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Joanie C Bernard Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.5M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.7M

Joanie C Bernard Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4.51 million (FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $81.1 million
  • Grant Range: $10,200 - $714,000
  • Average Grant: $183,375 (based on 16 grants in FY 2024)
  • Geographic Focus: Within 100 miles of Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Application Method: Rolling basis via Letter of Inquiry

Contact Details

Website: www.thejoaniebernardfoundation.org
Phone: (513) 534-5310
Address: PO Box 630858, Cincinnati, OH 45263
Inquiry Submission: https://www.thejoaniebernardfoundation.org/submit-an-inquiry/

Overview

The Joanie C Bernard Foundation was established in 2022 through a bequest from the Bernard family to memorialize Joanie Bernard's lifelong passion for cats. Joanie Bernard lived in Cincinnati her whole life, and her love in life was cats. The foundation operates with the mission of "Creating Cat-Caring Communities" and has approximately $81.1 million in assets as of September 2024. The foundation is dedicated to creating a better world for cats by advancing feline research, funding humane shelters and cat organizations, and developing life-saving initiatives including education programs on spay/neuter, fostering, adopting, and caring for both community and pet cats. In its most recent fiscal year (ending September 2024), the foundation distributed $4.51 million through 16 grants. The foundation's work has been transformative in the Cincinnati area, where shelter live-release rates for cats improved from just 37% to over 96% since the foundation began its work. The foundation operates the Give Them Ten™ Movement, which promotes spay/neuter programs and has expanded operations across multiple states.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides grants for:

  • Project Support: Funding for specific cat welfare initiatives (typical range: $10,200 - $250,000)
  • General Operating Support: Core operational funding for qualifying cat welfare organizations
  • Spay/Neuter Programs: Multi-year grants for trap-neuter-return (TNR) initiatives (typical range: $150,000 - $250,000)
  • Capital Projects: Support for facilities serving cats (historical grants up to $1.6 million for major projects)

Recent Grant Examples:

  • United Coalition for Animals: $714,000 (FY 2024)
  • Pet Friendly Services of Indiana: $200,000 (FY 2024)
  • Bluegrass Area Development District: $200,000 for cat spay/neuter across 13 central Kentucky counties
  • Kenton County Animal Shelter: $10,200 for 12-month spay/neuter program

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the online Letter of Inquiry system.

Priority Areas

What They Actively Fund:

  • Spay/neuter programs for community and pet cats
  • Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) initiatives
  • No-kill cat shelters and rescue organizations
  • Feline-specific rescue and adoption programs
  • Cat welfare education and awareness programs
  • Humane cat shelters and organizations
  • Life-saving initiatives for cats
  • Foster programs for cats
  • Community cat management programs

Geographic Requirements:

  • Organizations must operate within 100 miles of Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Funded areas include: Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and other surrounding states within the radius
  • Documented service areas include Northern Kentucky counties (Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton), Central Kentucky, Southeast Indiana, and Southwest Ohio

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the 100-mile radius from Cincinnati
  • Non-cat-related animal welfare programs
  • Organizations that do not maintain no-kill practices
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
  • Organizations with annual revenue under $200,000 AND total assets under $500,000
  • Organizations without a physical office location

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

Deborah Cribbs - Chair of the Board of Trustees
Deborah Cribbs, a banker by trade and investment executive at Fifth Third Private Bank, was hand-picked to distribute the Bernard family bequest. As chair of the board of trustees for the Joanie Bernard Foundation and the Ten movement, she works to achieve a no-kill community for cats in the greater Cincinnati area. Cribbs is also the founder and director of the Give Them Ten Movement.

Paula Wharton - Co-Trustee
Compensation: $35,000 annually (FY 2024)

Institutional Trustee:
Fifth Third Bank NA serves as trustee, receiving $685,680 in compensation (FY 2024)

Staff:
The foundation operates with 1 employee and works closely with shelter partners and community organizations.

Quote from Leadership:
The foundation's work is guided by the belief that "Together, we can give them one more" life beyond the proverbial nine cats are said to have, emphasizing spay and neuter as "the simplest, most humane method for addressing feline overpopulation."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Joanie C Bernard Foundation accepts applications through a Letter of Inquiry system available on their website.

