The Siemer Family Foundation is a supporting organization of The Columbus Foundation, established in 1997 by Barbara and Al Siemer. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the foundation operates as a public charity focused on grantmaking to address educational, cultural, and societal needs in central Ohio. The Siemers own Desco Corporation, a holding company for manufacturing companies in the United States and Europe.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$76.8M
+122.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.1M
+45.7% YoY
Grant Count
81
-12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$285K
+65.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking is guided by Barbara Siemer, who serves as chairperson. Her background as a high school English teacher and extensive community volunteer work benefiting children inform the foundation's priorities.
The Siemer Family Foundation supports programs that benefit the central Ohio community by:
- Improving educational opportunities for school-age children, including those during the school day and those outside of traditional school hours, relating to specific academic areas, or enhancing overall academic achievement
- Providing young children access to quality early childhood education and care
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Social Services
- Health
- Neighborhood development
- Arts and Humanities
- Advancing Philanthropy
- Religion
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Recent grants have ranged from $10,000 to $25,000+, with notable larger grants including $10,000,000 to Siemer Institute, $2,500,000 to Ohio State University Foundation, and $500,000 to Futureready Ready Five.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Central Ohio, with emphasis on Franklin County.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $34,558,648 (2023)
Total Revenues: $13,815,821 (2023)
Total Expenses: $16,336,403 (2023)
Total Giving: $23,107,268 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $76,790,355 | $34,558,648 | $34,625,821 |
| Revenue | $59,708,922 | $13,815,821 | $1,893,276 |
| Expenses | $23,503,863 | $16,336,403 | $9,492,258 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,425,484 | $772,891 | $788,481 |
| 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
237 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Siemer Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation ($975,720), Mid-ohio Foodbank Dba Mid-ohio Food Collective ($500,000), Muskingum University ($360,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2ND & 7 COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| BHUTANESE COMMUNITY OF CENTRAL OHIO COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL OHIO COLUMBUS, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $20,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CENTRAL OHIO COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $25,000 |
| BROAD STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH COLUMBUS, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $35,000 |
| BROWN GIRLS MENTORING INC COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| BURNING LIMB FOUNDATION FRISCO, TX | HEALTH | $225,000 |
| CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES COLUMBUS, OH | SOCIAL SERVICES | $15,000 |
| CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES INC NEW YORK, NY | NEIGHBORHOOD | $15,000 |
| CENTRAL COMMUNITY HOUSE OF COLUMBUS INC COLUMBUS, OH | EDUCATION | $26,564 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Barbara Siemer - Chairperson
- Scott Heitkamp - Principal Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA J SIEMER | CHAIRPERSON/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH M SIEMER | PRESIDENT & VICE CHAIRPERSON | 1 | — |
| DOUGLAS F KRIDLER | SECRETARY/TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| SCOTT HEITKAMP | TREASURER/TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| DAN SHARPE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Siemer Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking is guided by Barbara Siemer, who serves as chairperson. Her background as a high school English teacher and extensive community volunteer work benefiting children inform the foundation's priorities. The Siemer Family Foundation supports programs that benefit the central Ohio community by: • Improving educational opportunities for school-age children, including those during the school day and those outside of traditional school hours, relating to specific academic ar…
How do I apply for a grant from Siemer Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Recent grants have ranged from $10,000 to $25,000+, with notable larger grants including $10,000,000 to Siemer Institute, $2,500,000 to Ohio State University Foundation, and $500,000 to Futureready Ready Five. **Annual Giving:** Approximately $15.9 million annually (2023: $15,862,851) **Application Process:** • Online application portal available through Grant Interface • Decision timeline: approximately 5 months • Pre-application support available through The Columbus Foundati…
Where does Siemer Family Foundation make grants?
Central Ohio, with emphasis on Franklin County.
What size grants does Siemer Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Siemer Family Foundation awarded 81 grants totaling $23.1M — an average of about $285K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Siemer Family Foundation's EIN?
Siemer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1550556. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Siemer Family 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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