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· Community foundation

Hamilton Community Foundation

The foundation receives contributions from donors in the community and then through the above gifts and grants enriches the community through strategic grant making in the fields of the arts, education, housing, social services, civic beautification, community development and recreation.

$9.7M
Granted FY2024still arriving
142
Grants FY2024still arriving
14
States reached
$2.4M
Largest
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$9.3MArts & Culture$5.8MHuman Services$5.7MRecreation & Sports$3.7MReligion$2.8MHealth$2.3MYouth Development$1.6MAnimals$1.3MOther$0
02FY2024 · 142 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 142 grants below total $7,751,611, the rows itemized in this filing. The $9,652,922 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $1,901,311 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k40 grants · $286k
  • $10k–50k74 grants · $1.7M
  • $50k–250k23 grants · $2.1M
  • $250k+5 grants · $3.7M
$16,000
Median grant
14
States reached
$167M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
STEPHEN T BADIN HIGH SCHOOL$2,384,690
GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA$498,639
FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS$323,974
ANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION$273,025
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAMILTON$256,789
CITY OF HAMILTON$203,640
POWER LIFT - CONNOR ATHLETIC$165,876
HAMILTON PARKS CONSERVANCY$164,890
BUTLER TECHNOLOGY AND CAREER$150,216
HAMILTON CITY SCHOOLS$120,752
HAMILTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP$113,797
PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK$109,146
BUTLER COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE$102,000
YWCA HAMILTON$99,798
INSPIRATION STUDIOS INC$90,058
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $1.6M) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 96% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%ST VINCENT DEPAUL ST MARK THE EVANGELIST CHURCH: $10k → 13%HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION: $10k → 17%WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER OF: $7k → 9%HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION: $11k → 17%CIRCLE TAIL INC: $58k → 6%ABILITIES FIRST FOUNDATION: $15k → 12%HOPE HOUSE MISSION: $6k → 12%RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE: $7k → 16%RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE: $6k → 16%HOPEFULL PASTURES THERAPEUTIC FARM: $65k → 12%AMERICAN RED CROSS - GREATER CINCINNATI-DAYTON REGION: $31k → 16%AMERICAN RED CROSS GREATER: $26k → 16%AMERICAN RED CROSS - GREATER CINCINNATI-DAYTON REGION: $6k → 16%AMERICAN RED CROSS - GREATER CINCINNATI-DAYTON REGION: $6k → 16%COMMUNITY MEAL CENTER: $24k → 12%HOPE'S CLOSET: $20k → 16%THE CARING CLOSET: $12k → 12%THE CARING CLOSET: $7k → 12%THE CARING CLOSET: $6k → 12%SC WELLS CONCRETE: $20k → 12%OXFORD SENIOR CITIZENS INC: $6k → 12%LIFESPAN INC: $201k → 12%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA: $171k → 12%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA: $162k → 12%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA: $144k → 12%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA: $91k → 12%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA: $74k → 12%PAUSE FOR PARENTS PLAY FOR KIDS INC: $50k → 12%CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOUTHWESTERN OHI: $40k → 12%PAUSE FOR PARENTS PLAY FOR: $36k → 12%SERVE CITY: $36k → 12%SELF (SUPPORTS TO ENCOURAGE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES): $31k → 12%SERVE CITYCHOSEN: $29k → 12%SERVE CITYCHOSEN: $20k → 12%SELF (SUPPORTS TO ENCOURAGE: $16k → 12%SERVE CITYCHOSEN: $16k → 12%SERVE CITY: $14k → 12%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA - CAMP CAMPBELL GARD: $12k → 12%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA - CAMP CAMPBELL GARD: $11k → 12%LIFESPAN INC: $11k → 12%LIFESPAN INC: $11k → 12%LIFESPAN INC: $11k → 12%CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOUTHWESTERN OHIO-HAMILTON SERVICE CENTER: $11k → 12%CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOUTHWESTERN OHIO-HAMILTON SERVICE CENTER: $10k → 12%CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOUTHWESTERN OHIO: $10k → 12%GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA - CAMP CAMPBELL GARD: $10k → 12%ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: $8k → 12%SELF (SUPPORTS TO ENCOURAGE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES): $7k → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

MT
MN
IL
MI
NY
NV
IA
IN
OH
NJ
RI
CA
CO
NE
MO
KY
VA
TN
NC
SC
DC
LA
AL
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$34M · 149 repeat orgs$3.4M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +39% since the first grant, against +16% for those funded once.

149 repeat relationships: 95 still active in FY2024, 54 since wound down; 45 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

149
100

Total granted

$34M
$2.6M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+16%

Still filing today

56%
36%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $849k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesHealthEducationArts & CultureReligionHousing & ShelterOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TH
    THE HAMILTON PARKS CONSERVANCY
    8× · 2017–2024 · $3.0M · revenue +107% · 69% of their budget
  • FC
    FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS
    8× · 2017–2024 · $2.7M · revenue +4% · 49% of their budget
  • GM
    GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA
    8× · 2017–2024 · $1.7M · revenue +68%

Funded once

  • PL
    PENCHURA LLC
    one grant, 2023 · $333k
  • BC
    BUTLER COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
    one grant, 2017 · $250k
  • PC
    PRUS CONSTRUCTION LLC
    one grant, 2023 · $147k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Healthcare Connection Inc

To provide quality, culturally sensitive and accessible primary health care services focusing on the medically underserved, underinsured, and uninsured residing in northern hamilton county and surrounding areas.

