George & Margaret Mclane Foundation
The George and Margaret McLane Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private independent foundation established in 2007 and formally created in 2011 through the estate of Wilhelmina McLane. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit initiatives across multiple sectors including education, arts and culture, human services, and animal welfare.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.1M
-16.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+48.0% YoY
Grant Count
38
-15.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
+75.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George & Margaret Mclane Foundation reported a distributable amount of $845K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The George and Margaret McLane Foundation is committed to building community and improving people's lives by supporting organizations that:
- Education & College Readiness: Prepare children for success in school and college readiness, helping them meet their education and career goals. In keeping with the wishes of Wilhelmina McLane, the foundation awards scholarships annually to worthy graduates of Franklin High School.
- Arts & Humanities: Enrich people's lives through creative arts and the humanities.
- Vulnerable Populations: Protect and advance the lives of people in vulnerable populations.
- Animal Welfare: Promote the welfare of animals, including support for no-kill shelters, spay/neuter programs, and cruelty prevention.
The foundation also supports libraries, information and communications initiatives, and community revitalization efforts.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations. Recent grant activity shows:
Grant Range
**: Typical awards range from $400 to $250,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, with particular activity in cities including Augusta, Blue Ash, Cincinnati, Covington, Franklin, Madeira, Notre Dame, and West Chester.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,060,965
- Total Revenue: $792,000
- Total Expenses: $1,800,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $6,071,916
- Total Revenue: $959,220
- Total Expenses: $1,263,556
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,060,965 | $6,071,916 | $6,376,252 |
| Revenue | $792,141 | $959,220 | $412,694 |
| Expenses | $1,803,092 | $1,263,556 | $850,042 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,555,750 | $1,051,450 | $658,075 |
| Net Investment Income | $703,395 | $388,336 | $330,045 |
| Distributable Amount | $845,480 | $733,451 | $778,836 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Catholic Charities Sw Ohio ($250,000), Franklin City Schools ($200,000), Optimall Services ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | ART EDUCATION | $40,000 |
| ARTWORKS CINCINNATI, OH | PROMOTING ART | $20,000 |
| BEHRINGER-CRAWFORD MUSEUM COVINGTON, KY | PRESENTATION & STUDY OF NATURE, & AR | $30,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER CINCINNATI, OH | AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES SW OHIO CINCINNATI, OH | HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES | $250,000 |
| CET PUBLIC TELEVISION CINCINNATI, OH | EDUCATION & ARTS | $40,000 |
| CINCINNATI MEMORIAL HALL SOCIETY CINCINNATI, OH | COMMUNITY ART CENTER | $71,700 |
| CINCINNATI REDS COMMUNITY FUND CINCINNATI, OH | YOUTH OUTREACH | $4,000 |
| CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CINCINNATI, OH | MUSIC AND ARTS | $45,000 |
| CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER CINCINNATI, OH | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Trustee & President: James L. Wellinghoff
- Executive Director: Christopher M. Wheeler
- Vice President: Marilyn J. Wellinghoff
- Secretary: Christopher M. Wheeler
- Advisory Board Members: Mary Gruber Englert, Abigail Korrell
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER WHEELER | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $84,000 |
| KRISTEN WHEELER | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| JAMES L WELLINGHOFF | MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| MARILYN WELLINGHOFF | VICE PRESIDE | 5 | — |
| MARY GRUBER ENGLERT | MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
| ABIGAIL KORRELL | MEMBER | 0.35 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1106 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-7278
- Phone: 513-479-7999
- Website: www.mclanefoundation.org
The foundation's offices are located in Cincinnati's historic Over the Rhine neighborhood.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does George & Margaret Mclane Foundation fund?
The George and Margaret McLane Foundation is committed to building community and improving people's lives by supporting organizations that: • **Education & College Readiness**: Prepare children for success in school and college readiness, helping them meet their education and career goals. In keeping with the wishes of Wilhelmina McLane, the foundation awards scholarships annually to worthy graduates of Franklin High School. • **Arts & Humanities**: Enrich people's lives through creative arts a…
How do I apply for a grant from George & Margaret Mclane Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions to 501(c)(3) organizations. Recent grant activity shows: • **Grant Volume**: The foundation made 34 grants in 2023 • **Grant Range**: Typical awards range from $400 to $250,000 • **Recent Examples** (2023): • Xavier Jesuit Academy: $100,000 (Education) • Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society: $65,000 (Community Art Center) • Women in Film Cincinnati: $65,000 (Promoting and Cultivating Film) **Total giving in 2024**: $1,555,750
Where does George & Margaret Mclane Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, with particular activity in cities including Augusta, Blue Ash, Cincinnati, Covington, Franklin, Madeira, Notre Dame, and West Chester.
What size grants does George & Margaret Mclane Foundation award?
In 2024, George & Margaret Mclane Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is George & Margaret Mclane Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, George & Margaret Mclane Foundation reported a distributable amount of $845K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is George & Margaret Mclane Foundation's EIN?
George & Margaret Mclane Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-7373591. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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