columbus Foundation operates differently from many traditional foundations. The vast majority of grants are directed by living donors through Donor Advised Funds and do not involve a competitive application process.

For the grant programs that do accept applications:

  1. Review the Grant Guide: Use the Foundation's online Grant Guide tool to identify grantmaking areas that may fit your organization (https://columbusfoundation.org/nonprofit-center/grant-opportunities)

  2. Check Eligibility: Most programs require:

    • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (some accept fiscal sponsors case-by-case)
    • Primary impact in Franklin County or specified service area
    • Organizational capacity requirements vary by program

  3. Attend Grant Open Houses: Grant Opportunity Open Houses are available for 501(c)(3) organizations serving Franklin County to meet the Community Research and Grants Management team and ask questions about upcoming grant cycles

  4. Submit Online Application: Applications are submitted through the Foundation's online portal when deadlines are open

  5. Contact for Questions:

    • General questions: contactus@columbusfoundation.org or 614-251-4000
    • Focused Funds: Matthew Martin
    • Hospice/End-of-Life Care: Dan Sharpe
    • Technical assistance: Melissa McCool

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary significantly by program:

  • Community Garden Grants: Approximately 2-3 weeks (notifications by end of day, specific date provided)
  • Focused Funds: Timeline not publicly specified; varies by category
  • Core Support Grants: Multi-stage review process; successful applicants receive up to three years of funding with annual progress report reviews

Success Rates

Specific success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. However, with over 5,000 nonprofits receiving funding in 2024, the Foundation demonstrates broad support across the central Ohio nonprofit sector.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies vary by program. Core Support Grants accept applications only every three years. For other programs, contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication timing and strengthening future proposals.

Application Success Factors

While the Foundation does not publish extensive application guidance publicly, the following factors can be inferred from their structure and priorities:

  1. Clear Alignment with Fund Priorities: Since many grants flow from donor-directed funds with specific interests, carefully review each program's focus areas and ensure tight alignment

  2. Franklin County Impact: Most competitive grants prioritize organizations with primary impact in Franklin County – clearly demonstrate your local presence and community benefit

  3. Organizational Readiness: Core Support Grants require 3+ years of organizational history, suggesting the Foundation values operational stability and track record

  4. Relationship Building: The Foundation is described as "extremely accessible" with complete contact information for staff and leadership – take advantage of Grant Open Houses and staff consultations

  5. Multi-Year Thinking: Several programs (Core Support Grants) offer multi-year funding, suggesting the Foundation values sustained impact over one-time projects

  6. Nonprofit Capacity: The Foundation's investment in capacity-building programs (Center for Change Management, Emergency Response Fund II) indicates they value organizational health alongside programmatic work

  7. Use Available Resources: The Foundation provides a detailed flowchart to help grantseekers navigate options, Grant Opportunity Open Houses, and accessible staff – utilizing these resources demonstrates engagement

  8. Mission Consistency: Core Support Grants explicitly require "a primary mission that is consistent with" funding categories – ensure your organizational mission clearly aligns, not just a single program

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Understand the structure: Most Foundation grants are donor-directed; competitive grants represent a smaller portion of total giving – focus on programs that accept applications from your sector
  • Geographic focus matters: Franklin County organizations are prioritized for most competitive grants – clearly articulate your local impact
  • Long-term relationships: Core Support Grants (every 3 years) and multi-year funding suggest the Foundation values sustained partnerships over transactional relationships
  • Leverage accessibility: The Foundation prides itself on transparency and accessibility – attend open houses, review financial reports, and contact staff with questions before applying
  • Category-specific research: Focused Funds have highly specific categories with varying available amounts – research which category fits your work and confirm funding availability before investing time in an application
  • Capacity matters: New initiatives supporting nonprofit capacity (Center for Change Management) suggest openness to organizations navigating transitions – don't shy away from articulating organizational challenges alongside programmatic strengths
  • Timeline planning: With Core Support Grants only open every 3 years (next: March 2027) and Focused Funds twice annually, plan application timing carefully to align with your organizational readiness

References

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