—
2
Hospice & Palliative Care of the Ohio Valley Inc

Helping individuals live with dignity through the final stage of life.

Human Services
3
Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce

Advancing a thriving central ohio commmunity by serving as a catalyst for all businesses to grow and flourish. our mission pillars are connections, government relations, strategic business solutions and talent/workforce.

—
4
The Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati in

The home ownership center is a non-profit that has been serving the cincinnati metro area since 1973, and is a member of the neighbor works network.

Housing & Shelter
5
Philanthropy Ohio

To lead and equip ohio philanthropy to be effective partners for change in our communities.

Philanthropy
6
Ohio United Way

To strengthen the capacity of United Ways across Ohio and to advance the common good for Ohioans.

Philanthropy
7
Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area

A social service agency, JFS strengthens lives and our diverse community by providing exceptional and transformational human services. Services include: Counseling, Case Management, Financial and Food Support, Home Care, Senior Services,…

Human Services
8
Ohio Hills Health Services

Ohio hills health services is a non-profit health care operation, organized by communities in eastern ohio to promote healthy lifestyles and to provide preventative and comprehensive medical and dental care for area residents. the primary…

—
9
Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency

Through advocacy, partnerships, and high-quality programs, our dedicated team is breaking down barriers to equity and opportunity, while building self-sufficiency across generations.

Human Services
10
Handson Central Ohio Inc

To align community resources and generate insights that strengthen central ohio.

—
11
Ohio Chamber of Commerce

As the state's leading business advocate and resource, the ohio chamber of commerce aggressively champions free enterprise, economic competitiveness and growth for the benefit of all ohioans.

—
12
Cincinnati Usa Regional Chamber

To grow the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the cincinnati region.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Lifespan Inc; the most unlike its peers is Jee Foods. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

154 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 154 of the 301 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

21
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
38
Early backer (in before they grew)
149/154
Grantees still filing
105/154
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BADIN HIGH SCHOOL: $6,246,148 · OtherBADIN HIGH SCHOOLYOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF HAMILTON OHIO INC: $1,284,485 · OtherYOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF HAMILTON OHIO INCBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAMILTON OHIO: $1,132,198 · Other+149 more: $15,009,507 · Other+149 moreFITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS: $2,678,715 · Arts & CultureFITTON CENTE…PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK &MUSEUM: $541,170 · Arts & CulturePYRAMID HILL…BUTLER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY co GBR GROUP: $313,621 · Arts & CultureBUTLER COUNT…OPERATION PUMPKINS INC: $250,000 · Arts & CultureOPERATION PU…HAMILTON OHIO CITY OF SCULPTURE: $161,567 · Arts & Culture+3 more: $320,863 · Arts & Culture+3 moreTHE HAMILTON PARKS CONSERVANCY: $3,001,631 · EnvironmentTHE HAMIL…GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA: $1,679,384 · Human ServicesLIFESPAN INC: $233,141 · Human ServicesSERVE CITY: $134,609 · Human Services+12 more: $616,766 · Human ServicesFORT HAMILTON HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $992,540 · HealthBaptist Health South Florida Foundation Inc: $100,000 · HealthMAYO CLINIC: $77,500 · HealthCOMMUNITY FIRST SOLUTIONS: $69,875 · HealthCancer Family Care Inc: $60,000 · HealthFERNSIDE INC A CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN: $57,700 · Health+8 more: $257,401 · HealthANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION: $970,565 · AnimalsANIMAL FRIENDS HUMANE SOCIETY: $96,531 · AnimalsUNITED PET FUND: $75,484 · AnimalsORCAT INC: $50,000 · AnimalsAMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION: $569,042 · PhilanthropyOCEAN REEF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $181,200 · Philanthropy1N5: $65,500 · PhilanthropyFIRST FINANCIAL FOUNDATION: $56,671 · PhilanthropyTHE GREATER CINCINNATI FOUNDATION: $50,000 · Philanthropy+1 more: $16,000 · Philanthropy
Other$23,672,338Arts & Culture$4,265,936Environment$3,001,631Human Services$2,663,900Health$1,615,016Animals$1,192,580Philanthropy$938,413

Showing the 200 largest grantees by grant value.

