Cincinnati Bar Foundation
Promoting justice and changing lives through the law with the desire to serve the legal profession, the justice system and the Greater Cincinnati community. The Cincinnati Bar Foundation concentrates grant-making efforts in the following four areas: 1. Knowledge and understanding of and respect for the law in the community, particularly with young people, 2. Improving the quality and administration of justice in all its facets, 3. Supporting the delivery of legal services at an affordable cost for the poor, elderly and otherwise disadvantaged, 4. Fostering professionalism and civility in the practice of law.
Cincinnati Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: Cincinnati Bar Foundation gave $102K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $102,237
- +26.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,780
- +26.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,000
- Total assets
- $4,298,755
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Cincinnati Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cincinnati Bar Association ($32K). Together the top 8 received $102K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Cincinnati Bar Foundation gives
- Giving grew 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2022) to $102K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $102K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bar Association Cincinnati, OH | Mission Related | $31,737 |
| ProKids Cincinnati, OH | Mission Related | $15,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Mission Related | $15,000 |
| Summer Work Experience in Law (SWEL) Cincinnati, OH | Mission related | $10,000 |
| Children's Home of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Mission Related | $8,000 |
| Cincinnati Works Cincinnati, OH | Mission Related | $7,500 |
| Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio Cincinnati, OH | Mission Related | $7,500 |
| Pro Bono Partnership of Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Mission Related | $7,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,298,755 | $496,716 | $299,108 | $102,237 | 8 | $379,064 |
| 2024 | $4,135,322 | $297,566 | $286,978 | $80,890 | 8 | $160,933 |
| 2023 | $3,566,991 | $392,718 | $285,774 | $83,000 | 9 | $263,022 |
| 2022 | $3,761,362 | $568,062 | $251,587 | $55,052 | 6 | $351,965 |
| 2021 | $3,730,435 | $476,924 | $257,347 | $66,500 | 9 | $301,133 |
| 2020 | $3,035,710 | $365,471 | $282,074 | $57,400 | 5 | $226,508 |
| 2019 | $2,973,761 | $289,328 | $302,433 | $101,739 | 6 | $139,199 |
About Cincinnati Bar Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Cincinnati Bar Foundation is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Cincinnati, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $102K. Net investment income was $379K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Cincinnati Bar Foundation is led by Bernice L Walker, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 20 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bernice L Walker
President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Topy
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jabari A Shaw
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louise M Roselle
Trustee
Trustee - Started → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derek M Freitas
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elisher J Williams
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Aguilar
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jesse L Jenike-Godshalk
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Centner
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Ferguson
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barry Visconte
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dominick Gerace
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Kelly
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Gramke
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen A Simon
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony L Osterlund
Immediate Past President
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Immediate Past President, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle L Lorenz
Vice President
Secretary → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reginald Staples Jr.
Treasurer
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey M Hendricks
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terance Coates
Cba Liaison
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (45)
- Former: Dale A Stalf (2019–2024) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Michael J Moeddel (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Elise Elam (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffery M Hendricks (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jenna M Heaphy (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ryan J McGraw (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ryan WGoellner (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Steven A Simon (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Alan H Abes (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kelly A Holden (2024) — Trustee- Exit
- Former: Faith Whittaker (2023) — Cba Vice President
- Former: Jacqueline Aguilar-Start (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jesse Jeinke-Godshalk (2023) — Trustee-Start
- Former: Kelly Holden-Start (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Aaron M Herzig (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Calvin D Buford (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: George B Musekamp (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Michael S Bailes (2019–2022) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Philomena S Ashdown (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Sarah S Herron (2019–2022) — Grants Committee Chair
- Former: Ambur C Smith (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Dan Hoffheimer (2021–2022) — Trustee · Filing note: Started 6120
- Former: Richard Moore (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Janaya Trotter Bratton (2022) — Cba Vice President
- Former: Mark A Stiebel (2019–2021) — Events & Pr Chair
- Former: Stephen L Richey (2021) — Cba Vice President · Filing note: Started 6120
- Former: Adrienne J Roach (2019–2020) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Allison H Kropp (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Carl J Stich Jr. (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Fredric J Robbins (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Nicholas W Temeles (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Philip J Schworer (2019–2020) — Development Chair
- Former: Rene McPhedran (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: David R Boyles (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Sara M Cooperrider (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Calvin S Tregre Jr. (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Christoper A Wagner (2019) — Trustee - Joined
- Former: Diana M Link (2019) — Trustee
- Former: J Corey Asay (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph D Heyd (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Kellie A Kulka (2019) — Trustee - Joined
- Former: Kelly M Myers- Exited (2019) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Megan S Glowacki (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Steven P Goodin (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Sylvia Hendon (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Cincinnati Bar Foundation
How much does Cincinnati Bar Foundation give each year?
Cincinnati Bar Foundation gave $102K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $81K across 8 grants.
What is Cincinnati Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
Cincinnati Bar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $9,000, and its average grant was $12,780, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Cincinnati Bar Foundation give grants?
Cincinnati Bar Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (8 grants).
Does Cincinnati Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Cincinnati Bar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Mission Related" (8 grants).
Who are Cincinnati Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
Cincinnati Bar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cincinnati Bar Association ($31,737), ProKids ($15,000) and Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cincinnati Bar Foundation?
Cincinnati Bar Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $497K.
What is Cincinnati Bar Foundation?
Cincinnati Bar Foundation is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Cincinnati, OH. It holds $4.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Cincinnati Bar Foundation's EIN?
Cincinnati Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6059929. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Cincinnati Bar Foundation funds
Crime & Legal Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cincinnati Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cincinnati Bar Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?