Carl M Jacobs Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $780,000
• Success Rate: N/A (No public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (Trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $35,000 - $285,000
• Geographic Focus: Cincinnati, OH and New York City

Contact Details

• Phone: 513-534-5310
• Address: PO Box 630858, Cincinnati, OH 45263-0858
• Trustee: Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (Foundation Office)
• Email: foundationoffice@53.com (Fifth Third Bank Foundation Office)

Overview

The Carl M Jacobs Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2016 with assets of $14.8 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $780,000. Named for Cincinnati native and pioneering photography collector Carl M. Jacobs III (1915-2008), the foundation continues his philanthropic legacy supporting arts and cultural institutions with a particular emphasis on photography programs and museum collections. Managed by Fifth Third Bank as trustee, the foundation makes strategic grants to established cultural institutions primarily in Cincinnati and New York City, including major support for the Cincinnati Art Museum's photography collection and the Museum of Modern Art's Department of Photography.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs but makes strategic institutional support grants typically ranging from $35,000 to $285,000. Recent documented grants include:

• Cincinnati Art Museum: $285,000 (photography acquisitions and Jacobs Research Center)
• Museum of Modern Art: $70,000 (Carl Jacobs Foundation Museum Fellow position)
• New York Public Library: $35,000 (leadership support)
• Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: $50,000+ (Platinum Baton Circle level)

Priority Areas

• Photography collections and acquisitions
• Museum research centers and facilities
• Arts education and emerging professional fellowships
• Major cultural institutions
• Performing arts (symphony and ballet)

What They Don't Fund

Based on grant patterns, the foundation does not support:

• Organizations outside Cincinnati and New York City
• Small or grassroots organizations
• Non-arts related causes
• Direct services or social services
• Individual artists

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by Fifth Third Bank, N.A. as trustee through their Foundation Office, which administers more than 300 private and corporate foundations. The foundation was established to continue the philanthropic interests of Carl M. Jacobs III, who was known for his pioneering collection of contemporary photography including works by William Eggleston, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Nan Goldin, as well as fine prints and drawings by masters like Picasso and Matisse.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the discretion of Fifth Third Bank as trustee, typically to institutions with established relationships to the foundation or alignment with Carl M. Jacobs III's collecting interests. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or maintain application guidelines.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on documented grant patterns, the foundation identifies beneficiaries through:

• Existing relationships with institutions that received bequests from Carl M. Jacobs III's estate
• The trustee's knowledge of major cultural institutions in Cincinnati and New York
• Connections through Fifth Third Bank's Foundation Office network
• Organizations can contact the Foundation Office at foundationoffice@53.com for general inquiries, though unsolicited requests are not accepted

Decision Timeline

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

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates through trustee-directed giving rather than an application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

• Major, nationally recognized cultural institutions with strong reputations
• Exceptional photography programs or collections that would have appealed to Carl M. Jacobs III
• Located in Cincinnati (local commitment) or New York City (cultural significance)
• Capacity to create named programs or facilities that honor the foundation's legacy
• Track record of stewarding major gifts and creating lasting impact
• Some grantees like the Cincinnati Art Museum received direct bequests from Jacobs' estate, establishing the foundation relationship

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a grant maker but does not accept applications - relationship building is essential
• Focus exclusively on photography and major cultural institutions aligns with founder's passion
• Geographic restrictions to Cincinnati and New York City are strictly observed
• Grants are substantial ($35,000-$285,000) and strategic rather than responsive
• The foundation creates named programs and endowments reflecting long-term commitments
• Organizations outside the arts or without photography focus should not pursue this funder
• Contact through Fifth Third Bank Foundation Office may be possible but unsolicited requests are not accepted

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Carl M Jacobs Foundation Form 990-PF filings (2019-2024). Accessed February 6, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/813376722
• Cause IQ - Carl M Jacobs Foundation grant recipient data. Accessed February 6, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/carl-m-jacobs-foundation,813376722/
• Cincinnati Art Museum - "Not Just Pretty Pictures: The Carl M. Jacobs III Collection" exhibition (2011) and Jacobs Research Center announcements. https://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/
• Museum of Modern Art Annual Reports (2019-20, 2022-23) - Carl Jacobs Foundation Museum Fellow position and donor recognition. https://www.moma.org/
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Foundations and Trusts donor list (2023-24). https://www.metmuseum.org/
• New York Public Library - Leadership Donors recognition. https://www.nypl.org/
• Fifth Third Bank Foundation Office - Foundation administration services. https://www.53.com/foundationoffice