The Ariel Foundation
The Ariel Foundation is a private family foundation based in Mount Vernon, Ohio, founded in 2009 by Karen Buchwald Wright. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving quality of life throughout Mount Vernon and Knox County, Ohio. Over its 16-year history, the Foundation has partnered with more than 90 service, government, education, and economic development organizations in the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$38.6M
-10.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.8M
+97.9% YoY
Grant Count
36
-41.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$216K
+240.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Ariel Foundation focuses on improving quality of life in Mount Vernon, Ohio and the surrounding area through grant partnerships with local organizations. Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Health and wellbeing
- Community preservation
- Community revitalization
Grantmaking
Since 2010, The Ariel Foundation has partnered with 80 local grantees to provide more than 600 grants aimed at enhancing quality of life in and around Mount Vernon.
Review Cycle
of May 1.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Mount Vernon, Ohio and Knox County, with some activity in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $38,571,498
- Total Revenue: $3,646,135
- Total Expenses: $7,975,020
- Total Giving: $7,770,651
The Foundation has been tax-exempt since July 2009 (EIN: 27-0226408).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $38,571,498 | $43,159,700 | $39,347,964 |
| Revenue | $3,646,135 | $5,874,067 | $4,993,980 |
| Expenses | $7,975,020 | $4,143,058 | $4,497,886 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,770,651 | $3,925,584 | $4,245,722 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,248,919 | $1,568,783 | $2,426,357 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,890,055 | $1,943,061 | $695,316 |
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
236 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Ariel Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Alex Wright, Chairman and President
- Kurt Schisler, Secretary and Treasurer
- Brian Huprich, Director
Staff:
- Jen Odenweller, Executive Director
- Theresa Morris, Office Manager
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN BUCHWALD WRIGHT | SUPERV.DIR., CHAIRMAN,PRES | 1 | — |
| KURT SCHISLER | CURRENT DIRECTOR, SECRETARY, TREASURER | 5 | — |
| THOMAS RASTIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEN ODENWELLER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the Foundation made significant grants including support for the Heartland Commerce Park Corridor Improvement Project, Knox County Land Reutilization Corporation projects, and economic development initiatives through the Knox County Foundation. The Foundation continues to offer annual engineering scholarships with a May 1 deadline.
James P. Buchwald engineering scholarship open to Knox County ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Ariel Foundation on Grantable?
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