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Nord Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.7M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Nord Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,724,318 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $198 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: 2 months per cycle
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $110,000 (typical: $10,000 - $50,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Lorain County, OH; selectively in Boston MA, Columbia SC, Cuyahoga County OH, Denver CO, and Penn Yan NY
  • Number of Awards: 320 grants (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 747 Milan Avenue, Amherst, Ohio 44001
Phone: 440-984-3939
Website: https://www.nordff.org/
Grants Administrator: Sharon Bennett - sharonbennett@nordff.org

Application Portal: https://www.nordff.org/apply
Office Hours: Normal business hours Monday-Friday

Overview

The Nord Family Foundation is a successor to a charitable trust established in 1952 by entrepreneur and industrialist W.G. Nord, founder of Nordson Corporation. With total assets of $198 million and annual giving of approximately $9.7 million, the foundation has contributed more than $171 million to nonprofits since 1988. The foundation's mission is to "build community through support of projects that bring opportunity to the disadvantaged, strengthen the bond of families, and improve the quality of people's lives." Under the leadership of Executive Director Tina Kimbrough (appointed 2023), the foundation emphasizes equity-driven philanthropy and community engagement. The foundation is governed by 12 trustees—nine chosen from descendants of Walter and Virginia Nord, and three from the community at large. The Board of Trustees meets three times annually to approve grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Operating Support: The foundation provides unrestricted funding for organizational operations across all four focus areas. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $50,000, though larger grants up to $110,000 have been awarded.

Program-Related Activities: Project-specific funding for initiatives within the foundation's priority areas. This is the most common grant type and includes support for program expenses including capital items like furniture, computers, and equipment.

Capital Projects (Limited): Available under specific criteria:

  • Organization serves under-resourced populations
  • Foundation funding will leverage significantly greater giving from other community sources
  • Evidence of effective local campaign with extensive citizen participation and grassroots leadership
  • Capital grantmaking comprises approximately 10% of annual investments

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture: Theater and performing arts, visual arts, and music, with special emphasis on engaging children and youth who may otherwise have limited access and exposure to the arts.

Civic Affairs: Programs dedicated to strengthening communities and economic empowerment of individuals. This area also includes the foundation's capital grantmaking.

Education: Public, charter, and faith-based schools and programs throughout the service area.

Health & Social Services: Programs addressing human needs and aspirations for people of all ages.

Special Interest: Projects that incorporate root cause analysis are particularly valued. The foundation prioritizes addressing systemic causes of social issues and emphasizes thorough root cause analysis to improve sustainability and effectiveness.

What They Don't Fund

  • Debt reduction
  • Academic research projects
  • Event sponsorships
  • Individual grants
  • Fiscal agent arrangements
  • Endowments

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Marcia Ballinger, Virginia Barbato, Elizabeth Bausch, Brian Ignat, Alex Kosman, Thomas McClintock, Ethan Nord, and Cindy Nord. The board includes nine trustees chosen from foundation membership (descendants of Walter and Virginia Nord) and three additional trustees from the community at large.

Executive Leadership

Tina Kimbrough, Executive Director: Appointed in 2023, Kimbrough brings a strong commitment to strategic philanthropy, community engagement, and advancing equity. She stated upon appointment: "I am truly honored to be part of such a dynamic and innovative organization. The opportunity to contribute my skills and expertise to drive organizational growth is incredibly exciting." Her leadership philosophy emphasizes putting community first: "The only way we got through a pandemic is by always putting the community first. Meet with family members, meet with the staff, but go out into the community and find out the same—what do they want from the foundation?"

Staff

  • Sharon Bennett: Grants Administrator
  • Jabari Dorsey: Program Officer - Education
  • Linda M. Howell: Office Coordinator
  • Giovana Kallas: Program Officer - Health & Social Services

The foundation employs six full- and part-time staff members.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the foundation's grant portal at https://www.nordff.org/apply.

Step 1: Create an account in the online grant portal
Step 2: Complete the Eligibility Quiz to ensure your organization meets basic guidelines
Step 3: Upon passing the quiz, proceed to the full application
Step 4: Submit by 5:00 PM EST on the deadline date (if deadline falls on a weekend, submissions are due the following Monday at 5:00 PM)

The portal tracks application status and provides reminders of key submission deadlines.

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a three-cycle annual schedule:

  • April 1 deadline → June Board decision
  • August 1 deadline → October Board decision
  • December 1 deadline → February Board decision

The Board of Trustees meets three times per year, and all grants are approved or ratified during these meetings. Applicants can expect decisions approximately 2 months after submission.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publicly disclose a formal reapplication policy. Organizations should contact the Grants Administrator for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Root Cause Analysis

The foundation has explicitly stated that "projects that incorporate a root cause analysis are of special interest." Applications should demonstrate how your project addresses systemic causes rather than just symptoms of social issues. This approach improves sustainability and effectiveness while aligning resources strategically to maximize grant impact.

Geographic Alignment

The majority of grants are made to organizations in Lorain County or organizations with direct outreach to or impact in Lorain County. If you're located outside Lorain County, clearly demonstrate how your work directly benefits Lorain County residents or operates in one of the foundation's secondary geographic areas (Boston MA, Columbia SC, Cuyahoga County OH, Denver CO, Penn Yan NY) where trustees reside.

Serving Under-Resourced Populations

The foundation's mission emphasizes "bringing opportunity to the disadvantaged." Applications should clearly articulate how your project serves under-resourced populations and strengthens families. Executive Director Kimbrough's emphasis on equity-driven philanthropy suggests that demonstrating equitable access and outcomes will strengthen applications.

Community Engagement

Particularly for capital campaigns, the foundation looks for "extensive citizen participation and grassroots leadership." Even for program grants, demonstrating broad community support and engagement will strengthen your application.

Leverage and Sustainability

The foundation values projects where their funding will "leverage much greater giving from other community sources such as government, corporations, individuals and other foundations." Applications should detail other funding sources and demonstrate financial sustainability beyond the grant period.

Recent Funding Examples

Understanding who the foundation has recently funded provides insight into priorities:

  • Baldwin Wallace University: $32,000 for summer music program scholars from Lorain County
  • Blessing House: $80,000 for general running support to shelter crisis-stricken youngsters
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio: $50,000 for general running support to enrich Lorain County youngsters at five clubs

These examples show the foundation supports both established institutions and direct-service organizations serving vulnerable populations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize root cause analysis: Explicitly demonstrate how your project addresses systemic issues, not just symptoms. This is a stated priority of the foundation.

  • Lorain County focus is critical: Unless you're in a secondary geographic area where trustees reside, clearly show direct impact on Lorain County residents.

  • Build equity into your proposal: With Tina Kimbrough's leadership emphasizing equity-driven philanthropy, applications should demonstrate how your work advances equity and serves under-resourced populations.

  • Think beyond single-year impact: The foundation values sustainability and leverage. Show how their investment will catalyze additional resources and create lasting change.

  • Choose the right deadline: With three annual cycles, time your application strategically based on when you need funding and when your project timeline aligns with decision dates.

  • Contact staff with questions: Sharon Bennett, the Grants Administrator, is available at sharonbennett@nordff.org or 440-984-3939. Don't hesitate to reach out during the application process.

  • Capital grants have specific criteria: If seeking capital support, ensure you meet all three requirements: serving under-resourced populations, demonstrating leverage potential, and showing extensive citizen participation.

References

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