Louise Taft Semple Foundation
The Louise Taft Semple Foundation is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio, established in 1941 and tax-exempt since April 1945. The foundation honors the legacy of Louise Taft Semple (1879-1961), daughter of Charles Phelps Taft and a major patron of Cincinnati's cultural institutions. With approximately $24 million in assets, the foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Cincinnati region through strategic philanthropic support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.3M
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-5.8% YoY
Grant Count
56
-5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-0.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Louise Taft Semple Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to support programs that benefit the people of Cincinnati, Ohio. Funding priorities, in order of emphasis, include:
- Arts and cultural organizations (overwhelming majority of awards), including performing arts
- Private elementary and secondary education, particularly institutions emphasizing arts education and cultural enrichment
- Civic and community projects
- Environmental initiatives
The foundation does not support general operating expenses, individuals (including scholarships for specified individuals), advocacy and community organizing, or projects that have already been completed.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts proposals for:
Grant Range
of approximately $32,928. Recent notable grants include:
Average Grant
of approximately $32,928. Recent notable grants include:
Review Cycle
**:
Grant Types
How to Apply
The foundation manages applications through Ignite Philanthropy. Key requirements and procedures include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Louise Taft Semple Foundation supports programs that benefit the people of Cincinnati, Ohio, with primary geographic focus on the Cincinnati region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2023:
- Total Assets: $24,086,826
- Total Revenue: $2,692,757
- Total Expenses: $2,216,109
- Investment Income and Dividends: $844,994
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $1,846,982
- Total Liabilities: $0
Annual Giving (2024): $1,830,750 across 56 grants
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,257,406 | $24,086,826 | $23,608,131 |
| Revenue | $3,372,721 | $2,692,757 | $2,656,540 |
| Expenses | $2,202,326 | $2,216,109 | $2,310,837 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,919,553 | $2,019,265 | $2,016,059 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,151,277 | $2,511,565 | $2,436,812 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,947,058 | $1,576,238 | $1,729,435 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Louise Taft Semple Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati ($260,000), Artworks ($150,000), Ladd - Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANDOVER ANDOVER, ME | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| ARTSWAVE CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL | $70,000 |
| ARTWORKS CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL | $150,000 |
| BEECH ACRES CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERSOF GREATER CINCINNAT CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| BOOKS BY THE BANKS CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL | $260,000 |
| CARTOON CROSSROADS COLUMBUS COLUMBUS, OH | GENERAL | $750 |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL | $1,750 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key trustees and contacts include:
- Dudley S. Taft
- Mrs. Robert A. Taft II
- John T. Lawrence III
- Annemarie Henkel (contact person)
- Jamie Markle (Grant Inquiries)
Grant administration is professionally managed through Ignite Philanthropy.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MR DUDLEY S TAFT | CHAIRMAN, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MRS ROBERT A TAFT II | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MR JOHN T LAWRENCE III | TREASURER, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MR MICHAEL S MCGRAW | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MR ROBERT LAWRENCE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MR THOMAS W TAFT | SECRETARY, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues its 83-year tradition of supporting Cincinnati's cultural and educational institutions. In 2024, the foundation awarded $1,830,750 across 56 grants, demonstrating consistent commitment to its funding priorities. The foundation's grant administration through Ignite Philanthropy ensures professional management of the application process and consistent standards across all funding decisions.
Funding Alert: Regional - Society for NonprofitsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Louise Taft Semple Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to support programs that benefit the people of Cincinnati, Ohio. Funding priorities, in order of emphasis, include: • **Arts and cultural organizations** (overwhelming majority of awards), including performing arts • **Private elementary and secondary education**, particularly institutions emphasizing arts education and cultural enrichment • **Civic and community projects** • **Environmental initiatives** The foundation does not support general operating expe…
How do I apply for a grant from Louise Taft Semple Foundation?
The foundation accepts proposals for: • Project and program funding (primary focus) • Capital improvement proposals (considered case-by-case) • Endowment requests (rare circumstances only) Recent grant activity shows annual giving of approximately $1.8 million across 56-59 grants, with an average grant size of approximately $32,928. Recent notable grants include: • Children's Theatre of Cincinnati: $300,000 • Cincinnati Country Day School: $106,500 • Living Arrangements for the Developmentally …
Where does Louise Taft Semple Foundation make grants?
The Louise Taft Semple Foundation supports programs that benefit the people of Cincinnati, Ohio, with primary geographic focus on the Cincinnati region.
What size grants does Louise Taft Semple Foundation award?
In 2024, Louise Taft Semple Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Louise Taft Semple Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Louise Taft Semple Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Louise Taft Semple Foundation's EIN?
Louise Taft Semple Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0653526. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Louise Taft Semple Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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