Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization
Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) is a public charity based in Columbus, Ohio. It advocates for school choice and religious freedom in education and funds scholarships for students attending participating Christian schools in Ohio.
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization at a glance
In short: Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization gave $1.2M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $74K), mostly in Ohio. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,176,226
- -56.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -65.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $73,514
- +23.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $63,435
- Total assets
- $3,345,583
- +125.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (3 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% 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 Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization
- Contact
Mailing address: 62 E Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (513) 733-5775
Website: https://ohiocen.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Heritage Classical Academy ($320K). Together the top 10 received $972K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($161,539), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 93 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 14 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $103K. How we count
Medians: $16K first-time, $71K repeat.
- 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2023–2025). 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 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2025) to $2.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage Classical Academy Chagrin Falls, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $320,400 |
| Worthington Christian School Worthington, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $147,500 |
| Cincinnati Hills Christian Acadmeny Cincinnati, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $130,000 |
| The Garden Christian Academy Cleveland, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $79,360 |
| Charis Classical Academy Mason, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $71,289 |
| 3 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $161,539 |
| St Peregrine Academy Richfield, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $66,416 |
| Mansfield Christian School Mansfield, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $62,480 |
| Madison Christian School Groveport, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $38,700 |
| Chess Christian School Springboro, OH | Grants were made to students, payments sent to schools on behalf of students | $28,250 |
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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 | $3,345,583 | $3,310,060 | $1,450,366 | $1,176,226 | 16 | $48,624 |
| 2024 | $1,485,889 | $3,269,898 | $2,933,855 | $2,729,627 | 46 | $20,465 |
| 2023 | $1,202,303 | $1,786,354 | $1,581,838 | $1,463,923 | 31 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
OCEN’s stated mission is to protect the religious liberty of Christian schools and ensure every Ohio family has access to a Gospel-centered education. Its stated principles include parents’ rights, education funding that follows the child, and school-choice programs with minimal restrictions.
The 2024 filing describes its program as granting scholarships to individual students to attend private schools. Its website says the OCEN Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) awards scholarships to students attending participating schools, with donors able to designate a school and priority given to students in financial need.
The organizations receiving 2025 grants include Christian schools and a child-development center. For example, Heritage Classical Academy describes its mission as developing students in partnership with parents through a Christ-centered curriculum and classical education. The Garden Christian Academy says it provides youth with a distinguished, Christ-centered education; Mansfield Christian School describes itself as an educational and religious institution serving students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Weaver Child Development Center says it provides developmentally appropriate education in a Christian atmosphere for toddlers through fifth grade.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, OCEN reported 16 grants totaling $1,176,226. Grant amounts ranged from $7,600 to $320,400, with a median of $63,434. The largest listed awards included $320,400 to Heritage Classical Academy, $147,500 to Worthington Christian School, $130,000 to an individual recipient Christian Academy, $79,360 to The Garden Christian Academy, and $71,289 to Charis Classical Academy. The filing describes these awards as grants to students, with payments sent to schools on their behalf.
OCEN’s website says students enrolled in participating schools may apply for scholarships. It also explains that donors may direct contributions to a participating school.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Aaron Baer as president, Al Caperna as chairman, Rich Johnson as vice chairman, Brian Spires as treasurer, Paul Kalmbach as secretary, and Margaret Hartshorn as a board member. OCEN’s website identifies Troy McIntosh as executive director.
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization is led by Aaron Baer, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Aaron Baer
President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Al Caperna
Chairman
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Spires
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Hartshorn
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Kalmbach
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rich Johnson
Vice Chairman
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: David Myhal (2023–2024) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "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 Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization
How much does Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization give each year?
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization gave $1.2M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.7M across 46 grants.
What is Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization's typical grant size?
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization's median grant in 2025 was $63,435, and its average grant was $73,514, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization that year got $14K on average.
Where does Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization give grants?
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization's largest grantees?
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization's largest 2025 grantees include Heritage Classical Academy ($320,400), Worthington Christian School ($147,500) and Cincinnati Hills Christian Acadmeny ($130,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($161,539), which are not listed by name. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization?
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.3M.
What does Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization fund?
OCEN’s stated mission is to protect the religious liberty of Christian schools and ensure every Ohio family has access to a Gospel-centered education. Its stated principles include parents’ rights, education funding that follows the child, and school-choice programs with minimal restrictions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization?
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ohiocen.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization's EIN?
Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1787824. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ohio-christian-education-network-scholarship-granting-organization-morg_6e1c1a51ab0a4ff8ab9a3f74103a1227
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311787824_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ohio-christian-education-network-scholarship-granting-organization-morg_6e1c1a51ab0a4ff8ab9a3f74103a1227},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. 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 Ohio Christian Education Network Scholarship Granting Organization'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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