NLT Foundation Inc
NLT Foundation Inc, also known as the Nellie Leaman Taft Foundation, is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It supports arts education and environmental education programs in geographic areas important to Nellie Leaman Taft and her family.
NLT Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: NLT Foundation Inc gave $230K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Ohio. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $229,704
- -15.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- +12.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,563
- -25.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,852,466
- +11.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (13 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to NLT Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation invites qualified organizations to contact its Program Officer to schedule a screening interview. Approved organizations are invited to use the online application portal. Applications must include evidence of the required tax-exempt status and classification. The website says the annual cycle begins February 1, screening interviews conclude February 28, and the portal opens March 1 for up to 25 approved organizations.
- Review Cycle
- April 8 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The application deadline for the 2026 cycle has passed.
- Deadline
- April 8 at 9:00 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Jamie Markle
Mailing address: 308 E 8Th St Fl 4, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 401-6449
Email: jmarkle@ignitephilanthropy.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who NLT Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center ($25K). Together the top 10 received $128K.
Grant Size Distribution
146 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 146 grants of 146 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies four areas: Greater Cincinnati, Ohio; Los Angeles County, California; Boston, Massachusetts, within the Route 495 beltway; and Mid-Coast Maine, defined as Bath, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Brunswick, Camden, Cushing, Damariscotta, Lincolnville, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Searsport, Thomaston, Topsham, and Union.
In filing year 2025, 57% of grant dollars went to Ohio recipients, 14% to Massachusetts, 14% to California, 7% to Maine, and 5% to Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
Cities
Is NLT Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 35 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $9K repeat.
- 23% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $207K (2023) to $273K (2024). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $230K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center Cincinnati, OH | Arts/Arts Education | $25,000 |
| Angels Gate Cultural Center San Pedro, CA | Arts/Arts Education | $15,000 |
| Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Cincinnati, OH | Arts/Arts Education | $15,000 |
| Gaining Ground Concord, MA | Environmental | $12,604 |
| American Legacy Theatre Cincinnati, OH | Arts/Arts Education | $10,000 |
| Mill Creek Alliance Cincinnati, OH | Environmental | $10,000 |
| Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center Dorchester, MA | Arts/Arts Education | $10,000 |
| Northern Kentucky Symphony Inc Newport, KY | Arts/Arts Education | $10,000 |
| Ryman-Carroll Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Arts/Arts Education | $10,000 |
| Theatrezone Inc Chelsea, MA | Arts/Arts Education | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with NLT Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,852,466 | $688,625 | $303,263 | $229,704 | 35 | $252,670 | $644,804 | $283,117 |
| 2024 | $3,467,104 | $394,706 | $340,770 | $273,000 | 31 | $295,919 | $353,331 | $271,881 |
| 2023 | $3,413,168 | $333,587 | $269,799 | $206,900 | 28 | $227,565 | $297,774 | $243,086 |
| 2022 | $3,349,380 | $437,583 | $288,773 | $229,200 | 29 | $249,111 | $407,779 | $251,656 |
| 2021 | $3,200,570 | $428,736 | $287,280 | $240,150 | 23 | $259,205 | $404,254 | $260,049 |
| 2020 | $3,059,114 | $221,300 | $272,062 | $225,500 | 36 | — | $199,749 | $219,347 |
| 2019 | $3,109,876 | $379,570 | $261,753 | $213,000 | 28 | — | $357,544 | $222,740 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, NLT Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $283K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated funding focus is arts education and environmental education. Its website says it prefers small to mid-sized organizations and typically does not fund large institutions. Applicants must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and classified as “not a private foundation” under Section 509(a).
Recent grantees illustrate the range of supported work. Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center says it offers visual-arts exhibitions, studio programs, and publications for students, professionals, and the public. Mill Creek Alliance says it works on stream restoration, greenway construction, environmental education, public recreation, and water-quality monitoring. Gaining Ground says it grows and distributes produce for hunger relief and provides environmental education. These are descriptions of the grantees’ own missions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $229,704. Grants ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards included $25,000 to Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center; $15,000 each to Angels Gate Cultural Center and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; and $12,604 to Gaining Ground. Other notable awards were $10,000 each to American Legacy Theatre, Mill Creek Alliance, Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center, Northern Kentucky Symphony, Ryman-Carroll Foundation, and TheatreZone.
