Edelweiss Foundation logo

Edelweiss Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Cincinnati, OH EIN: 88-3136523 Website

The Edelweiss Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 2022, it provides funding to organizations whose work can transform lives and enrich Greater Cincinnati.

Edelweiss Foundation at a glance

In short: Edelweiss Foundation gave $2.7M across 131 grants in 2024 (avg $20K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$2,673,500
+15.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
131
+27.2% vs 2023
Average grant
$20,408
-9.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$55,555,647
+6.5% vs 2023
Primary geography
Ohio (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Edelweiss Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
Yes
How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Submit a written request with a brief description of the charity and its requests. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: Frank Crane Iii
Mailing address: 5084 Wooster Rd Unit 100, Cincinnati, OH 45226
Phone: (513) 721-8400
Website: https://edelweissfdn.org

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

Who Edelweiss Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Cincinnati Zoo: $265KCincinnati Zoo$265KCincinnati Cancer Fdtn: $185KCincinnati Cancer Fdtn$185KBoys & Girls Club: $120KBoys & Girls Club$120KAccelerate Great Schools: $100KAccelerate Great Schools$100KSeton Education Partners: $100KSeton Education Partners$100KSt Xavier High School: $100KSt Xavier High School$100KCincinnati Minority Business Accelerator: $50KCincinnati Minority BusinessAccelerator$50KLittle Miami Conservancy: $50KLittle Miami Conservancy$50KProkids: $50KProkids$50KRonald McDonald House: $50KRonald McDonald House$50K

The largest 2024 recipient was Cincinnati Zoo ($265K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($65,000), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

234 grants across all recorded years

208<$50K15$50–100K9$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 208 grants of 234 (89%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s website says it reviews proposals benefiting the Greater Cincinnati area. In 2024, 88% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio; other recipient states included Kentucky (4%), New York (4%), Missouri (2%), and Indiana (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 131 itemized grants.

Cities

CincinnatiCovingtonNewportMasonMilfordBlue AshBronxGolfHamiltonMiddletownNorwoodWest Chester TownshipAlantaCharles TownClarksvilleConvingtonDaytonElmsfordFalmouthFt Mitchell

How Edelweiss Foundation gives

  • 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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$1M$2M$3M0 grants2022 103 grants2023 131 grants2024

From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2023) to $2.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 131 grants totaling $2.7M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cincinnati Zoo Cincinnati, OHGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$265,000
Cincinnati Cancer Fdtn Cincinnati, OHGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$185,000
Boys & Girls Club Cincinnati, OHGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$120,000
Accelerate Great Schools Cincinnati, OHGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$100,000
Seton Education Partners Bronx, NYGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$100,000
St Xavier High School Cincinnati, OHGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$100,000
1 grant to individuals Recipients not named —$65,000
Cincinnati Minority Business Accelerator Cincinnati, OHGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$50,000
Little Miami Conservancy Loveland, OHGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$50,000
Prokids Cincinnati, OHGiven to the charity's general fund to be used as they see fit$50,000
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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$55,555,647$7,192,549$3,783,451$2,673,500131$3,130,066$6,667,302$3,129,208
2023$52,146,549$7,513,090$3,302,791$2,321,300103$2,783,684$7,047,005$2,742,813

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edelweiss Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M 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

The foundation’s mission is to provide funding for transformational opportunities that enrich Greater Cincinnati and its citizenry. Its vision is to finance efforts that help Greater Cincinnatians achieve their physical, intellectual, emotional, social, developmental, and spiritual potential.

The foundation lists education, career assistance, healthcare, family and community support, spiritual growth, and Cincinnati development as areas of particular interest. Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of supported work: Accelerate Great Schools says it seeks to ensure Cincinnati students in every neighborhood have access to a great school; The Christ Hospital says its mission is to improve community health and provide exceptional outcomes and experiences affordably; and ProKids says it advocates for abused and neglected children in the juvenile court system.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 131 grants totaling $2,673,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $265,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable awards included $265,000 to Cincinnati Zoo, $185,000 to Cincinnati Cancer Foundation, $120,000 to Boys & Girls Club, and $100,000 each to Accelerate Great Schools, Seton Education Partners, and St Xavier High School. The filing describes the listed grants as general-fund support for the recipients to use as they see fit.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Frank Crane III as president and treasurer; Carlotta C Wider as vice president; Karen Crane as secretary; and Erin Dunigan, Elizabeth Crane, Frank Crane IV, and Colleen Crane as trustees.

Edelweiss Foundation is led by Frank Crane III, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2022; all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Frank Crane III

    President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    10 hrs/week

    $83K (2023) → $95K (2024)

  • Erin Dunigan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    10 hrs/week

    $95K (2023) → $24K (2024)

  • Elizabeth Crane

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    10 hrs/week

    $71K (2023) → $24K (2024)

  • Colleen Crane

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    10 hrs/week

    $71K (2024)

  • Frank Crane IV

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    10 hrs/week

    $71K (2024)

  • Carlotta C. Wider

    Vice President

    On filings since 2022

    10 hrs/week

    $83K (2023) → $95K (2024)

  • Karen Crane

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    10 hrs/week

    $95K (2023) → $95K (2024)

Former officers (3)
  • Former: John R. Verkamp (2022–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Margaret McGoff (2022–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Mary Elizabeth Unnewehr (2022–2023) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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

Frank Crane III — President & Treasurer: $95KFrank Crane IIIPresident & Treasurer$95KCarlotta C Wider — Vice President: $95KCarlotta C WiderVice President$95KKaren Crane — Secretary: $95KKaren CraneSecretary$95KFrank Crane IV — Trustee: $71KFrank Crane IVTrustee$71KColleen Crane — Trustee: $71KColleen CraneTrustee$71KErin Dunigan — Trustee: $24KErin DuniganTrustee$24KElizabeth Crane — Trustee: $24KElizabeth CraneTrustee$24K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $95K, to Frank Crane III (President & Treasurer). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Edelweiss Foundation

How much does Edelweiss Foundation give each year?

Edelweiss Foundation gave $2.7M across 131 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 103 grants.

What is Edelweiss Foundation's typical grant size?

Edelweiss Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $20,408, across 131 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Edelweiss Foundation give grants?

Edelweiss Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (100 grants), Covington, KY (5 grants), Newport, KY (4 grants) and Mason, OH (2 grants).

Does Edelweiss Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Edelweiss Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (131 of 131) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Edelweiss Foundation's largest grantees?

Edelweiss Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cincinnati Zoo ($265,000), Cincinnati Cancer Fdtn ($185,000) and Boys & Girls Club ($120,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($65,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Edelweiss Foundation?

Edelweiss Foundation reported $55.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Edelweiss Foundation fund?

The foundation’s mission is to provide funding for transformational opportunities that enrich Greater Cincinnati and its citizenry. Its vision is to finance efforts that help Greater Cincinnatians achieve their physical, intellectual, emotional, social, developmental, and spiritual potential. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Edelweiss Foundation?

The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Edelweiss Foundation's EIN?

Edelweiss Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-3136523. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.

Does Edelweiss Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

Yes, 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 2022–2024

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Funders that support many of the same organizations

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Cincinnati, OH

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Edelweiss Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/edelweiss-foundation-morg_7cb392f4277c4a50b261aabab47f2839

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_883136523_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Edelweiss Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/edelweiss-foundation-morg_7cb392f4277c4a50b261aabab47f2839},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Edelweiss 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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