Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation logo

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Cincinnati, OH EIN: 23-7089617 Website

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber is a public charity based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its affiliated Chamber Foundation supports the Chamber’s regional economic development, talent, inclusion, programming, and cultural-vibrancy work, and also serves as a fiscal sponsor for affiliated and other economic development initiatives.

Key facts about Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation

In short: Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation gave $9.7M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $1.1M), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
23-7089617
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$9,675,100
Grants made (2024)
9
Average grant
$1,075,011
Median grant
$110,000
Total assets
$5,293,944
Primary geography
Ohio (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$5.3M

-6.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$9.7M

+55.1% YoY

Grant Count

9

+125.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$1.1M

-31.1% YoY

How Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method

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

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Foundation’s mission is to develop and promote economic development, talent initiatives, and the unique offerings in the Cincinnati region. Its supported work includes talent initiatives, diversity and inclusion efforts, fundraising for programming, BLINK®, the Workforce Innovation Center, and the Minority Business Accelerator. The Foundation also reports fiscal sponsorship of affiliated and other economic development efforts focused on regional economic vibrancy.

The 2024 grants included support for regional workforce initiatives, economic inclusion, regional economic growth, immigrant and refugee inclusion, and startup growth. Four recipients received $40,250 each for work described as advancing the pipeline of skilled talent for regional employers and helping individuals develop skills. Brighton Center, one of those recipients, describes its own mission as creating opportunities for individuals and families to reach self-sufficiency through family support services, education, employment, and leadership.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the Chamber reported 9 grants totaling $9,675,100. Grant amounts ranged from $40,250 to $7,841,963, with a median of $110,000. The largest reported grant was $7,841,963 to Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber for festivals and events, regional workforce initiatives, and regional vibrancy and economic prosperity. Other notable grants were $893,143 to Minority Business Accelerator, $425,000 to REDI Cincinnati, $243,994 to Cincinnati Compass, and $110,000 to CintrTech.

Grant Range

.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Chamber says it serves businesses in the 15-county Cincinnati metropolitan statistical area. In the 2024 filing, 100% of reported grant dollars were attributed to Ohio.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

States

Cities

CincinnatiCovingtonLouisvilleMainevilleMasonWest ChesterBellevueCincinantiHamiltonLovelandNewport

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2.5M$5M$7.5M$10M260 grants2020 273 grants2021 4 grants2022 4 grants2023 9 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.3M (2020) to $9.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $9.7M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2024

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber: $7.8MCincinnati USA RegionalChamber$7.8MMinority Business Accelerator: $893KMinority Business Accelerator$893KRedi Cincinnati: $425KRedi Cincinnati$425KCincinnati Compass: $244KCincinnati Compass$244KCincytech: $110KCincytech$110KBrighton Center Inc: $40KBrighton Center Inc$40KThe Gaskins Foundation: $40KThe Gaskins Foundation$40KUrban League of Greater Cincinnati: $40KUrban League of GreaterCincinnati$40KCincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency: $40KCincinnati-Hamilton CountyCommunity Action Agency$40K

The largest 2024 recipient was Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber ($7.8M). Together the top 9 received $9.7M.

Grant Size Distribution

550 grants across all recorded years

531<$50K2$50–100K4$100–250K3$250–500K3$500K–1M5$1–5M2$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 531 grants of 550 (97%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Cincinnati, OHTo support cincinnati festivals and events, regional workforce innitiatives, and grow the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the cincinnati region.$7,841,963
Minority Business Accelerator Cincinnati, OHTo increase economic inclusion and empowerment in the cincinnati region.$893,143
Redi Cincinnati Cincinnati, OHTo advance economic growth and prosperity in the 16-county cincinnati region.$425,000
Cincinnati Compass Cincinnati, OHTo advance the economic and social inclusion of immigrants and refugees to enhance the overall vibrancy and economic growth of the cincinnati region.$243,994
Cincytech Cincinnati, OHTo support efforts to be a catalyst for startup growth in our region$110,000
Brighton Center Inc Newport, KYTo advance the pipeline of skilled talent for regional employers and skill up individuals$40,250
The Gaskins Foundation Cincinnati, OHTo advance the pipeline of skilled talent for regional employers and skill up individuals$40,250
Urban League of Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, OHTo advance the pipeline of skilled talent for regional employers and skill up individuals$40,250
Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency Cincinnati, OHTo advance the pipeline of skilled talent for regional employers and skill up individuals$40,250

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant total Grant count
2024 $5,293,944 $10,130,701 $10,828,121 $9,675,100 9
2023 $5,640,491 $6,837,028 $6,517,675 $6,239,836 4
2022 $5,121,644 $9,148,460 $10,104,104 $8,984,875 4
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$5,293,944$5,640,491$5,121,644
Revenue$10,130,701$6,837,028$9,148,460
Expenses$10,828,121$6,517,675$10,104,104
Net Investment Income$203,748$51,795$-6,408

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 November 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists James Zimmerman as chair, Christopher Che as secretary, Brendon Cull as president, Whitney Eckert as treasurer, and Warren Weber as vice chair. It also lists Alex Derkson, Patrick Dolle, Barbara Hauser, Carolyn Micheli, and Barb Smith as members.

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation is led by Brendon Cull, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 12 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Brendon Cull

    President

    Assistant Secretary → Assistant Secretary & President, 2023

    Assistant Secretary & President → President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James M. Zimmerman

    Chair

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christopher Che

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Warren Weber

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Whitney Eckert

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alex Derkson

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Barb Smith

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Barbara Hauser

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carolyn Micheli

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Danielle Wilson

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patrick Dolle

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kate Ward

    Assistant Secretary

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (6)
  • Former: Jill P. Meyer (2020–2023) — President
  • Former: Michelle Doll-Speiser (2022–2023) — Assistant Treasurer
  • Former: David Stevens (2023) — Assistant Treasurer
  • Former: Andrew T. Hawking (2020–2021) — Treasurer
  • Former: Michelle A. Gillis (2020–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: MICHELE SPEISER (2021) — Assistant Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 3 E 4Th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 579-3100
Website: https://cincinnatichamber.com

Frequently asked questions about Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation

How much does Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation give each year?

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation gave $9.7M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $6.2M across 4 grants.

What is Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation's typical grant size?

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $110,000, and its average grant was $1,075,011, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation give grants?

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (8 grants).

Does Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

Who are Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation's largest grantees?

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber ($7,841,963), Minority Business Accelerator ($893,143) and Redi Cincinnati ($425,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation?

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.1M.

What does Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation fund?

The Foundation’s mission is to develop and promote economic development, talent initiatives, and the unique offerings in the Cincinnati region. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation?

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cincinnatichamber.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation's EIN?

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7089617. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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