David N and Ann Early Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Cincinnati, OH EIN: 83-1848071

The David N and Ann Early Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It made 19 grants totaling $241,120 in 2024 to charitable organizations in Ohio and Kentucky.

David N and Ann Early Foundation at a glance

In short: David N and Ann Early Foundation gave $241K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Ohio. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$241,120
+16.1% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
19
+11.8% vs 2023
Average grant
$12,691
+3.9% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$2,941,487
-6.7% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
21% first-time grantees (4 of 19, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Ohio (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to David N and Ann Early Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 7455 Algonuin Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45243
Phone: (513) 509-1598

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who David N and Ann Early Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

League for Animal Welfare Batavia Ohio: $45KLeague for Animal WelfareBatavia Ohio$45KLibrary Foundation of Cincinnati & Hamilton County: $45KLibrary Foundation ofCincinnati & Hamilton County$45KThomas More University: $30KThomas More University$30KUniversity of Kentucky Family Sciences Dept: $25KUniversity of Kentucky FamilySciences Dept$25KRonald McDonald House of Cincinnati: $21KRonald McDonald House ofCincinnati$21KAlliance of Catholic Urban Education: $10KAlliance of Catholic UrbanEducation$10KCincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: $10KCincinnati Zoo & BotanicalGarden$10KMatthew 25 Ministries: $10KMatthew 25 Ministries$10KNotre Dame of Northern Kentucky Urban Education: $10KNotre Dame of NorthernKentucky Urban Education$10KBrighten Center: $5KBrighten Center$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was League for Animal Welfare Batavia Ohio ($45K). Together the top 10 received $211K.

Grant Size Distribution

63 grants across all recorded years

63<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 63 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 34% to recipients in Kentucky.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

States

Cities

CincinnatiCovingtonBataviaBlue AshCrestview HillsLexingtonNewportFlorenceMilford

Is David N and Ann Early Foundation open to new grantees?

21%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 4 of 19 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $15K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K12 grants2021 15 grants2022 17 grants2023 19 grants2024

From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $184K (2021) to $241K (2024). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $241K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
League for Animal Welfare Batavia Ohio Batavia, OHIn Support of Its Mission$44,960
Library Foundation of Cincinnati & Hamilton County Cincinnati, OHIn Support of Its Mission$44,960
Thomas More University Crestview Hills, KYIn Support of Its Mission$30,000
University of Kentucky Family Sciences Dept Lexington, KYIn Support of Its Mission$25,000
Ronald McDonald House of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OHIn Support of Its Mission$21,000
Alliance of Catholic Urban Education Covington, KYIn Support of Its Mission$10,000
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Cincinnati, OHIn Support of Its Mission$10,000
Matthew 25 Ministries Blue Ash, OHIn Support of Its Mission$10,000
Notre Dame of Northern Kentucky Urban Education Covington, KYIn Support of Its Mission$10,000
Brighten Center Newport, KYIn Support of Its Mission$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$2,941,487$119,391$323,910$241,12019$268,351$69,811$276,069
2023$3,151,727$144,395$267,387$207,67817$207,678$109,147$224,825
2022$3,007,605$107,048$245,308$215,77815$215,778$106,445$207,652
2021$3,145,865$261,573$207,018$183,89012$183,890$260,979$215,943

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David N and Ann Early Foundation reported a distributable amount of $276K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including an animal-welfare organization, a library foundation, universities, a children’s hospital, and humanitarian and social-service organizations.

Among the grantees described in their own words, Thomas More University says it is a Catholic liberal arts university that challenges students to consider life’s meaning and their responsibilities to others. Matthew 25 Ministries describes work providing food, clean water, clothing, shelter, medical care, and humanitarian supplies to people in need. ProKids says it advocates for abused and neglected children, and the Save the Animals Foundation says it provides shelter, medical care, and adoption services for animals.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave 19 grants totaling $241,120. Grant amounts ranged from $1,200 to $44,960, with a median of $5,000. Notable grants included $44,960 each to the League for Animal Welfare and the Library Foundation of Cincinnati & Hamilton County; $30,000 to Thomas More University; $25,000 to the University of Kentucky Family Sciences Department; and $21,000 to Ronald McDonald House of Cincinnati. Other 2024 recipients included Matthew 25 Ministries ($10,000), ProKids ($4,000), and the Save the Animals Foundation ($2,000).

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists D Bruce Ross Jr as managing trustee and James A Dressman III as trustee.

David N and Ann Early Foundation is led by D. Bruce Ross Jr., Managing Trustee on every filing since 2021; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • D. Bruce Ross Jr.

    Managing Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    5 hrs/week

    $16K (2021) → $28K (2024)

  • James A. Dressman III

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    $5K (2021) → $14K (2024)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

D Bruce Ross Jr — Managing Trustee: $28KD Bruce Ross JrManaging Trustee$28KJames a Dressman III — Trustee: $14KJames a Dressman IIITrustee$14K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $28K, to D Bruce Ross Jr (Managing Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about David N and Ann Early Foundation

How much does David N and Ann Early Foundation give each year?

David N and Ann Early Foundation gave $241K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $208K across 17 grants.

What is David N and Ann Early Foundation's typical grant size?

David N and Ann Early Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $12,691, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from David N and Ann Early Foundation that year got $3K on average.

Where does David N and Ann Early Foundation give grants?

David N and Ann Early Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kentucky (34%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (11 grants) and Covington, KY (2 grants).

Does David N and Ann Early Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on David N and Ann Early Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "In Support of Its Mission" (19 grants).

Who are David N and Ann Early Foundation's largest grantees?

David N and Ann Early Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include League for Animal Welfare Batavia Ohio ($44,960), Library Foundation of Cincinnati & Hamilton County ($44,960) and Thomas More University ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is David N and Ann Early Foundation?

David N and Ann Early Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $268K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $276K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does David N and Ann Early Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including an animal-welfare organization, a library foundation, universities, a children’s hospital, and humanitarian and social-service organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from David N and Ann Early Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is David N and Ann Early Foundation's EIN?

David N and Ann Early Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1848071. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.

Does David N and Ann Early Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). David N and Ann Early Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/david-n-and-ann-early-foundation-morg_91bc1723d65747298c0d1f66feee3849

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831848071_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{David N and Ann Early Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/david-n-and-ann-early-foundation-morg_91bc1723d65747298c0d1f66feee3849},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 David N and Ann Early Foundation'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.

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