Building Healthy Lives Foundation
Building Healthy Lives Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its stated charitable activity focuses on children’s and families’ education, fitness, critical thinking, health, well-being, and personal safety, as well as public education about personal well-being.
Building Healthy Lives Foundation at a glance
In short: Building Healthy Lives Foundation gave $295K across 55 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Ohio. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $294,975
- +5.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 55
- +12.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,363
- -6.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $29,056,255
- -3.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (10 of 55, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Building Healthy Lives Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 625 Eden Park Dr 200, Cincinnati, OH 45202-6057
Phone: (513) 419-6587
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Building Healthy Lives Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Cincinnati ($81K). Together the top 10 received $230K.
Grant Size Distribution
276 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 270 grants of 276 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 2% to Pennsylvania, and 1% to California. The filing also lists Florida and Kentucky at 0% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Building Healthy Lives Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 55 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $695; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 153% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $280K (2024) to $344K (2021). In 2025 it made 55 grants totaling $295K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $81,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $45,000 |
| Cincinnati Ballet Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $30,000 |
| Cincinnati Symphony Orchrestra Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $15,000 |
| Hermedicine Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $15,000 |
| YWCA of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $14,850 |
| CET Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Artswave Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $9,000 |
| Hospice of Cincinnanti Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $5,500 |
| Central Clinic Behavioral Health Cincinnati, OH | General Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,056,255 | $2,524,629 | $3,696,588 | $294,975 | 55 | $2,995,966 | $2,428,509 | $1,955,859 |
| 2024 | $30,119,928 | $4,896,128 | $3,667,652 | $279,800 | 49 | $2,917,773 | $4,806,904 | $1,898,564 |
| 2023 | $28,451,792 | $914,550 | $3,498,272 | $284,950 | 62 | $2,845,125 | $840,834 | $1,848,573 |
| 2022 | $30,941,349 | $1,698,506 | $3,582,322 | $291,245 | 57 | $2,926,163 | $1,626,053 | $1,962,201 |
| 2021 | $32,916,147 | $3,381,002 | $3,419,276 | $344,380 | 53 | $2,771,345 | $3,299,464 | $2,285,119 |
| 2020 | $32,895,974 | $679,237 | $3,159,517 | $313,625 | 64 | — | $603,282 | $1,910,781 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Building Healthy Lives Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it works to enhance children’s and families’ education, fitness, critical thinking ability, health, well-being, and personal safety, and to educate the public about improving personal well-being.
Its 2025 grants included a university, healthcare organizations, arts organizations, and a museum. The University of Cincinnati describes its mission as serving patients, visitors, and staff of University Hospital of Cincinnati. Hermedicine says it advances women’s healthcare by providing unbiased, accurate, evidence-based information to women and clinicians. Cincinnati Museum Center says it inspires learning about the world through science, regional history, and educational experiences. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 55 grants totaling $294,975. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $81,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest awards included $81,000 to the University of Cincinnati, $45,000 to Cleveland Clinic Foundation, $30,000 to Cincinnati Ballet, and $15,000 each to Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Hermedicine. These grants were reported for general charitable purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dianne Dunkelman as President and CEO. Other listed officers and directors are Guy M. Hild, Director and Secretary; Phoebe D. Pardo, Director and COO; Barbara Kellar, Director; Patricia Laub, Director and Treasurer; and Dave Palm, Director.
Building Healthy Lives Foundation is led by Dianne Dunkelman, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dianne Dunkelman
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$382K (2020) → $374K (2025)
Phoebe D. Pardo
Director & COO
Vice President → Chief Operating Officer, 2021
Chief Operating Officer → Director & COO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$118K (2020) → $211K (2025)
Guy M. Hild
Director & Secrertary
Director → Secrertary, 2024
Secrertary → Director & Secrertary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Kellar
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Laub
Director & Treasurer
Director → Director & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dave Palm
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Sandra Lobert (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Patricia Smitson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lorrence Kellar (2020–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $374K, to Dianne Dunkelman (President & CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Building Healthy Lives Foundation
How much does Building Healthy Lives Foundation give each year?
Building Healthy Lives Foundation gave $295K across 55 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $280K across 49 grants.
What is Building Healthy Lives Foundation's typical grant size?
Building Healthy Lives Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $5,363, across 55 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Building Healthy Lives Foundation that year got $695 on average.
Where does Building Healthy Lives Foundation give grants?
Building Healthy Lives Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (32 grants), Columbus, OH (2 grants) and Mason, OH (2 grants).
Does Building Healthy Lives Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Building Healthy Lives Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (55 of 55) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Building Healthy Lives Foundation's largest grantees?
Building Healthy Lives Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Cincinnati ($81,000), Cleveland Clinic Foundation ($45,000) and Cincinnati Ballet ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Building Healthy Lives Foundation?
Building Healthy Lives Foundation reported $29.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Building Healthy Lives Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it works to enhance children’s and families’ education, fitness, critical thinking ability, health, well-being, and personal safety, and to educate the public about improving personal well-being. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Building Healthy Lives Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Building Healthy Lives Foundation's EIN?
Building Healthy Lives Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0214078. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Building Healthy Lives Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Building Healthy Lives Foundation funds
Health Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Building Healthy Lives Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Building Healthy Lives Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/building-healthy-lives-foundation-morg_8478ac2a63514ad49c69e7a7a45baaae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300214078_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Building Healthy Lives Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/building-healthy-lives-foundation-morg_8478ac2a63514ad49c69e7a7a45baaae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Building Healthy Lives Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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