The foundation does not support endowments, major capital projects, individuals (including scholarships for specified individuals), advocacy and community organizing, projects already in progress or completed, or organizations with unfulfilled requirements from previous awards. Projects should generally begin within 90 days of award notification. Applicants must wait three years before submitting another proposal, regardless of the decision.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas W. Taft as president, Lucy Rosborough as clerk, Dudley S. Taft Sr. as treasurer, and Perin Mahler, Dudley S. Taft Jr., and Ken Mahler as trustees.
NLT Foundation Inc is led by Thomas W. Taft, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas W. Taft
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dudley S. Taft Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ken Mahler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Perin Mahler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dudley S. Taft Sr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Rosborough
Clerk
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 NLT Foundation Inc
How much does NLT Foundation Inc give each year?
NLT Foundation Inc gave $230K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $273K across 31 grants.
What is NLT Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
NLT Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,563, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from NLT Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does NLT Foundation Inc give grants?
NLT Foundation Inc gives mostly in Ohio: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (14%) and California (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (18 grants), Concord, MA (2 grants) and Concord, ME (2 grants).
Does NLT Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 35 grants with a stated purpose on NLT Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts/Arts Education" (17 grants), "Trustee Match" (13 grants) and "Environmental" (5 grants).
Who are NLT Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
NLT Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center ($25,000), Angels Gate Cultural Center ($15,000) and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is NLT Foundation Inc?
NLT Foundation Inc reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $253K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $283K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does NLT Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated funding focus is arts education and environmental education. Its website says it prefers small to mid-sized organizations and typically does not fund large institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from NLT Foundation Inc?
The foundation invites qualified organizations to contact its Program Officer to schedule a screening interview. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is NLT Foundation Inc's EIN?
NLT Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3361704. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 26, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in NLT Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation funds nonprofits working on education, housing, community and cultural vibrancy, and related regional needs, with responsive grants focused on its eight-county Greater Cincinnati service area. Its 2024 median grant was $20,000, though amounts vary widely; specific opportunities include awards of up to $35,000 for Resilient Communities and up to $450,000 through the Neighborhood Development Fund. It lists RFP and letter-of-intent opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,408
Total Given
$184.4M
Carol Ann and Ralph V Haile Jr
Cincinnati, OH
The foundation funds arts and culture, civic and community initiatives, education, and human services in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, with a typical grant around $25,000 (2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million). It says it funds preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$283.2M
Grants
167
Total Given
$11.8M
Louise Taft Semple Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Louise Taft Semple Foundation primarily funds arts and cultural projects in the Cincinnati region, while also considering education, civic, social service, and environmental initiatives. In 2024, grants ranged from $750 to $260,000, with a median of $15,000; most funding went to Ohio, with some in Kentucky and elsewhere. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$25.3M
Grants
56
Total Given
$1.8M
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts
Cincinnati, OH
ArtsWave funds arts and cultural organizations and projects, including operating support, arts and heritage projects, and grants for eligible artists. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,000 to $2.35 million, with a median of $19,000, primarily serving the Cincinnati region. Sustaining Impact Grants are by invitation; the profile does not state whether other opportunities accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$145.6M
Grants
91
Total Given
$9.7M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Charles H Dater Foundation Inc
Cincinnati, OH
The Charles H. Dater Foundation supports programs and projects benefiting children and young people in Greater Cincinnati, especially in arts and culture, education, healthcare, and social services. It makes about 150 grants a year, typically ranging from $20,000 to over $100,000; applications are submitted electronically, but the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$101.9M
Grants
144
Total Given
$5.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). NLT Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nlt-foundation-inc-morg_66d12ff0e086477abdf4b14d16866d32
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043361704_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{NLT Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nlt-foundation-inc-morg_66d12ff0e086477abdf4b14d16866d32},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 NLT Foundation Inc'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.
NLT Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?