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Osteopathic Heritage Foundation

Annual Giving
$11.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $70.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Osteopathic Heritage Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11,400,815 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by grant cycle (typically 2-3 months for RFP cycles)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely - from small community grants (~$1,000-$5,000) to transformational gifts ($70 million+)
  • Geographic Focus: Central and southeastern Ohio (statewide and national for osteopathic medical education)
  • Total Grants (2023): 33 awards

Contact Details

Address: 6785 Bobcat Way, Suite 200, Dublin, Ohio 43016-1443
Phone: (614) 737-4370
Email: heritage@ohf-ohio.org
Website: https://osteopathicheritage.org

Staff Contact:
Organizations can contact the foundation to discuss potential alignment with funding priorities before formal opportunities are announced.

Overview

Founded in 1961 as the charitable arm of Doctors Hospital, the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation began its modern philanthropic work in 1998 following the sale of Doctors Hospital assets to OhioHealth. Over 25 years of grantmaking, the foundation has distributed over $240 million to 381 organizations through 1,419 programs. With roots in osteopathic medicine, the foundation emphasizes a whole-person approach to health, recognizing that community health is influenced by clinical care access, social and economic factors, and physical environment. In 2024, the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville merged with the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, creating a unified entity serving both central and southeastern Ohio. The foundation is one of the nation's largest donors to osteopathic medical schools, with over $193 million in total support to Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Funding Priorities

The foundation focuses on three main priority areas:

Grant Programs

1. Osteopathic Medical Education & Research

The foundation's largest funding category, supporting advancement of osteopathic medicine through investments in medical education and healthcare research.

  • Recent Awards: $70 million to Ohio University Heritage College (2025) comprising $45 million for research and $25 million for scholarships
  • Previous Major Awards: $105 million Vision 2020 award (2011); $4.1 million post-graduate education support; $1.5 million to Columbus State Community College (2024)
  • Research Endowments: Between 2000-2018, established ten research and professional development endowments across seven osteopathic medical colleges nationwide
  • Focus: Reducing medical student debt, supporting translational research, building capacity for osteopathic medical schools, advancing primary care in Ohio

2. Behavioral Health & Substance Use Disorder

Aims to increase access to health-promoting services and boost resilience in children and youth experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

  • Strategies: Strengthen behavioral health infrastructure and organizational capacity; deploy prevention and intervention strategies for youth affected by trauma
  • Geographic Focus: Central and southeastern Ohio, with partnerships in Athens, Hocking, Vinton counties, and Franklin County
  • Notable Partnership: Over a decade of collaboration with Maryhaven for recovery services; since 2012 partnership with 317 Board supporting vulnerable individuals and families
  • Application Method: Invitation-only or through RFPs

3. Healthy Food Access

Launched in 2013 to address food insecurity, poverty, and obesity in southeastern Ohio, with expansion to Franklin County.

  • Southeastern Ohio: Multi-year investment through Appalachia Accessible Food Network
  • Franklin County: "Healthy Food, Healthy Franklin County" initiative focused on increasing access to fresh, healthy, affordable, and local food
  • Recent Awards: Partnership with Rocky Community Improvement Fund (RCIF) - over $130,000 to 39 organizations in 2024
  • Strategy: Building emergency food system capacity while investing in systemic efforts to increase access, affordability, and consumption of healthy foods
  • Application Method: Rolling grant cycles through RCIF partnership; periodic RFPs

Priority Areas

  • Osteopathic physician training and professional development
  • Primary care workforce development, particularly for underserved Ohio communities
  • Translational and biomedical research with clinical applications
  • Youth resilience and ACEs prevention
  • Behavioral health service access and provider capacity
  • Healthy food access and food security
  • Programs serving older adults
  • Educational opportunities for youth

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals outside of announced funding opportunities. While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus is limited to:

  • Geographic restrictions: Central and southeastern Ohio (except for osteopathic medical education, which can be national)
  • Population-specific initiatives aligned with their three priority areas
  • Organizations with strong outcome measurement and sustainability plans

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Officers:

  • Robert A. Palma, DO - Chair
  • Steven E. Cox - Vice Chair
  • Ronald G. Linville - Treasurer
  • Rebecca E. deVillers, DO - Secretary
  • Terri Donlin Huesman - President/CEO

Board Members: Thomas M. Anderson, DO | Thomas E. Baker, DO | George O. Faerber, DO | Paige S. Gutheil, DO | Jeffrey D. Hutchison, DO | Charlene L. Kopchick | Dana M. Kromer, DO | Robert C. Overs | Edward W. Schreck, DO | Mark R. Seckinger | Richard A. Vincent | Henry L. Wehrum, DO

Staff Leadership

Terri Donlin Huesman (President/CEO)
Over 25 years with the Foundation. Provides strategic vision for grantmaking, investments, and operations. Serves on OhioHealth O'Bleness Hospital Governance Council, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board, and Appalachian Children's Coalition. MBA from Franklin University.

Susan Beaudry (Vice President)
20+ years of philanthropic and nonprofit leadership experience. Oversees grantmaking, impact, and communications. Prior roles with Thousand Currents, Common Counsel Foundation, and Compton Foundation. Serves on Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Advisory Board and United Way of Central Ohio Success by Third Grade Advisory Board.

