Pulley Foundation
The Pulley Foundation is a private foundation established in 1969 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It operates as a non-operating foundation with a focus on selective grantmaking to preselected charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.3M
-1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+11.6% YoY
Grant Count
21
+90.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
-41.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pulley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving is primarily directed toward the arts, with particular emphasis on symphony orchestras and opera houses.
Grantmaking
The foundation has made 58 grants totaling $4 million across available records. Recent grantmaking shows:
Grant Range
range:** $3,000 to $775,000, with a median grant of $15,000 and average award of $69,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio. It has supported 14 unique organizations across these states.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $10.3 million
- Revenue: $944,957
- Expenses: $1,146,788
- Net Income: -$201,831
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $10.5 million
- Total Revenues: $1,367,468
- Total Expenses: $1,029,743
- Investment Income: $551,821
The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and dividends rather than contributions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,336,777 | $10,538,390 | $10,204,909 |
| Revenue | $944,957 | $1,367,468 | $1,020,275 |
| Expenses | $1,146,788 | $1,029,743 | $1,104,175 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,063,043 | $952,781 | $1,033,460 |
| Net Investment Income | $884,426 | $1,310,388 | $962,747 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,005,767 | $941,307 | $959,644 |
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
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chatham Hall ($250,000), Gods Pantry Food Bank ($250,000), Central Institute for the Deaf ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST PATRICK'S CHURCH MAYSVILLE, KY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HOSPICE OF HOPE INC MAYSVILLE, KY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| OPERA THEATRE OF ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ST LOUIS ZOOLOGICAL PARK ST LOUIS, MO | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CENTRAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF ST LOUIS, MO | ENDOWMENT FUND | $100,000 |
| WASHINGTON OPERA HOUSE MAYSVILLE, KY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| TOM BROWNING BOYS & GIRLS CLUB MAYSVILLE, KY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| KENTUCKY GATEWAY MUSEUM CENTER MAYSVILLE, KY | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN SAINT LOUIS, MO | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK CINCINNATI, OH | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Janet L. Houston serves as President of the foundation. US Bank is listed as the principal officer. The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIRGINIA B ILLICK | TRUSTEE/VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KATHRYN B HENDRICKSON | TRUSTEE/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DOROTHY W BROWNING | TRUSTEE/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JANET L HOUSTON | TRUSTEE/PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| VIRGINIA J BROWNING | TRUSTEE/VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Pulley Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving is primarily directed toward the arts, with particular emphasis on symphony orchestras and opera houses.
How do I apply for a grant from Pulley Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Patterns** The foundation has made 58 grants totaling $4 million across available records. Recent grantmaking shows: • **2023 grants included:** • Washington Opera House: $435,000 (Program Support) • Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club: $275,000 (Program Support) • Central Institute for the Deaf (CID): $100,000 (Endowment Fund) • **Grant size range:** $3,000 to $775,000, with a median grant of $15,000 and average award of $69,000 • **Annual giving trends:** Increased from $288,0…
Where does Pulley Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio. It has supported 14 unique organizations across these states.
What size grants does Pulley Foundation award?
In 2024, Pulley Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $50K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Pulley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Pulley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Pulley Foundation's EIN?
Pulley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7009545. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pulley 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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