Downing Foundation
Downing Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its 2025 grants went to organizations for religious, religious and educational, and charitable activities, including churches, schools, a university, a radio organization, and a pregnancy center.
Downing Foundation at a glance
In short: Downing Foundation gave $265K across 20 grants in 2026 (avg $13K), mostly in Ohio. 17% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $265,000
- +9.5% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 20
- +17.6% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $13,250
- -6.9% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $10,750
- Total assets
- $3,458,242
- +0.3% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (3 of 18, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (62% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Downing Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says to provide an organization and grant description, tax-exempt status, and mission statement. Only organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) are eligible. The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Downing Foundation
Mailing address: 7 Grandin Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45208
Phone: (513) 321-2230
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Downing Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Holy Spirit Center ($40K). Together the top 10 received $216K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
81 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 81 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 68% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 20% to Kentucky, 10% to California, and 2% to Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Downing Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 3 of 18 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 78% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 96% 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 (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $194K (2023) to $265K (2026). In 2026 it made 20 grants totaling $265K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Spirit Center Norwood, OH | Religious activities | $40,000 |
| St Anthony Church Taylor Mill, KY | Religious activities | $30,000 |
| John Paul the Great University Escondido, CA | Religious/educational activities | $25,000 |
| Archbishop Moeller High School Cincinnati, OH | Religious/educational activities | $21,000 |
| Good Shephard School Cincinnati, OH | Religious and educational activities | $20,000 |
| St Philomena Apostolate Cincinnati, OH | Religious activities | $20,000 |
| Sacred Heart Radio Norwood, OH | Religious activities | $20,000 |
| St Patricks School Maysville, KY | Religious and educational activities | $17,000 |
| St Cecilia School Cincinnati, OH | Religious activities | $11,500 |
| Pregnancy Center East Cincinnati, OH | Charitable activities | $11,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Downing Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $3,458,242 | $318,553 | $333,513 | $265,000 | 20 | $265,000 | $250,644 | $276,154 |
| 2025 | $3,449,357 | $103,485 | $316,409 | $242,000 | 17 | $242,000 | $43,360 | $233,970 |
| 2024 | $3,662,281 | $120,162 | $280,852 | $217,000 | 16 | $217,000 | $56,310 | $201,192 |
| 2023 | $3,815,847 | $95,199 | $252,434 | $194,000 | 16 | $194,000 | $36,765 | $192,670 |
| 2022 | $4,019,311 | $76,209 | $288,268 | $224,000 | 12 | $224,000 | $16,359 | $204,300 |
| 2021 | $4,226,938 | $-130,345 | $250,158 | $197,500 | 12 | — | $21,213 | $177,086 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Downing Foundation reported a distributable amount of $276K for 2026 — 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 2025 grants included religious and educational activities and charitable activities. Among its grantees, John Paul the Great Catholic University describes its mission as educating people at the intersection of business, technology, and communication media, guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Sacred Heart Radio says its mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition. Pregnancy Center Plus describes its services as counseling for women in crisis pregnancies, educational materials, parenting education, and material assistance. These are the grantees’ stated missions and services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $242,000 through 17 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $43,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Its 2026 filing, the latest on this page, reports 20 grants totaling $265,000.
The largest grants included $43,000 to Holy Spirit Center, $25,000 to John Paul the Great University, $24,000 to St Cecilia Church, and $20,000 each to Old St Mary Church, St Philomena Apostolate, and Sacred Heart Radio. Other listed grants included $18,000 to St Patricks School, $14,000 to Archbishop Moeller High School, and $10,000 each to St Anthony Church, St James Church, St Joseph Carpenter, and Pregnancy Center Plus.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists W Charles Blum as chairman and Christine L Blum and Tracy A Blum as directors.
Downing Foundation is led by W Charles Blum, Chairman since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 3 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
W Charles Blum
Chairman
Chair & Secretary → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine L Blum
Director
Trustee → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Tracy A Blum
Director
Trustee → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Downing Foundation
How much does Downing Foundation give each year?
Downing Foundation gave $265K across 20 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $242K across 17 grants.
What is Downing Foundation's typical grant size?
Downing Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $10,750, and its average grant was $13,250, across 20 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Downing Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Downing Foundation give grants?
Downing Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kentucky (25%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (8 grants), Norwood, OH (2 grants) and Maysville, KY (2 grants).
Does Downing Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Downing Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Religious activities" (15 grants).
Who are Downing Foundation's largest grantees?
Downing Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Holy Spirit Center ($40,000), St Anthony Church ($30,000) and John Paul the Great University ($25,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($15,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Downing Foundation?
Downing Foundation reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $265K 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 Downing Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included religious and educational activities and charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Downing Foundation?
The 2024 filing says to provide an organization and grant description, tax-exempt status, and mission statement. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Downing Foundation's EIN?
Downing Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1416687. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Other open foundation grants in Ohio
Ohio Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Downing Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Ohio
Bob & Felicia Burger Family Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The foundation’s grants have supported Catholic churches and schools, higher education, pregnancy-related organizations, and community services, primarily in Ohio and Indiana. In 2025, it made 88 grants totaling $220,300, with a median grant of $1,000 and awards ranging from $50 to $20,650. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
88
Total Given
$220K
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation funds nonprofits working on education, housing, community and cultural vibrancy, and related regional needs, with responsive grants focused on its eight-county Greater Cincinnati service area. Its 2024 median grant was $20,000, though amounts vary widely; specific opportunities include awards of up to $35,000 for Resilient Communities and up to $450,000 through the Neighborhood Development Fund. It lists RFP and letter-of-intent opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,408
Total Given
$184.4M
Robert H & Susan F Castellini Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including healthcare, arts, education, and civic causes, with awards intended mainly for the Greater Cincinnati area; it prefers not to fund religious or political purposes. In 2025, grants ranged from $100 to $200,000, with a median of $2,500. It accepts requests by letter, with no deadline, and the filing says its giving is not limited to preselected organizations.
Assets
$5.3M
Grants
131
Total Given
$1.9M
Cambridge Charitable Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The foundation supports charitable organizations in arts and culture, community progress, education, the environment, health, and human services, with a stated focus on Greater Cincinnati; most 2024 grant dollars went to Ohio recipients. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,474 to $2,493,700, with a median of $25,000. Organizations may submit the foundation’s application when their work fits a fund’s purpose, though donor-designated funds may limit eligibility.
Assets
$51.9M
Grants
80
Total Given
$9.9M
Ralph J Baudhuin Foundation
Roscoe, IL
The Ralph J. Baudhuin Foundation funds scholarships, religious organizations, and humanitarian services, with most grant dollars going to Illinois and additional support in other states and Haiti. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $22,000, with a median of $2,000. It accepts unsolicited community support requests by letter; first-time requests are reviewed at the board’s annual meeting in early December.
Assets
$5.2M
Grants
107
Total Given
$392K
Columbus Foundation
Columbus, OH
The Columbus Foundation supports a broad range of nonprofit work, including arts, education, health, basic needs, neighborhoods, and capacity building, primarily in central Ohio. Its 2024 grants had a median of $21,471, though amounts varied widely. Most grants are directed by donors and aren’t made through an application process, but some specific programs accept applications.
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
1,747
Total Given
$242.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Downing Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/downing-foundation-morg_32fddc376d39487ab2d81b9503e3f8e0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311416687_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Downing Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/downing-foundation-morg_32fddc376d39487ab2d81b9503e3f8e0},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-05. 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 Downing 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.
Downing Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?