Knox County Foundation
Knox County Foundation is a public charity based in Mount Vernon, Ohio. It makes grants and scholarships through unrestricted, donor-advised, designated, community-impact, and field-of-interest funds, with a stated mission focused on improving quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving.
Knox County Foundation at a glance
In short: Knox County Foundation gave $3.4M across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $79K), mostly in Ohio. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,384,821
- +59.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- -14.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $78,717
- +85.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $36,575
- Total assets
- $116,216,744
- +12.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (10 of 42, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Knox County Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation provides separate application procedures for Small Grant and Major Grant requests. Small Grant applicants must submit an Expression of Intent before the application deadline; applications are submitted through the organization’s grant portal.
- Review Cycle
- The guidelines list Small Grant application deadlines of January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15, for consideration the following month. The Expression of Intent is due by the 15th of the preceding month. For the October 15, 2026 deadline, that EOI date was September 15, 2026, which has passed.
- Deadline
- The guidelines list Small Grant application deadlines of January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15, for…
- Next open deadline
- October 19, 2026 (American Legion Post #136 Scholarship)
- Contact
Mailing address: 101 E Gambier Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Phone: (740) 392-3270
Website: https://knoxcf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from Knox County Foundation
American Legion Post #136 Scholarship
Knox County Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~October
Based on past cycles
Career and Technical Education Scholarships
Knox County Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Competitive Grants Program
Knox County Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Knox County Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Knox Development Partnership ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($52,846), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
211 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 142 grants of 211 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission and grantmaking guidelines focus on Knox County, Ohio. In 2024, 86% of itemized grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio; the filing also lists recipients in Indiana, Nebraska, Oregon, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Knox County Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 42 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $94K; repeat grants $75K. How we count
Medians: $55K first-time, $27K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2022) to $3.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $3.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Knox Development Partnership Mount Vernon, OH | Economic Development | $500,000 |
| The Salvation Army Mount Vernon, OH | Child Care Facility | $392,542 |
| Foundation for Knox Comm Hosp Mount Vernon, OH | ER Expansion Project | $320,900 |
| Acacia Fraternity Foundation Carmel, IN | Donor Advised Support | $275,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Knox Co Mount Vernon, OH | Headquarters Improv. | $176,360 |
| Schwab Charitable Omaha, NE | Donor Advised Support | $160,869 |
| United Way of Knox County Mount Vernon, OH | Program Support/Designations | $133,963 |
| Interchurch Social Services Mount Vernon, OH | Centerburg Expansion | $118,035 |
| First Congreg United Church Mount Vernon, OH | Annual & Donor Designations | $100,073 |
| Vista Village Inc Columbus, OH | Donor Advised Support | $99,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Knox County Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $116,216,744 | $11,658,750 | $6,459,347 | $3,384,821 | 43 | $8,381,290 |
| 2023 | $102,945,146 | $9,655,268 | $5,001,441 | $2,121,857 | 50 | $4,481,657 |
| 2022 | $88,930,244 | $5,789,310 | $4,918,182 | $1,950,252 | 38 | $2,462,771 |
| 2021 | $104,534,599 | $11,717,178 | $5,734,935 | $2,071,404 | 45 | $7,254,756 |
| 2020 | $87,802,057 | $11,387,138 | $4,686,263 | $2,734,769 | 35 | $4,419,081 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life in Knox County through planned charitable giving; provide a vehicle for donors to support charitable and community activities; respond to changing needs in education, youth services, recreation, arts and culture, social services, and civic, economic and community development; and develop a permanent community endowment that can help initiate vital projects.
It awards grants to qualifying nonprofits through donor-recommended or designated funds and through community-impact and field-of-interest funds guided by the board. Its listed 2024 grantees illustrate a range of activities. For example, Knox Development Partnership describes its work as furthering economic development through investments in real estate and other projects. Habitat for Humanity of Knox County describes its work as building and rehabilitating affordable housing, while Interchurch Social Services of Knox County describes its mission as providing emergency assistance and a Christian presence in the county.
The foundation also awards scholarships to Knox County students. Its filing says awards may be based on academic achievement, field of interest, or affiliations with particular schools or employers, and that scholarship funds are paid directly to educational institutions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 43 itemized grants totaling $3,384,821. Those grants ranged from $10,543 to $500,000, with a median of $36,575. The largest included $500,000 to Knox Development Partnership for economic development, $392,542 to The Salvation Army in Mount Vernon for a child care facility, and $320,900 to Foundation for Knox Community Hospital for an emergency-room expansion project.
The foundation’s grantmaking guidelines describe small grants of $10,000 or less and major grants above $10,000. Requests are subject to board or Grants Committee approval and are awarded competitively. Small Grant applicants must submit an Expression of Intent before applying. The foundation requires progress and final reports for grants made through its competitive grants program and may visually observe certain significant capital projects.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jeffrey Scott as Executive Director and Marc Odenweller as Finance Director. Directors and trustees listed include Chair Marsha Rinehart, Vice-Chair Ian Watson, Treasurer Kurt Schisler, Secretary Kim Rose, and trustees Tyler Griffith, Libby Wright, Wes Snyder, and Ora Smith.
Knox County Foundation is led by Jeffrey Scott, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jeffrey Scott
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$52K (2020) → $150K (2024)
Marsha Rinehart
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Odenweller
Finance Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$91K (2020) → $111K (2024)
Vicki Sant
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ora Smith
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Otho Eyster
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Libby Wright
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Wagner
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tyler Griffith
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wes Snyder
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ian Watson
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Daniels
Vice Chair
Director → Trustee, 2021
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Rose
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kurt Schisler
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Christopher Cordle (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Michael Sullivan (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Richard Mavis (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jan Reynolds (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Sean Decatur (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Susan Sukys (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffrey Boucher (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: David Stuller (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jeff Boucher (2020) — Director
- Former: John Lambert (2020) — Director
- Former: Mayor Richard Mavis (2020) — Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $150K, to Jeffrey Scott (Executive Dir.). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Knox County Foundation
How much does Knox County Foundation give each year?
Knox County Foundation gave $3.4M across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 50 grants.
What is Knox County Foundation's typical grant size?
Knox County Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $36,575, and its average grant was $78,717, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Knox County Foundation that year got $94K on average.
Where does Knox County Foundation give grants?
Knox County Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Indiana (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mount Vernon, OH (27 grants), Danville, OH (3 grants) and Columbus, OH (2 grants).
Does Knox County Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Knox County Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donor Advised Support" (8 grants), "Donor advised grant" (4 grants) and "Annual Designations" (3 grants).
Who are Knox County Foundation's largest grantees?
Knox County Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Knox Development Partnership ($500,000), The Salvation Army ($392,542) and Foundation for Knox Comm Hosp ($320,900), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($52,846), which are not listed by name. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Knox County Foundation?
Knox County Foundation reported $116.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.7M.
What does Knox County Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life in Knox County through planned charitable giving; provide a vehicle for donors to support charitable and community activities; respond to changing needs in education, youth services, recreation, arts and culture, social services, and civic, economic and community development; and develop a permanent community endowment that can help initiate vital projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Knox County Foundation?
The foundation provides separate application procedures for Small Grant and Major Grant requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Knox County Foundation's EIN?
Knox County Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1768219. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 22, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Knox County Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Knox County Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/knox-county-foundation-morg_7ffbe33eac434e0f867b8e393c05b6e2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311768219_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Knox County Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/knox-county-foundation-morg_7ffbe33eac434e0f867b8e393c05b6e2},
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 Knox County 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.
Knox County Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?