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE HAMILTON PARKS CONSERVANCY: $3,001,631 over 8y, 69% of budgetFITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS: $2,678,715 over 8y, 49% of budgetGREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA: $1,679,384 over 8y, 3.5% of budgetYOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF HAMILTON OHIO INC: $1,284,485 over 8y, 23% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAMILTON OHIO: $1,132,198 over 8y, 31% of budgetFORT HAMILTON HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $992,540 over 8y, 26% of budgetANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION: $970,565 over 7y, 49% of budgetAMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION: $569,042 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK &MUSEUM: $541,170 over 8y, 7.2% of budgetHAMILTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: $389,495 over 5y, 87% of budgetINSPIRATION STUDIOS: $385,691 over 4y, 20% of budgetHamilton Symphony Orchestra Assoc: $316,144 over 8y, 57% of budgetBUTLER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY co GBR GROUP: $313,621 over 8y, 43% of budgetOPERATION PUMPKINS INC: $250,000 over 6y, 16% of budgetEMERGENCY MONEY FUND INC: $245,926 over 6y, 96% of budgetLIFESPAN INC: $233,141 over 4y, 5.1% of budgetSAFE HAVEN FARMS INC: $226,950 over 4y, 12% of budgetMiami University Foundation: $215,950 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetOCEAN REEF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $181,200 over 6y, 0.5% of budgetWOMEN HELPING WOMEN: $168,000 over 6y, 1.6% of budgetSweeten Life Systems: $166,000 over 5y, 17% of budgetBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BUTLER COUNTY INC: $163,412 over 7y, 4.0% of budgetHAMILTON OHIO CITY OF SCULPTURE: $161,567 over 5y, 98% of budgetBLOC MINISTRIES INC: $160,000 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetPEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY INC: $160,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetHAMILTON LIVING WATER MINISTRY INC: $150,981 over 7y, 24% of budgetHAMILTON VISION COMMISSION: $136,250 over 3y, 61% of budgetSERVE CITY: $134,609 over 5y, 3.9% of budgetOCEAN REEF CULTURAL CENTER INC: $130,000 over 3y, 2.3% of budgetWALLOON LAKE ASSOCIATION AND CONSERVANCY: $119,500 over 5y, 2.4% of budgetINTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE CENTER INC: $109,000 over 6y, 1.4% of budgetFAMILY PROMISE OF BUTLER COUNTY INC: $101,000 over 5y, 17% of budgetWEST SIDE LITTLE LEAGUE OF HAMILTON: $100,565 over 3y, 31% of budgetBaptist Health South Florida Foundation Inc: $100,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetANIMAL FRIENDS HUMANE SOCIETY: $96,531 over 4y, 3.1% of budgetCHIPS WORKFORCE ALLIANCE: $91,384 over 4y, 35% of budgetOCEAN REEF MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC: $90,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetCAPITAL UNIVERSITY: $89,044 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetPARTNERS IN PRIME: $87,327 over 1y, 3.5% of budgetPause for Parents Play for Kids Inc: $86,000 over 2y, 5.0% of budgetUniversity of Notre Dame du Lac: $84,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSUPPORTS TO ENCOURAGE LOW-INCOME FA: $83,326 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetCincinnati Opera Association Inc: $81,863 over 7y, 0.3% of budgetMAYO CLINIC: $77,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED PET FUND: $75,484 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetOPEN DOOR FOOD PANTRY INC: $74,664 over 7y, 3.3% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $74,350 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBUTLER COUNTY UNITED WAY: $72,533 over 5y, 1.4% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds THE HAMILTON PARKS CONSERVANCY ↗
  • Who funds FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS ↗
  • Who funds GREAT MIAMI VALLEY YMCA ↗
  • Who funds YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF HAMILTON OHIO INC ↗
  • Who funds BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAMILTON OHIO ↗
  • Who funds FORT HAMILTON HOSPITAL FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds ANIMAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK &MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds HAMILTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds INSPIRATION STUDIOS ↗
  • Who funds Hamilton Symphony Orchestra Assoc ↗
  • Who funds BUTLER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY co GBR GROUP ↗
  • Who funds OPERATION PUMPKINS INC ↗
  • Who funds EMERGENCY MONEY FUND INC ↗
  • Who funds LIFESPAN INC ↗
  • Who funds SAFE HAVEN FARMS INC ↗
  • Who funds Miami University Foundation ↗
  • Who funds OCEAN REEF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds WOMEN HELPING WOMEN ↗
  • Who funds Sweeten Life Systems ↗
  • Who funds BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BUTLER COUNTY INC ↗
  • Who funds HAMILTON OHIO CITY OF SCULPTURE ↗
  • Who funds BLOC MINISTRIES INC ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Northern Cincinnai FoundationOH55.9× affinity26 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Northern Cincinnai Foundation · The Greater Cincinnati Foundation · Hatton Foundation · Butler County United Way · Johnson Charitable Gift Fund · Elsa M Heisel Sule Charitable Trust 2005 · United Way of Greater Cincinnati · The Thomas J Emery Memorial · Charles H Dater Foundation Inc · John a Schroth Family Char Tr · Millstone Fund · Andrew Jergens Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Hamilton Community Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Hamilton Community Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 60%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    6get no government money at all
    26report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 301 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

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