Eligibility Requirements (ALL must be met):

  • Demonstrate genuine commitment to serving cat welfare
  • Hold active 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
  • Provide current IRS Form 990
  • Maintain annual revenue exceeding $200,000 OR total assets of $500,000+
  • Operate within 100 miles of Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Maintain a physical office location and consent to on-site visits by Foundation staff

Application Components:

  1. Organization Details: Name, website, address, leadership contacts, EIN, county location
  2. Mission Statement: Brief organizational description and annual operating budget
  3. Funding Request: Project title, total budget, requested amount, fund allocation, timeline
  4. Program Description: 150-word project summary, beneficiary identification, measurable outcomes, other funding sources/partnerships
  5. Additional Context: Supplementary information about community needs addressed

Submission: Complete the online inquiry form at https://www.thejoaniebernardfoundation.org/submit-an-inquiry/

Decision Timeline

The foundation reviews applications on a rolling basis. Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should expect that the foundation may conduct on-site visits as part of the evaluation process, as this is a stated requirement for eligibility.

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 16 grants in FY 2024 from total charitable distributions of $4.51 million. Success rate data and total number of applications received are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation has demonstrated support for multi-year funding relationships. For example, the Northern Kentucky Area Development District and Team Shelter USA received five consecutive annual grants of $150,000 for cat spay/neuter programs as of 2020. This suggests that successful grantees can reapply and receive ongoing support for effective programs. Specific policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated mission, geographic focus, and grant history, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Exclusive or Primary Focus on Cats
The foundation's mission is specifically focused on feline welfare. Organizations must demonstrate commitment to "providing a better, more loving world for cats." Multi-species organizations should emphasize cat-specific programming.

2. No-Kill Philosophy
Joanie Bernard stipulated that funds must go to "no-kill" organizations. Applicants should clearly articulate their commitment to life-saving practices and demonstrate high live-release rates or explain how grant funding will improve outcomes.

3. Spay/Neuter Emphasis
The foundation views spay/neuter as "the simplest, most humane method for addressing feline overpopulation." Applications for TNR programs, low-cost spay/neuter services, and community cat management are strongly aligned with the foundation's priorities.

4. Geographic Proximity
Organizations must operate within the strict 100-mile radius from Cincinnati. Applications should clearly identify service counties and demonstrate community impact within this geographic area.

5. Measurable Outcomes
The foundation's work in Cincinnati resulted in shelter live-release rates improving from 37% to over 96%. Applications should include specific, quantifiable goals such as number of cats served, spay/neuter targets, adoption numbers, or community cat population metrics.

6. Financial Stability
The minimum revenue ($200,000) or asset ($500,000) requirements suggest the foundation prefers to fund established organizations with proven track records rather than start-ups.

7. Multi-Year Impact Potential
Grant examples show the foundation supports both one-time projects and ongoing programs. Describe how the proposed project fits into long-term organizational goals and community impact.

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Regional cat spay/neuter programs serving multiple counties
  • Animal shelter spay/neuter capacity building (e.g., $850/month for 12 months)
  • Large-scale TNR initiatives (e.g., fixing 4,000+ cats in Southeast Indiana)
  • Cat-specific facility development and capital improvements

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Cat-exclusive focus is critical - This foundation funds only cat-related programs; ensure your proposal centers entirely on feline welfare
  • No-kill commitment required - Organizations must demonstrate life-saving practices aligned with Joanie Bernard's stipulation for no-kill organizations
  • Spay/neuter programs are the sweet spot - The foundation's Give Them Ten Movement prioritizes population control through sterilization; TNR and low-cost spay/neuter programs are strongly aligned
  • Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable - Verify you operate within 100 miles of Cincinnati before applying; this boundary is strictly enforced
  • Financial thresholds matter - Meet the $200,000 revenue OR $500,000 asset requirement; be prepared for on-site verification visits
  • Measurable impact wins funding - Use specific metrics (number of cats served, sterilizations performed, lives saved) rather than general statements about helping cats
  • Multi-year relationships are possible - The foundation has funded some organizations for five+ consecutive years, suggesting strong performers can build ongoing partnerships

References

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