Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts, now known as ArtsWave, is a public charity based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that supports arts and cultural organizations and projects in the Cincinnati region through grants, services, and advocacy. ArtsWave says it has been the region’s primary way to fund the arts since 1927.
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts at a glance
In short: Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts gave $9.7M across 91 grants in 2025 (avg $107K), mostly in Ohio. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,744,304
- +1.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 91
- +11.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $107,080
- -9.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,000
- Total assets
- $145,595,001
- +5.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (26 of 91, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts
- How to Apply
-
ArtsWave directs applicants to its grantee portal for applications and related forms.
- Next open deadline
- October 27, 2026 (ArtsWave Inspire Artist Grants)
- Contact
Mailing address: 20 East Central Parkway 200, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 871-2787
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
14 open opportunities from Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts
ArtsWave Circle Grants
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
ArtsWave Inspire Artist Grants
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
ArtsWave Inspire Artist Grants
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~October
Based on past cycles
Who Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ($2.4M). Together the top 10 received $7.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
421 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 285 grants of 421 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ArtsWave describes its grantmaking as serving the Cincinnati region. In 2025, 97% of reported grant dollars went to Ohio recipients, 2% to Kentucky recipients, and 1% to Hawaii recipients; California and Georgia each accounted for 0% as reported. The FY2027 Sustaining Impact guidelines define an eligible service area across specified counties in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 91 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 26 of 91 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $146K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $34K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $9.6M (2024) to $19.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 91 grants totaling $9.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $2,353,312 |
| Cincinnati Museum Association Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $1,260,000 |
| Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $1,055,000 |
| Cincinnati Ballet Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $837,890 |
| Cincinnati Opera Association Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $689,750 |
| Taft Museum of Art Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $319,564 |
| Contemporary Arts Center Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $285,600 |
| The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $267,749 |
| Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $222,926 |
| Cincinnati Music Festival Assoc Cincinnati, OH | Sustaining Impact Grant | $217,900 |
Ready to take the next step with Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $145,595,001 | $13,990,202 | $15,578,898 | $9,744,304 | 91 | $1,832,420 |
| 2024 | $137,652,802 | $14,874,545 | $14,790,024 | $9,644,330 | 82 | $1,919,789 |
| 2023 | $126,905,760 | $12,271,327 | $15,213,145 | $10,175,039 | 72 | $-533,214 |
| 2022 | $122,467,170 | $34,213,891 | $24,471,348 | $19,627,763 | 91 | $10,406,023 |
| 2021 | $143,710,134 | $18,167,716 | $15,023,651 | $10,343,838 | 85 | $6,050,219 |
| 2020 | $125,309,858 | $14,545,701 | $14,626,292 | $10,357,611 | 71 | $2,557,449 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ArtsWave states its mission as: “With funding, services and advocacy, ArtsWave fuels a more vibrant economy and connected community through the arts.”
Its grantmaking supports arts and cultural heritage work aligned with the goals of its Blueprint for Collective Action. The grantees include organizations across disciplines. For example, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra says its mission is “to seek and share in inspiration”; the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park describes itself as a theater committed to diverse, engaging work and artistic excellence; and the Taft Museum of Art says it connects people with great art. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, ArtsWave reported 91 grants totaling $9,744,304. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $2,353,312, with a median grant of $19,000. The largest awards included $2,353,312 to Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, $1,260,000 to Cincinnati Museum Association, $1,055,000 to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, $837,890 to Cincinnati Ballet, and $689,750 to Cincinnati Opera Association. Each was listed as a Sustaining Impact Grant.
ArtsWave describes Sustaining Impact Grants as unrestricted operating support awarded in three-year cycles. The FY2027–2029 guidelines say eligible organizations must be invited to apply; awards for FY2028 and FY2029 are contingent on continued good standing. The guidelines specify organizational budget categories, arts-programming requirements, regional location requirements, and other conditions, which vary by category.
Other opportunities include Catalyzing Impact Grants of up to $10,000 for arts or cultural heritage projects that support the Blueprint’s goals, and the Inspire Artist Grants, which provide project funding and professional development for eligible Black and Brown artists connected to Greater Cincinnati. The Inspire program’s listed deadline is October 27, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Leigh Fox as Chair, Deborah Hayes as Vice Chair, Matthew Stautberg as Treasurer, and Kala Gibson as Secretary. It also lists Agnes Godwin Hall, Alicia B Townsend, Allison Kropp, Angie Fischer, Brendon J Cull, and Bruce Petrie as trustees.
