Columbus Urban League
The Columbus Urban League (CUL) is a community-based, nonprofit advocacy organization headquartered at 788 Mount Vernon Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1918, CUL is an affiliate of the National Urban League and ranks among the largest and most prestigious community-based organizations in Central Ohio. The organization is ranked in the top 5% of the 92-affiliate National Urban League network nationally.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.0M
-18.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$125K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$125K
+0.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To empower African Americans and disenfranchised groups through economic, educational and social progress. CUL creates opportunity and access for all people through economic, educational, and social progress.
Vision: A region that maximizes its economic growth, where everyone is supported, can achieve their full potential, and contribute to the greater good.
Core Values: Opportunity and Access, High Performance, Innovation, Integrity, Empowerment
Primary Program Areas:
- Workforce Development & Career Services – Job placement and job readiness services for dislocated, unemployed, summer youth, and adjudicated citizens (served 2,239 clients)
- Entrepreneurship & Small Business Services – Including the Minority Business Assistance Center, which provided support to 8,192 participants and small businesses; also includes HERstory Makers, AccelerateHer, and IncubateHer programs
- Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary & Adult Education Services – Including Head Start and youth leadership development
- Financial Empowerment Services – Including Homebuyer Education, Housing Accelerator, and Journey to Wealth programs
- Housing Support Services – Fair housing services and housing stabilization programs for eligible households unable to pay rent or utilities
- Community Outreach – Serving special populations in Central Ohio
- African American Male Initiatives
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Central Ohio, with primary service area in Columbus and Franklin County.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $26.8 million
- Total Expenses: $22.2 million
- Total Assets: $18.4 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.61 million
- Staff: 277 employees
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization, tax-exempt since December 1941. EIN: 31-4379453
Rating: Four-Star rating with 96% score
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,008,592 | $18,424,914 | $12,884,662 |
| Revenue | $14,392,357 | $26,836,436 | $21,875,735 |
| Expenses | $17,300,804 | $22,172,922 | $16,168,823 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $124,636 | $54,861 | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Columbus Urban League
CARES Act Human Services Grants - Columbus Urban League Award
COLUMBUS URBAN LEAGUE
Amount
$200,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Equity Fund - Minority Business Grants
COLUMBUS URBAN LEAGUE
Amount
$2,000,000 total ($1,600,000 in grants + $400,000 in technical assistance)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Home Stabilization Program
COLUMBUS URBAN LEAGUE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Stephanie Hightower – President and CEO
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHANIE HIGHTOWER | PRESIDENT & CEO | 50 | $456,121 |
| CHRISTINA BOULDING | VP OF ADVANCEMENT | 45 | $154,472 |
| NAZREE GORE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 45 | $129,139 |
| JEANEEN HOOKS | AVP OF FINANCIAL COMPLIANC | 40 | $159,902 |
| MARY LOVE | SENIOR ACCOUNTANT | 40 | $118,104 |
| MAUDE HILL | AVP OF COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC RELATIONS | 40 | $101,809 |
| JENNIFER MCKENZIE | AVP OF PROGRAMMING | 40 | $175,183 |
| JOI ARMSTRONG | DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES | 40 | $131,722 |
| BETH MURPHY | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BRANDON NELSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| GIAVONNI LUCAS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KEIRA CHATMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARK HALPIN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MELISSA BLOUNT-GARNER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MELISSA STIMAC | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MONICA OLIVERIO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TRISTAN HALL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| VIREN PATEL | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM JEFFERSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JIM NEGRON | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| NICHOLE BARNES MARSHALL | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| HUSSEIN AWADA | BOARD TREASURER | 1 | — |
| STEPHANIE SHAW | BOARD SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DARREN SHEPPARD | AT LARGE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**The Columbus Foundation Investment (2024):** The Columbus Foundation made a foundational $500,000 unrestricted gift to CUL dedicated to advancing social justice and racial equity by strengthening core organizational infrastructure needs, including personnel, technology, and management systems.
OhioHealth Pledges $100,000 to Columbus Urban League to Boost Workforce Development**Recent Major Grants:**
JPMorgan Chase: $3 million
Columbus Urban League receives $3 million from JPMorgan Chase ...KeyBank: $300,000 (to tackle Central Ohio housing instability)
OhioHealth: $100,000 (to boost workforce development)
OhioHealth Pledges $100,000 to Columbus Urban League to Boost Workforce Development**Campaign Launch:** CUL launched a $12 million campaign following federal funding cuts.
Columbus Urban League launches $12M campaign after federal cuts - Columbus**Recognition:** Selected as one of only ten organizations for funding by One Million Black Women.
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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