The Columbus Foundation
Columbus, Ohio · EIN 316044264 · Private foundation
The Columbus Foundation is a private foundation based in Columbus, Ohio. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $199.5M in grants paid and $2.24B in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 17,390 individual grants from this funder — $1.42B awarded across 2017–2024 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.
What The Columbus Foundation funds
The Columbus Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, community improvement, education, environment & conservation, health care.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Columbus Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Horizons ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY | Kansas City, MO | $55.2M | 2023 |
| Powerhouse Environmental Arts Founda ARTS AND HUMANITIES | Brooklyn, NY | $43.3M | 2018 |
| Kipp Columbus Foundation EDUCATION | Columbus, OH | $22.0M | 2022 |
| The Huntington Foundation ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY | Columbus, OH | $21.8M | 2024 |
| Huntington Foundation ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY | Columbus, OH | $21.8M | 2023 |
| Santa Barbara Foundation ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY | Santa Barbara, CA | $20.6M | 2022 |
| Huntington Foundation ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY | Columbus, OH | $17.9M | 2022 |
| Ohio State University Foundation EDUCATION | Columbus, OH | $14.1M | 2022 |
| The Ohio State University Foundation EDUCATION | Chicago, IL | $11.7M | 2024 |
| Kipp Columbus Foundation EDUCATION | Columbus, OH | $10.5M | 2023 |
| Ohio State University Foundation EDUCATION, CONSERVATION, HEALTH, & URBAN AFFAIRS | Columbus, OH | $10.4M | 2023 |
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation HEALTH | Columbus, OH | $9.7M | 2024 |
| Columbus Downtown Development Corporation & Capitol South NEIGHBORHOOD | Columbus, OH | $8.4M | 2024 |
| Powerhouse Environmental Arts Founda ARTS AND HUMANITIES | Brooklyn, NY | $8.0M | 2017 |
| Earlham College EDUCATION | Richmond, IN | $7.5M | 2017 |
The Columbus Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at columbusfoundation.org.
Is The Columbus Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what The Columbus Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The Columbus Foundation
- Does The Columbus Foundation accept grant applications?
- The Columbus Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The Columbus Foundation fund?
- The Columbus Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Greater Horizons, Powerhouse Environmental Arts Founda, Kipp Columbus Foundation. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The Columbus Foundation give in grants?
- The Columbus Foundation reported $199.5M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $1.42B over 17,390 grants.
- Where is The Columbus Foundation located?
- The Columbus Foundation is based in Columbus, Ohio. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 316044264.
- How can I find foundations similar to The Columbus Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Columbus Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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