Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation
The Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation is a supporting organization of The Columbus Foundation, established in 1997. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the foundation represents the philanthropic vision of Robert D. Walter, founder of Cardinal Health, and his wife Margaret "Peggy" Walter. The foundation focuses on transformational giving with a philosophy centered on spreading kindness and creating lasting community impact.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$118.9M
+10.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.0M
+71.2% YoY
Grant Count
34
-15.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$207K
+101.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose is to support charitable organizations that benefit the community. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Children's health and well-being
- Family stabilization
- Arts and humanities
- Social services
- Religion
- Neighborhood development
- Advancing philanthropy
In 2022, the foundation created the Center for HumanKindness in collaboration with The Columbus Foundation to inspire acts of kindness and strengthen social connections throughout the community.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $500 to $10,000,000+, with typical awards ranging from $7,500 to $3,048,000
Review Cycle
with an approximate decision time of three months.
How to Apply
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations must be invited to apply. The foundation operates on a quarterly review cycle with an approximate decision time of three months.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary focus is central Ohio, with some support extending to Boston, Massachusetts and other areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation (Supporting Organization):
- Total Assets: $107,201,383 (2023)
- Total Revenues: $8,279,629 (2023)
- Total Expenses: $4,525,110 (2023)
Margaret M and Robert D Walter Foundation (Related Private Foundation):
- Total Assets: $90,755,991 (2024)
- Total Revenues: $5,903,755 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $3,294,663 (2024)
- Total Giving: $2,968,427 (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $118,920,517 | $107,201,383 | $94,685,678 |
| Revenue | $13,380,116 | $8,279,629 | $9,420,937 |
| Expenses | $7,438,839 | $4,525,110 | $7,339,245 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $8,097,218 | $5,558,837 | $6,697,409 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
184 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include St Charles Preparatory School ($3,048,000), Star House ($1,000,000), St Mary Catholic Church ($625,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADAPTIVE SPORTS CONNECTION POWELL, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $80,000 |
| BASIC NEEDS GIVING PARTNERSHIP GREEN BAY, WI | SOCIAL SERVICES | $50,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL OHIO COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $25,000 |
| COLUMBUS FOUNDATION COLUMBUS, OH | ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY | $100,000 |
| COLUMBUS FOUNDATION COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF ART COLUMBUS, OH | ARTS AND HUMANITIES | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITY FINANCIAL WELLNESS COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $125,000 |
| CRISTO REY COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL WORK STUDY PROGRAM COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $14,000 |
| FLYING HORSE FARMS MT GILEAD, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $125,000 |
| GLADDEN COMMUNITY HOUSE COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation (Supporting Organization):
- Robert D. Walter — President & Director
- Margaret M. Walter — Director
Margaret M and Robert D Walter Foundation (Related Private Foundation):
- Robert D. Walter — President & Director
- George H. Bennett Jr. — Vice President
- Jodi C. Fransen — Treasurer and Secretary
- Scott G. Heitkamp — Assistant Treasurer
- Matthew D. Walter — Director
- R. Blane Walter — Director
- Peter A. Walter — Director
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| R BLANE WALTER | CHAIRMAN / TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID R MEUSE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DOUGLAS F KRIDLER | SECRETARY/TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| PETER A WALTER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW D WALTER | VICE CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| SCOTT HEITKAMP | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Columbus Museum of Art announced the Margaret M. Walter Wing, honoring the foundation's benefactors. The foundation's creation of the Center for HumanKindness in 2022 represents a significant recent initiative to inspire acts of kindness and strengthen social connections in the community.
Margaret And Robert Walter Foundation - HinchillaSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation fund?
The foundation's purpose is to support charitable organizations that benefit the community. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Children's health and well-being • Family stabilization • Arts and humanities • Social services • Religion • Neighborhood development • Advancing philanthropy In 2022, the foundation created the Center for HumanKindness in collaboration with The Columbus Foundation to inspire acts of kindness and strengthen social connections throughout the community.
How do I apply for a grant from Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $500 to $10,000,000+, with typical awards ranging from $7,500 to $3,048,000 **Annual Giving:** Approximately $4.1 million to $7 million annually **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations must be invited to apply. The foundation operates on a quarterly review cycle with an approximate decision time of three months. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Columbus Foundation: $1,200,000 (Education) • Lawrence Catholic Academy of Lawrence,…
Where does Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary focus is central Ohio, with some support extending to Boston, Massachusetts and other areas.
What size grants does Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation award?
In 2024, Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $7.0M — an average of about $207K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation's EIN?
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1491083. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Margaret and Robert Walter 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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