Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative logo

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative

Public charity · Grantmaker Cincinnati, OH EIN: 45-3914880 Website

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative partners with individuals and other organizations to develop worker-owned businesses which provide family- sustaining jobs and create economy that works for all.

Key facts about Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative

In short: Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative gave $267K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $133K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
45-3914880
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$266,525
Grants made (2025)
2
Average grant
$133,263
Median grant
$133,263
Total assets
$413,624
Primary geography
Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$414K

+46.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$267K

+107.5% YoY

Grant Count

2

+100.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$133K

+3.8% YoY

How Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative gives

  • Giving grew 141% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative

Based on IRS filings

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative is a public charity focused on Social Science, based in Cincinnati, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $414K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $267K. Net investment income was $155.

Focus Areas

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

Cities

CincinnatiNashvilleSanta AnaDaytonJacksonKentNew YorkSpringfield

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K4 grants2020 7 grants2021 6 grants2022 2 grants2023 1 grant2024 2 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $109K (2020) to $267K (2025). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $267K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2025

Freedom Groove: $209KFreedom Groove$209KOur Harvest Cooperative: $58KOur Harvest Cooperative$58K

The largest 2025 recipient was Freedom Groove ($209K). Together the top 2 received $267K.

Grant Size Distribution

18 grants across all recorded years

13<$50K3$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 18 (72%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Freedom Groove Cincinnati, OHFiscal Sponsorship$208,912
Our Harvest Cooperative Cincinnati, OHFiscal Sponsorship$57,613

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$413,624$283,227$232,341
Revenue$1,081,355$842,972$758,026
Expenses$953,319$795,108$783,915
Net Investment Income$155$48$76

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 3, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 16, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative is led by Kristen Barker, Co-Founder & Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Kristen Barker

    Co-Founder & Executive Director

    Co-Founder & E → Co-Founder & Executive Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $38K (2020) → $62K (2025)

  • Katy Heins

    President

    Chair → President, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ellen Vera

    Co-Founder & Director

    Co-Founder & D → Co-Founder & Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $59K (2020) → $62K (2025)

  • Jamie Love

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Phil Amadon

    Trustee

    Founding Member → Trustee, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brian Griffin

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Clement Tsao

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ashely Schleicher

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carl Vineyard

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cynthia Pinchback-Hines

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    20 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Flequer Vera

    Co-Founder & Vice President

    Co-Founder & V → Co-Founder & Vice President, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Britton

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (9)
  • Former: Adrienne Wiley (2023–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Dave McLean (2020–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Tyree Fields (2021–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Zahki Davis (2021–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Pete McLinden (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Tika Adhari (2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Cynthia Pinchbank Hines (2020) — Trustee
  • Former: Don Barker (2020) — Trustee Unti
  • Former: Gary Hines (2020) — Trustee Unti

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

Kristen Barker — Co-Founder/Ed: $62KKristen BarkerCo-Founder/Ed$62KEllen Vera — Co-Founder/Director: $62KEllen VeraCo-Founder/Director$62K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $62K, to Kristen Barker (Co-Founder/Ed). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative

How much does Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative give each year?

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative gave $267K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $128K across 1 grant.

How large is Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative?

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative reported $414K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.

What is Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative?

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative is a public charity focused on Social Science, based in Cincinnati, OH. It holds $414K in total assets as of 2025.

Where does Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative operate?

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative has awarded grants in California, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Tennessee.

What is Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative's EIN?

Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3914880. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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