The Joanie Bernard Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation funds feline welfare, and its eligibility needs a sincere interest in that area, a physical location within 100 miles of Cincinnati, Ohio, and agreement to an on-site visit.
- Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organisations with annual revenue above $200,000 or total assets of at least $500,000, and must submit a current IRS Form 990, so smaller groups that meet neither threshold should not apply.
- A request in the typical band of $25,000 to $350,000 is realistic, since about 8 in 10 of its 34 grants to organisations fall in that band and the median grant is $100,000; its largest grant was about $715,000, so the band is not a ceiling, and half its grants were $100,000 or less.
- Applications are rolling, so you can send an online letter of inquiry whenever your timing suits, but repeat grantees received 93% of grant dollars to organisations in the filing, so a first approach should make a clear, specific case for funding.
Overview
The Joanie Bernard Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Fifth Third Bank NA, in Cincinnati, OH.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports groups, organisations and projects committed to creating a better world for cats. It describes its work as advancing feline research, funding humane shelters and cat organisations, and developing life-saving initiatives. These include education on spay/neuter, fostering, adopting, and caring for community and pet cats. Organisations seeking consideration must have a sincere interest in feline welfare and be 501(c)(3) organisations. They must meet its stated revenue or asset threshold, be within 100 miles of Cincinnati, have a physical location and agree to an on-site visit. The foundation invites eligible groups to submit an online letter of inquiry.
Themes
- Feline research
- Humane shelters
- Cat organisations
- Spay/neuter education
- Fostering and adoption
- Cat care
Geographic Focus
Cincinnati.
How to apply
Organisations, groups and projects meeting at least the minimum criteria may request funding consideration by submitting an online letter of inquiry.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 93% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 34 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants must have a sincere interest in serving feline welfare.
- Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organisation.
- Applicants must submit a current IRS Form 990.
- Applicants must have annual revenue above $200,000 or total assets of at least $500,000.
- Applicants must be located within 100 miles of Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Applicants must have a physical location and agree to an on-site visit.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 24% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations The Joanie Bernard Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 18 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- United Coalition for Animals · Project/program support$714,0002023 tax year
- Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay Neuter Clinic · General operating support$500,0002023 tax year
- Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals · Project/program support$300,0002023 tax year
- Bluegrass Area Development District · Project/program support$200,0002023 tax year
- Cincinnati Animal Care · General operating support$200,0002023 tax year
- Spay-Neuter Services · Project/program funds$200,0002023 tax year
- Humane Society of Greater Dayton · Project/program funds$200,0002023 tax year
- Northern Kentucky Area Developement · Project/program funds$150,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Deborah Cribbs — Cotrustee
- Paula Wharton — Cotrustee
- Heidi Jark — Cotrustee
- Mike Kennedy — Cotrustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,682,681 | $2,507,500 | $88,641,933 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,265,331 | $2,934,000 | $103,821,288 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Joanie Bernard Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cincinnati, OH (office of its trustee, Fifth Third Bank NA)
- thejoaniebernardfoundation.org
Applying to The Joanie Bernard Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cincinnati, OH (office of its trustee, Fifth Third Bank NA)
- thejoaniebernardfoundation.org