Timken Foundation of Canton

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $15,426,400
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (rolling basis)
Grant Range: $25,000 - $1,500,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily Ohio (especially Canton area), South Carolina, and North Carolina - communities where Timken Company operates
Assets: $154 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 200 Market Avenue N, Suite 210, Canton, OH 44702

Phone: (330) 452-1144

Contact: Mark A. Scheffler, Executive Director

Website: https://www.timkenfoundation.org (Note: Website may have limited accessibility)

Overview

Established in 1934 by Henry H. Timken, Sr. and his sisters, the Timken Foundation of Canton is a private family foundation created to give back to communities that supported the Timken Roller Bearing Company's growth. With assets of $154 million, the foundation awarded $15.4 million through 99 grants in 2024, with a median grant of $55,000. The foundation's mission is to promote broad civic betterment through capital fund grants, supporting colleges, schools, hospitals, cultural centers, social services, recreation facilities, and other charitable institutions. Under the leadership of Executive Director Mark Scheffler (appointed 2018), the foundation maintains a deliberately flexible approach without a rigid grantmaking strategy, enabling it to consider a broader range of grantees. The foundation prioritizes communities where the Timken Company operates, with particular emphasis on Canton, Ohio, while also supporting projects throughout the United States and internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific names or fixed grant amounts. Instead, it reviews proposals on a rolling basis and awards capital grants based on organizational need and community impact. Grant amounts typically range from $25,000 to $1,500,000, with recent examples including:

Major Capital Projects: $1,500,000 - $2,000,000 (e.g., Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Canton Palace Theater Association, Stark State College)
Mid-Size Capital Grants: $100,000 - $500,000 (education facilities, health infrastructure)
Smaller Capital Support: $25,000 - $100,000 (community organizations, human services)

Application Method: Rolling basis with no submission deadlines. Organizations submit letters of inquiry throughout the year.

Priority Areas

Education: The foundation uses its funds to broadly support education from early childhood through higher education. Recent examples include $1.5 million to Stark State College for engineering and information technology infrastructure upgrades and classroom technology, and support for Walsh University in Canton.

Health & Hospitals: Large grants to medical institutions like the Cleveland Clinic Foundation ($1.5 million for AMD Research Initiative) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ($2.0 million for the Allison Institute advancement).

Arts & Culture: Capital support for cultural institutions, exemplified by the $1.5 million grant to Canton Palace Theater Association for their 100th Anniversary Capital Project.

Civic & Community Development: Economic development work that improves opportunity and skills training, especially in Canton, Ohio. Recent examples include support for CommQuest Services Inc. ($2.0 million) and the Putnam Foundation ($1.6 million for museum expansion).

Human Services & Recreation: Support for social services organizations and recreational facilities, including grants to organizations like Exceptional Care for Children and the Timken Sports Complex in Union County, South Carolina.

Geographic Priority: Grants are made to capital projects in Timken Company plant communities, with primary focus on:

Ohio (especially Canton and Stark County area)
South Carolina (Timken employs over 1,900 people across nine facilities in the Carolinas)
North Carolina (Lincoln County and other communities with Timken presence)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation exclusively funds organizations under IRC Section 501(c)(3) or foreign charitable organizations. Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, but the foundation's focus on capital grants suggests:

Operating expenses and general operating support (focus is on capital projects)
Individual scholarships or grants to individuals
Organizations not established for at least three years
Non-charitable purposes outside of IRC Section 501(c)(3) parameters

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Mark A. Scheffler (appointed 2018). Scheffler previously served as president of Leadership Akron for more than 12 years before joining the foundation to succeed Jim Gresh, who retired. Under Scheffler's leadership, the foundation maintains its commitment to Henry Timken's vision of giving back to communities from which the family's wealth was generated.

Board Structure: The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees that holds quarterly meetings to review grant proposals. The board includes members of the Timken family, maintaining the foundation's legacy as a family foundation. Specific current trustee names are not publicly disclosed in detail, though Robert R. Timken is listed as a key contact.

