John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation
The John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio, and currently based in Brooklyn, Ohio. The foundation was created by John F. Ernsthausen, who founded Norwalk Truck Line Co., one of the first trucking companies in the country, in 1923.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
+3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$354K
+17.6% YoY
Grant Count
10
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
-5.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $384K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations with a focus on:
- Protestant religious institutions
- Services for the aged
- Higher and secondary education
- Community development and economic development
- Christian organizations
- Animal welfare
- Historic preservation
- Education
The foundation has gained a particular reputation for providing band uniforms to area high school bands. It has historically supported institutions including Bowling Green State University, the First Methodist Church, and Baldwin-Wallace College.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
information is not detailed in available sources.
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts applications, though specific deadline information is not detailed in available sources.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Ohio and Michigan, with particular emphasis on the Norwalk, Ohio area and the broader Ohio region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $5,547,602 (as of most recent filing)
- Total Annual Giving: $354,000 (fiscal year ending June 2025)
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since June 1958
Historical context: In 1993, the foundation held assets of $9.24 million with expenditures of over $344,000 for 12 grants.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,547,602 | $5,383,991 | $5,181,867 |
| Revenue | $575,273 | $566,396 | $672,855 |
| Expenses | $411,739 | $363,497 | $344,383 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $367,379 | $313,388 | $306,842 |
| Net Investment Income | $536,767 | $530,426 | $639,702 |
| Distributable Amount | $383,518 | $344,164 | $316,410 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Norwalk Area United Fund ($125,000), Norwalk City Schools ($70,000), Norwalk Catholic Schools ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARTIST OPEN STUDIO NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| NORWALK AREA UNITED FUND NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $125,000 |
| HURON COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $19,000 |
| FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| NORWALK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| NORWALK PUBLIC LIBRARY NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| NORWALK CITY SCHOOLS NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $70,000 |
| HURON COUNTY IMAGINATION LIBRARY PORT AUSTIN, MI | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| NORWALK CATHOLIC SCHOOLS NORWALK, OH | GENERAL OPERATING | $70,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Cornelius J. Ruffing served as foundation manager (as of 1993).
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN T LENDRUM | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| KENNETH BLEILE | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| MARK CORIELL | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JAMES F GERKEN | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| PERRY M DRYDEN | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| KEYBANK N A | TRUSTEE | 1 | $48,516 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation fund?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations with a focus on: • Protestant religious institutions • Services for the aged • Higher and secondary education • Community development and economic development • Christian organizations • Animal welfare • Historic preservation • Education The foundation has gained a particular reputation for providing band uniforms to area high school bands. It has historically supported institutions including Bowling Green State University, the First Methodist Chu…
How do I apply for a grant from John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $2,930 to $125,000. **Types of Support:** The foundation provides general operating support and project support. **Recent Activity:** As of the most recent fiscal year (ending June 2025), the foundation distributed $354,000 in grants. **Application Process:** The foundation accepts applications, though specific deadline information is not detailed in available sources.
Where does John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Ohio and Michigan, with particular emphasis on the Norwalk, Ohio area and the broader Ohio region.
What size grants does John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation award?
In 2025, John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $354K — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $384K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation's EIN?
John F & Doris E Ernsthausen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6501908. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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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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