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First Financial Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Cincinnati, OH EIN: 82-3823145 Website

nov-4-2025/article_eea1f71f-276f-47b5-8c6b-cc8f44e12aa6.html type: exa:news title: Business roundup - Nov. 4, 2025 | News | winchesternewsgazette.com type: exa:news title: First Foundation Bank Awards $160K in Community Grants Across 5 States | FFWM Stock News type: exa:news title: 'Contact Us: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - First Foundation Bank Announces 2025 Supporting Our Communities Grant Awardees' type: exa:news title: First Foundation Bank Announces 2025 Supporting Our Communities Grant Awardees

Key facts about First Financial Foundation

EIN
82-3823145
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$2,653,201
Grants made (2024)
92
Average grant
$28,839
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
36% first-time grantees (32 of 90, 2024)
Total assets
$1,878,655
Primary geography
Ohio (82% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation operates an annual grant campaign. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who First Financial Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for First Financial Foundation's 92 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (82%) and Indiana (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (32 grants), Hamilton, OH (7 grants), Indianapolis, IN (7 grants) and Louisville, KY (5 grants). 1% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is First Financial Foundation open to new grantees?

36%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 32 of 90 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $40K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with First Financial Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.9M

+994.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.7M

+10.0% YoY

Grant Count

92

+7.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$29K

+2.8% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation prioritizes three core funding areas:

  • Neighborhood Development — Supporting community revitalization and housing initiatives
  • Workforce Development and Education — Funding programs that build skills and educational opportunities
  • Culture and the Arts — Investing in cultural organizations and creative initiatives

The foundation particularly focuses on low-income communities and emerging markets within its service territory.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$5,000 to $435,390

Average Grant

amount varies by funding cycle

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations across multiple states where First Financial Bank operates, including:

  • Ohio (Cincinnati, Middletown, Hamilton, Franklin, and surrounding areas)
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky (including Covington)
  • Additional Midwest communities

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of all 92 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

CincinnatiIndianapolisColumbusLouisvilleHamiltonDaytonGreensburgRichmondBloomingtonMiddletownVan WertLafayetteLimaGaryHammondBatesvilleChicagoKankakeeMadisonMerrillville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (2023):

  • Total assets: $172,000–$1,878,655
  • Total giving: $2.4–$2.65 million annually
  • Number of grants: 85–96 per year

Broader Commitment: First Financial Foundation is part of the bank's five-year Community Benefits Agreement (2024–2028), through which the organization plans to provide $18 million in philanthropy. In 2019, First Financial invested over $1.6 million into approximately 1,045 community programs.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,878,655$171,585$28,258
Revenue$4,361,176$2,556,233$9,489
Expenses$1,604,772$2,002,241$3,250,734
Qualifying Distributions$2,653,326$2,412,818$2,495,708
Net Investment Income$60,396$56,145$6,310
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$719K$1M$2M$3M136 grants202088 grants202180 grants202286 grants202392 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

United Way of Greater Cincinnati: $391KUnited Way of GreaterCincinnati$391KHamilton Community Foundation: $280K across 2 grantsHamilton Community Foundation$280K · 2 grantsCincinnati USA Regional Chamber Minority Business: $200KCincinnati USA RegionalChamber Minority Business$200KAccelerate Great Schools: $200KAccelerate Great Schools$200KFC Cincinnati Foundation: $200KFC Cincinnati Foundation$200KCincinnati Playhouse in the Park: $125KCincinnati Playhouse in thePark$125KWorking in Neighborhoods: $75KWorking in Neighborhoods$75KFundnoire: $75KFundnoire$75KBusiness Development Corp of Van Wert: $55K across 2 grantsBusiness Development Corp ofVan Wert$55K · 2 grantsFreestore Foodbank Inc: $50KFreestore Foodbank Inc$50K

Grant Size Distribution

482 grants across all recorded years

410<$50K44$50–100K23$100–250K4$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from First Financial Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include United Way of Greater Cincinnati ($391,368), Hamilton Community Foundation ($280,000 across 2 grants), Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Minority Business ($200,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
UNITED WAY OF GREATER CINCINNATI Cincinnati, OHANNUAL CAMPAIGN (INCLUDING EE MATCH)$391,368
HAMILTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Hamilton, OHFor the development of a Port Authority to address unproductive real estate and create jobs in Hamilton, OH$240,000
CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER MINORITY BUSINESS Cincinnati, OHSUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF MINORITY AND SMALL BUSINESS IN THE CINCINNATI REGION$200,000
ACCELERATE GREAT SCHOOLS Cincinnati, OHFUNDING FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMMING IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS$200,000
FC CINCINNATI FOUNDATION Cincinnati, OHCOMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR WEST END DEVELOPMENT$200,000
CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK Cincinnati, OHCAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT A NEW BUILDING FOR PERFORMANCES AND SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN$125,000
WORKING IN NEIGHBORHOODS Cincinnati, OHREDEVELOPMENT OF 5 LMI CINCINNATI NEIGHBORHOODS$75,000
FUNDNOIRE Cincinnati, OHFund 24 black owned businesses over two years throughout the City of Cincinnati in $50,000 (max) increments.$75,000
FREESTORE FOODBANK INC Cincinnati, OHCAMPAIGN SUPPORT TO ASSIST IN SUPPLING MEALS TO THOSE OF THE COMMUNITY IN NEED$50,000
EXODUS REFUGEE IMMIGRATION INC Indianapolis, INHUMANITARIAN SERVICES AND SELF SUFFICIENCY TRAINING TO IMMIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS$50,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Board Members:

  • Archie Brown — President/Chair
  • Roddell McCullough — Secretary/Director; Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer
  • Karen B Woods — Treasurer/Director
  • Jamie Anderson — Director
  • Mandy Neeley — Director
  • Rick Dennen — Director

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Roddell McCulloughSecretary/Director——
Karen B WoodsTreasurer/Director——
Archie BrownPresident/Chair——
Jamie AndersonDirector——
Mandy NeeleyDirector——
Matt ReckmanDirector——

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2025

The foundation announced its largest grant campaign in company history in 2025, distributing $550,000 across 96 organizations in the Midwest. In Greater Cincinnati specifically, $182,500 was awarded to 32 nonprofits serving neighborhoods and nearby communities in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

2024

Beyond grantmaking, First Financial Bank employees contributed more than 14,000 volunteer hours in their communities in 2024, demonstrating the organization's broader community engagement strategy.

First Financial Bank awards $18,500 in grants to Bloomington ...

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does First Financial Foundation fund?

The foundation prioritizes three core funding areas: • **Neighborhood Development** — Supporting community revitalization and housing initiatives • **Workforce Development and Education** — Funding programs that build skills and educational opportunities • **Culture and the Arts** — Investing in cultural organizations and creative initiatives The foundation particularly focuses on low-income communities and emerging markets within its service territory.

How do I apply for a grant from First Financial Foundation?

The foundation operates an annual grant campaign. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does First Financial Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds organizations across multiple states where First Financial Bank operates, including: • Ohio (Cincinnati, Middletown, Hamilton, Franklin, and surrounding areas) • Indiana • Kentucky (including Covington) • Additional Midwest communities

What size grants does First Financial Foundation award?

In 2024, First Financial Foundation awarded 92 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is First Financial Foundation's EIN?

First Financial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3823145. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

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