Cheryl Graffagnino (Program Officer)
30+ years in healthcare and public health. Formerly led Columbus Public Health's Local Food Systems Strategies. 2022-2023 American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Osteopathic Health Policy Fellow. Registered dietitian with degrees from Ohio State University.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Funding investments are considered exclusively through:

  1. Invitation to submit process - The foundation directly invites specific organizations to submit proposals
  2. Request for proposals (RFPs) - Competitive funding opportunities announced periodically on the foundation's website
  3. Funding collaborations - Partnerships with other organizations (such as RCIF, Nelsonville Community Foundation, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio) to leverage resources

How Grants Are Awarded:

  • Foundation staff identify potential grantees aligned with strategic priorities
  • Staff work directly with invited applicants to develop proposals, establish outcome measures, and plan for sustainability
  • Periodic RFPs are announced for specific initiatives and posted on the funding opportunities page
  • Collaborative grant cycles operate on announced timelines (e.g., RCIF partnership has spring and fall cycles)

Staying Informed: Organizations interested in funding should register for email updates through the foundation's "Contact Us" page to receive notifications when new opportunities are announced. Organizations may also contact foundation staff at heritage@ohf-ohio.org or (614) 737-4370 to discuss potential alignment with funding priorities.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by funding mechanism:

  • RFP Cycles: Typically 2-3 months from application deadline to award announcement
  • RCIF Partnership Cycles: Applications due in early April (spring cycle) or September/October (fall cycle), with awards announced approximately 2 months later
  • Large Transformational Grants: Multi-year discussion and development process with invited organizations

Example Timeline (RCIF Spring 2025):

  • Application Deadline: April 11, 2025
  • Award Announcements: After June 1, 2025

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 33 grants in 2023, 44 grants in 2022, 36 grants in 2021, and 45 grants in 2020. Success rates for specific RFP cycles are not publicly disclosed, though the foundation notes that "foundation staff work directly with applicants to develop proposals," suggesting a collaborative approach that may improve success rates for invited or encouraged applicants.

For the RCIF Fall 2024 cycle, the foundation noted "overwhelming response," suggesting competitive processes, though specific application-to-award ratios are not published.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. Given the invitation-only model, organizations should maintain communication with foundation staff about ongoing work and potential fit for future opportunities rather than waiting for formal reapplication windows.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Osteopathic Principles

The foundation grounds all work in osteopathic medicine principles: "a whole-person approach to patient care, disease prevention and health promotion." Successful applications demonstrate understanding of how their work connects to holistic health, prevention, and the interrelationship between body structure and function.

Clear Outcome Measurement

Foundation staff emphasize establishing "outcome measures" collaboratively. Successful applicants articulate specific, measurable goals and demonstrate capacity for data collection and impact evaluation. The foundation evaluates success by examining "whether people and communities improve as a result" of funded initiatives.

Sustainability Planning

The foundation looks for "sustainability strategies beyond grant funding." Applications should demonstrate how programs will continue after foundation support ends, whether through earned revenue, diversified funding, organizational capacity building, or system-level change.

Collaborative Approach

The foundation values partnerships and "leverage resources for greater impact." They often convene agencies and providers for cross-sector learning. Applications demonstrating collaborative approaches or willingness to participate in learning communities are viewed favorably.

Geographic and Population Focus

For community health grants (behavioral health and healthy food access), strong preference for programs serving:

  • Central Ohio (Franklin County area)
  • Southeastern Ohio (Athens, Hocking, Vinton, Meigs counties, Nelsonville area)
  • Vulnerable populations, low-income communities, youth experiencing ACEs, underserved populations

Staff Engagement

The foundation takes a hands-on approach, with "foundation staff work directly with applicants to develop proposals." Organizations that engage early with staff to discuss fit and receive guidance before formal submission likely have higher success rates.

Strategic Priorities Alignment

Strong preference for applications that advance Vision 2035 goals:

  • Expanding osteopathic physician pipeline and diversity
  • Growing primary care practitioners in Ohio
  • Reducing health workforce shortages in underserved areas
  • Advancing medical research with clinical applications
  • Building youth resilience and preventing ACEs
  • Increasing access to behavioral health services
  • Addressing food insecurity through systemic change

Evidence-Based or Innovative Approaches

Past funded projects include "innovative and effective strategies" (317 Board partnership description). The foundation supports both proven interventions and promising innovations, particularly those addressing complex health and social issues.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited proposals: Monitor the foundation's website and sign up for email alerts for RFP announcements. Consider contacting staff to discuss potential fit before opportunities are announced.

  • Geographic focus matters: Unless you're an osteopathic medical school, your work must primarily serve central or southeastern Ohio. Be specific about which counties/communities you serve.

  • Think holistically: Frame your work through the lens of whole-person health, prevention, and interconnected systems. Connect clinical, social, economic, and environmental factors.

  • Prepare for collaboration: Staff work directly with applicants to develop proposals. Be ready for iterative development, clear outcome measurement, and potential participation in learning communities with other grantees.

  • Scale varies dramatically: The foundation makes both small community grants (a few thousand dollars through RCIF) and transformational gifts ($70 million+). Don't self-select out based on project size if the strategic fit is strong.

  • Long-term relationships: With $193 million to Ohio University over multiple awards and decade-long partnerships with organizations like Maryhaven and 317 Board, the foundation values sustained relationships. Initial grants may lead to expanded support over time.

  • Sustainability is critical: Demonstrate how your work will continue beyond foundation funding through organizational capacity, system change, or diversified support. One-time projects without lasting impact are less competitive.

References

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