The Ariel Foundation
The Ariel Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Ohio. Founded in 2009 by Karen Buchwald Wright as a private family foundation, it supports local partnerships and projects intended to improve quality of life in the an individual recipient area.
The Ariel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ariel Foundation gave $7.8M across 36 grants in 2024 (avg $216K), mostly in Ohio. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,772,546
- +97.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- -41.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $215,904
- +240.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $38,571,498
- -10.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (6 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ariel Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 121 East High Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050
Phone: (740) 392-0364
Website: https://ariel-foundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Ariel Foundation
Who The Ariel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cooper Park Development Company ($2.8M). Together the top 10 received $6.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
291 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 197 grants of 291 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation states that it focuses on improving quality of life throughout an individual recipient, Ohio. Its reported 2024 grant dollars were distributed entirely to Ohio recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ariel Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 36 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $177K; repeat grants $224K. How we count
Medians: $154K first-time, $45K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 411% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.9M (2023) to $7.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 36 grants totaling $7.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Park Development Company Mount Vernon, OH | Heartland Commerce Park (HCP) Corridor Improvement Project | $2,760,850 |
| Knox County Land Reutilization Corporation Mount Vernon, OH | Various Projects | $775,811 |
| City of Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, OH | Various Projects | $750,964 |
| Alcohol and Drug Freedom Center of Knox County Mount Vernon, OH | Capital Expansion Project | $500,000 |
| Knox County Foundation Mount Vernon, OH | Economic Development Support | $500,000 |
| The Salvation Army of Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, OH | Childcare Center Capital Campaign Match | $500,000 |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, OH | Various Projects | $285,165 |
| Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio Mount Vernon, OH | Knox County Behavioral Health Crisis Center | $250,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc Mount Vernon, OH | Affiliate Operations Center Acquisition Support | $250,000 |
| Mount Vernon Arts Consortium Inc Mount Vernon, OH | Amplifying Arts and Entertainment in Mount Vernon 2024 | $200,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ariel Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $38,571,498 | $3,646,135 | $7,975,020 | $7,772,546 | 36 | $7,770,651 | $2,248,919 | $1,890,055 |
| 2023 | $43,159,700 | $5,874,067 | $4,143,058 | $3,928,263 | 62 | $3,925,584 | $1,568,783 | $1,943,061 |
| 2022 | $39,347,964 | $4,993,980 | $4,497,886 | $4,249,471 | 62 | $4,245,722 | $2,426,357 | $695,316 |
| 2021 | $41,946,204 | $5,689,922 | $5,505,546 | $5,335,075 | 63 | $5,398,460 | $3,053,042 | $693,659 |
| 2020 | $39,535,661 | $402,571 | $7,068,094 | $6,890,499 | 68 | — | $579,875 | $1,000,370 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ariel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — 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 aim is to improve quality of life throughout an individual recipient, Ohio. Its grantmaking categories include arts and culture, civic and community, education, economic development, and health and human services. The Foundation describes its geographic focus as an individual recipient
Its grants support local charitable organizations and governmental entities. For example, the Alcohol and Drug Freedom Center of Knox County describes its work as behavioral health treatment for substance abuse disorders and mental illness. Knox County Head Start describes its work as providing early education, childcare and family services. The an individual recipient Arts Consortium says it supported community arts and entertainment events and coordinated local arts partners.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 36 grants totaling $7,772,546. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $2,760,850, with a median grant of $50,000. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio.
The largest 2024 grants included $2,760,850 to Cooper Park Development Company for the Heartland Commerce Park Corridor Improvement Project; $775,811 to Knox County Land Reutilization Corporation for various projects; and $750,964 to the City of an individual recipient for various projects. Other notable awards were $500,000 each to the Alcohol and Drug Freedom Center of Knox County for a capital expansion project, Knox County Foundation for economic development support, and The Salvation Army of an individual recipient for a childcare center capital campaign.
Grant applications are by invitation only. How to apply: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Organizations seeking consideration should submit a Letter of Inquiry by mail or email with their name, location and nonprofit status; contact information; a proposal description, approximate budget, request amount and timeline; the community need and anticipated benefits; and other funding sources being considered. The Foundation reviews inquiries and contacts organizations if additional information is needed. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities and state, municipal or political subdivisions. The Foundation lists organizations outside the an individual recipient area, religious organizations (with a stated exception for eligible organizations supporting community-wide, nonsectarian social services), fraternal and veterans organizations, programs solely athletic in nature and not connected to broader community or development goals, and political campaigns as ineligible. Deadline: Recommended Letter of Inquiry deadlines for quarterly consideration are January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1. The Foundation encourages those seeking major grants to begin discussions early in project planning.
The Foundation also awards James P. Buchwald Engineering Scholarships to eligible Knox County students. These are student scholarships, not grants to outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation’s 2024 filing listed Karen Buchwald Wright as supervising director, chairman and president; Kurt Schisler as current director, secretary and treasurer; Thomas Rastin as director; and Jen Odenweller as executive director.
The Ariel Foundation is led by Jen Odenweller, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jen Odenweller
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Buchwald Wright
Superv.dir., Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kurt Schisler
Current Director, Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Current Director, Secretary & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Rastin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: David Stuller (2020–2022) — Past - Director, Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Janet L. Reynolds (2020) — Director · Filing note: Retired 21920
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 The Ariel Foundation
How much does The Ariel Foundation give each year?
The Ariel Foundation gave $7.8M across 36 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.9M across 62 grants.
What is The Ariel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ariel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $215,904, across 36 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ariel Foundation that year got $177K on average.
Where does The Ariel Foundation give grants?
The Ariel Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mount Vernon, OH (27 grants) and Gambier, OH (2 grants).
Does The Ariel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on The Ariel Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Various Projects" (8 grants).
Who are The Ariel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ariel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cooper Park Development Company ($2,760,850), Knox County Land Reutilization Corporation ($775,811) and City of Mount Vernon ($750,964), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ariel Foundation?
The Ariel Foundation reported $38.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ariel Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated aim is to improve quality of life throughout an individual recipient, Ohio. Its grantmaking categories include arts and culture, civic and community, education, economic development, and health and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ariel Foundation?
The Ariel Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check ariel-foundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is The Ariel Foundation's EIN?
The Ariel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0226408. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Ariel Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ariel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ariel-foundation-morg_bc50adcf29ae4d9d8046af71ca7b7074
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_270226408_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ariel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ariel-foundation-morg_bc50adcf29ae4d9d8046af71ca7b7074},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Ariel 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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