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts is led by Alecia Kintner, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 7 of 56 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alecia Kintner
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$233K (2020) → $324K (2025)
Leigh Fox
Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Ecker
Director & Gift Planning
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$103K (2025)
Agnes Godwin Hall
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alicia B Townsend
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brendon J Cull
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carri Chandler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles H Gerhardt III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Meek
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Muraca
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Shaffer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Murray Sinclaire Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt
Trustee
Secretary → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stanford T Williams Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd M Immell
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tysonn Betts
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle D Ivory
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eugene Partridge III
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle S Hershey
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Voelker
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dianne Rosenberg
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill T McGruder
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Wittich
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Bates
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Petrie
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Jackson
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deana Taylor Brewer
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emerson Moser
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emma Off
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Leonard
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Wyborn
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mel Gravely
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Duncan
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raginald L Staples Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rajinder Narang
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Zeller
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thienthanh Pham
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vada Hill
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Kropp
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angie Fischer
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cady Short-Thompson
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chip Finke
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Kokenge
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jens Rosenkrantz
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Hall
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Michelman
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sonya Turner
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sonya Walton
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Wolter
Vice President & Committee Campaign
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$122K (2020) → $143K (2025)
Samantha Cribbet
Chief Financial Officer
Vice President & Finance → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$97K (2020) → $139K (2025)
Raymond Gargano
Vice President & Community Investments
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$117K (2024) → $124K (2025)
Kathryn Kennedy
Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$169K (2025)
Kathyryn Debrosse
Vice President of New Products & Initiatives
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$140K (2025)
Deborah Hayes
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kala Gibson
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Stautberg
Treasurer
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (55)
- Former: Jack Rouse (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jim Price (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kate Kennedy (2020–2024) — COO
- Former: Kathy Debrosse (2020–2024) — Vice President of New Products & Initiatives
- Former: Melanie M Chavez (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Priya Dhingra Klocek (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Donald Stock (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Donita Parrish (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jeff Ahrnsen (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kathy DeLaura (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Visael Rodriguez (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Anthony Mathis (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Deana M. Taylor (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Delores Hargrove-Young (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Dennis Lyons (2020–2023) — Senior Director It
- Former: Don Stock (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: J. Shane Starkey (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: James Zimmerman (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Laura N. Brunner (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Melanie Healey (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Michael Betz (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Monica Posey (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Phil Duncan (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Trey Grayson (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Christy Horan (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Gale Beckett (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Raj Narang (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Rance Duke (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Bruce Preston (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Digi Schueler (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Joel Stone (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Lauren Hannan Shafer (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Reggie Staples (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Christopher A. Carlson (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Evans N. Nwankwo (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Gerald H. Greene (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Linda Antus (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Liz Grubow (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Nerissa Morris (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Robert McDonald (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Ronald Bates (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas H. Quinn Jr. (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: George Yund (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Matthew A. Heston (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Timothy Steigerwald (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Amy Hanson (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Andre S Valentine (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Damian Hoskins (2020) — Vice President & Impact
- Former: Eric K Combs (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Herbert Robinson (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Mark Heimbouch (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Melvin J Gravely II (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Rosemary Schlacter (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Teresa Tanner (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Terry Horan (2020) — Trustee
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 $324K, to Alecia Kintner (President & CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts
How much does Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts give each year?
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts gave $9.7M across 91 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $9.6M across 82 grants.
What is Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts's typical grant size?
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts's median grant in 2025 was $19,000, and its average grant was $107,080, across 91 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts that year got $10K on average.
Where does Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts give grants?
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts gives mostly in Ohio: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (67 grants), Covington, KY (5 grants), Newport, KY (3 grants) and Hamilton, OH (2 grants).
Does Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 91 grants with a stated purpose on Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Sustaining Impact Grant" (43 grants), "Catalyzing Impact Grant" (23 grants) and "NKY Placemaking Grant" (5 grants).
Who are Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts's largest grantees?
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts's largest 2025 grantees include Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ($2,353,312), Cincinnati Museum Association ($1,260,000) and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park ($1,055,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts?
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts reported $145.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.0M.
What does Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts fund?
ArtsWave states its mission as: “With funding, services and advocacy, ArtsWave fuels a more vibrant economy and connected community through the arts.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts?
ArtsWave directs applicants to its grantee portal for applications and related forms. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts's EIN?
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0537138. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Carol Ann and Ralph V Haile Jr
Cincinnati, OH
The foundation funds arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, and human services in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, with a typical grant around $25,000 (2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million). It says it funds preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$283.2M
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167
Total Given
$11.8M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Louise Taft Semple Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Louise Taft Semple Foundation primarily funds arts and cultural projects in the Cincinnati region, while also considering education, civic, social service, and environmental initiatives. In 2024, grants ranged from $750 to $260,000, with a median of $15,000; most funding went to Ohio, with some in Kentucky and elsewhere. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$25.3M
Grants
56
Total Given
$1.8M
NLT Foundation Inc
Cincinnati, OH
The NLT Foundation funds arts education and environmental education, generally favoring small to mid-sized 501(c)(3) organizations in Greater Cincinnati, Los Angeles County, the Boston area within Route 495, and specified Mid-Coast Maine communities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000. It invites qualified organizations to contact its program officer for a screening interview; only approved organizations may apply.
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
35
Total Given
$230K
The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust
Cincinnati, OH
The trust supports health, arts and culture, education, hunger relief, and religious organizations, primarily in Ohio, with some funding in Kentucky. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median of $50,000. It accepts requests by letter through Fifth Third Bank N.A.; no deadline is listed.
Assets
$55.7M
Grants
47
Total Given
$3.9M
John a Schroth Family Char Tr
Pittsburgh, PA
The trust supports organizations addressing homelessness, community services, health, poverty, food access, and wildlife and nature conservation, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Ohio and the rest to Kentucky. Its 2024 grants ranged from $3,000 to $100,000, with a median of $25,000. The filing does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$41.7M
Grants
58
Total Given
$2.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cincinnati-institute-of-fine-arts-morg_b2916c392e34447d94c9f6c34aa60e71
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_310537138_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cincinnati-institute-of-fine-arts-morg_b2916c392e34447d94c9f6c34aa60e71},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts'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.
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts down — hundreds of funders to go?