Foundation Philosophy: The foundation operates with a small staff and lacks a formal structure with rigid funding priorities. This flexible approach allows the foundation to consider a broader range of grantees and respond to community needs across its geographic areas of focus.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Timken Foundation of Canton accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry on a rolling basis with no submission deadlines. The application process is informal and flexible:

Submission Requirements:

No specific application form is required
Submit a letter of inquiry describing the proposed capital project
Must include verification of the applicant's status under IRC Section 501(c)(3)
Organizations should be established for at least three years

Contact for Submissions: Submit letters of inquiry to:

Timken Foundation of Canton
200 Market Avenue N, Suite 210
Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (330) 452-1144

Review Process: The Board of Trustees meets quarterly to review grant proposals. While the foundation accepts submissions year-round, decisions are made during these quarterly board meetings.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the quarterly board meeting structure, applicants should expect:

Initial review period following submission
Presentation to the Board of Trustees at their next quarterly meeting
Notification following board deliberation

The total timeline from submission to decision likely ranges from several weeks to several months, depending on submission timing relative to board meetings.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. In 2024, the foundation awarded 99 grants totaling $15.4 million, but the total number of applications received is not published. The foundation's flexible approach and lack of formal deadlines suggest they review each proposal individually based on merit and alignment with their broad charitable purposes.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Organizations are encouraged to contact the foundation directly to discuss future opportunities if an initial proposal is not funded.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented approach and recent grant awards, the following factors appear important for successful applications:

Geographic Connection: Strong preference for organizations in communities where the Timken Company operates. The foundation prioritizes Timken Company plant communities primarily in Ohio, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Recent grants demonstrate significant investment in Canton and Stark County, where the foundation's roots lie.

Capital Project Focus: The foundation explicitly supports capital projects rather than operating expenses. Successful recent grants include facility construction and renovation (Stark State College's $1.5 million for technology infrastructure), major capital campaigns (Canton Palace Theater's $1.5 million for 100th Anniversary Capital Project), and equipment purchases.

Established Organizations: Preference for organizations established for at least three years, demonstrating stability and community impact. The foundation's major grants go to well-established institutions like the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Walsh University, and Stark State College.

Community Impact: Projects that contribute to broad civic betterment align with Henry Timken's founding vision. The foundation seeks grants that improve opportunity, skills training, and economic development, especially in Canton. Recent examples include CommQuest Services Inc. ($2.0 million for creating an environment that enables client-care and financial sustainability).

Alignment with Priority Areas: While the foundation lacks rigid priorities, successful grants cluster around education (early childhood through higher education), health and hospitals, arts and culture, civic and community development, and human services and recreation.

Institutional Quality: Large grants to prestigious institutions (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for $2.0 million, Cleveland Clinic Foundation for $1.5 million) suggest the foundation values institutional quality and the potential for significant impact.

Long-term Relationships: The foundation's multi-decade support for institutions like Stark State College (Timken Center opened in 2004 with foundation support, additional $1.5 million in 2024) indicates value placed on sustained partnerships with effective organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Emphasize capital needs: Focus proposals on infrastructure, facilities, equipment, or other capital expenses rather than operating support. Be specific about how capital improvements will enable program delivery or community impact.
Demonstrate geographic relevance: Clearly articulate your organization's connection to Canton, Stark County, or other Timken Company communities in Ohio, South Carolina, or North Carolina. Organizations outside these areas face higher barriers.
No deadline pressure: With rolling submissions and no fixed deadlines, take time to craft a compelling letter of inquiry. However, be aware that quarterly board meetings may create natural decision cycles.
Think big but be realistic: Recent grants range dramatically from $25,000 to $2,000,000. Major capital projects from established institutions have received seven-figure support, while smaller community organizations have received five-figure grants.
Highlight community betterment: Connect your capital project to broad civic improvement, economic opportunity, skills development, or other community-wide benefits aligned with the Timken legacy of giving back.
Establish credibility early: As a three-year establishment requirement exists, newer organizations should focus on building track record before applying. Emphasize organizational stability, governance, and community impact.
Keep it simple: No complex application forms or extensive documentation required initially. A well-crafted letter of inquiry with 501(c)(3) verification is the starting point. Focus on clarity and compelling need.

References

All sources accessed December 24, 2025.