Millstone Fund

Millstone Fund is a US private foundation based in Cincinnati, OH.

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

Millstone Fund supports nonprofit organisations with active 501(c)(3) status that directly benefit residents of Greater Cincinnati in health, education or the arts. Its health work centres on mental health and wellbeing, access to care, prevention and healthier communities and families. In education, it supports educational opportunities and interventions that reduce barriers and improve learning outcomes. Its arts work fosters engagement and learning and seeks better access for under-resourced and underrepresented communities. Its grants can build organisational capacity, support capital needs, provide general operating support or fund a designated project or programme. For programme grants, it prioritises expanding successful services, addressing important gaps and collaboration across organisations. It values innovative approaches, alignment with its priorities and work shaped by collaboration with people who have relevant lived experience.

Themes

• Health
• Education
• Arts

Geographic Focus

Greater Cincinnati.

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations with a mission to advance a specific religion or specific religious practices. This includes operational support for schools with a religious affiliation
• The creation or sustaining of endowment
• Organizations with a primary mission to support animal causes
• Organizations outside the United States
• Political campaigns
• Sponsorships
• Loans to individuals
• Reducing organizational debt

Organisations submit an LOI by 1 April or 1 October. The review committee decides whether to invite a full application; invitees receive next steps and submit by 15 June or 15 December.

Deadlines:

• Letters of inquiry are due by 1 April and 1 October.
• Full applications are due by 15 June and 15 December.

• Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 44% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
• Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 222 grants to organisations were $40,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

• The board considers how closely requests align with Millstone Fund strategies and priorities.
• The board considers the quality of the application and its promise to address a problem or advance work integral to the mission.
• The board weighs the full scope of need and grant-cycle commitments, including other requests and funds already committed to funder-initiated applications.
• The board considers the request amount relative to organisational and programme budgets, alongside additional funding resources.
• Applicants are encouraged to share written innovative ideas for feedback or discussion before submitting an LOI.
• It prefers organisations and projects that support psychological health and wellbeing in Greater Cincinnati.
• It values collaborative work led by experts and people with relevant lived experience.
• It gives preference to organisations that address gaps in educational outcomes.
• It prefers arts requests that improve access and opportunities for under-resourced communities and people with disabilities, especially across more than one focus area.