Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation
The Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation is a public charity based in Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1997, it is a supporting organization of The Columbus Foundation and states that its purpose is to support charitable organizations that benefit the community.
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation at a glance
In short: Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation gave $6.2M across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $215K), mostly in Massachusetts. 34% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,223,392
- -11.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- -14.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $214,600
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $55,180
- Total assets
- $143,062,168
- +20.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (10 of 29, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (69% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1234 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43205-1405
Phone: (614) 251-4000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mission Grammar School ($4.0M). Together the top 10 received $5.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
163 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 163 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were reported as 69% to Massachusetts, 23% to Ohio, and 7% to Wisconsin; Illinois and Florida each accounted for 0%. The listed grants included recipients in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 29 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $58K; repeat grants $297K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $55K repeat.
- 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.1M (2023) to $12.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $6.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Grammar School Roxbury, MA | Education | $4,042,050 |
| Kenya Works Inc Appleton, WI | Social Services | $373,600 |
| St Mary Catholic Church Columbus, OH | Religion | $185,000 |
| Columbus Foundation Columbus, OH | Neighborhood | $160,000 |
| Catholic Diocese of Columbus Columbus, OH | Religion | $150,000 |
| Lawrence Catholic Academy of Lawrence Massachusetts Lawrence, MA | Education | $134,500 |
| Catholic Schools Foundation Inc Boston, MA | Education | $100,000 |
| Catholic Social Services Columbus, OH | Social Services | $100,000 |
| Community Refugee and Immigration Services Inc Columbus, OH | Neighborhood | $100,000 |
| Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services Columbus, OH | Social Services | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $143,062,168 | $20,416,568 | $6,662,266 | $6,223,392 | 29 | $9,548,113 |
| 2024 | $118,920,517 | $13,380,116 | $7,438,839 | $7,026,100 | 34 | $8,097,218 |
| 2023 | $107,201,383 | $8,279,629 | $4,525,110 | $4,103,900 | 40 | $5,558,837 |
| 2022 | $94,685,678 | $9,420,937 | $7,339,245 | $7,140,490 | 27 | $6,697,409 |
| 2021 | $119,634,869 | $20,893,833 | $12,526,428 | $12,430,000 | 33 | $14,520,965 |
| 2020 | $104,212,799 | $11,447,001 | $5,882,075 | $5,825,982 | 83 | $6,335,324 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states: “The Walter Family Foundation is a supporting organization of The Columbus Foundation. The purpose of the Walter Family Foundation is to support charitable organizations which benefit the community.”
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Kenya Works says it partners with Kenyan communities to reduce poverty and strengthen educational, vocational, and financial literacy. Jewish Family Services says it helps individuals and families achieve economic self-sufficiency and emotional stability. Catholic Schools Foundation says it provides need-based financial assistance for education at Catholic schools in the Boston Archdiocese. Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services describes its work as supporting immigrants, refugees, and low-income individuals through education, training, and other services. Lower Lights Christian Health Center says it provides whole-person medical care in Central Ohio regardless of ability to pay.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $6,223,392. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $4,042,050, with a median grant of $55,180.
The largest grant was $4,042,050 to Mission Grammar School in Roxbury, Massachusetts, for education. Other notable grants included $373,600 to Kenya Works; $185,000 to St. Mary Catholic Church; $160,000 to The Columbus Foundation; and $150,000 to the Catholic Diocese of Columbus. The filing also listed grants of $134,500 to Lawrence Catholic Academy, $100,000 each to Catholic Schools Foundation, Catholic Social Services, Community Refugee and Immigration Services, Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, Jewish Family Services, and Lower Lights Christian Health Center.
The filing says the reported number of contributions represents the number of donors of publicly traded securities during the year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists R. Blane Walter as chairman and trustee; David R. Meuse as trustee; Douglas F. Kridler as secretary and trustee; Peter A. Walter as president; Matthew D. Walter as vice chairman; Scott Heitkamp as treasurer; and Nikki Scarpitti as executive director.
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation is led by Peter A. Walter, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Peter A. Walter
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Scarpitti
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
R. Blane Walter
Chairman & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David R. Meuse
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas F. Kridler
Secretary & Trustee
Secretary → Secretary & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew D. Walter
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Heitkamp
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Janet Mollmann (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation
How much does Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation give each year?
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation gave $6.2M across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.0M across 34 grants.
What is Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation's typical grant size?
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $55,180, and its average grant was $214,600, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation that year got $58K on average.
Where does Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation give grants?
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Ohio (23%) and Wisconsin (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (19 grants).
Does Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (11 grants), "Social Services" (9 grants) and "Arts and Humanities" (3 grants).
Who are Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation's largest grantees?
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mission Grammar School ($4,042,050), Kenya Works Inc ($373,600) and St Mary Catholic Church ($185,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation?
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation reported $143.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.4M.
What does Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation fund?
The organization states: “The Walter Family Foundation is a supporting organization of The Columbus Foundation. The purpose of the Walter Family Foundation is to support charitable organizations which benefit the community.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation?
Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/margaret-and-robert-walter-foundation-morg_7dce4aa135ae489b945e643ae39dee6d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311491083_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/margaret-and-robert-walter-foundation-morg_7dce4aa135ae489b945e643ae39dee6d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Margaret and Robert Walter 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.
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