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
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.
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
**
Ready to take the next step with The Ariel Foundation?
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cooper Park Development Company ($2,760,850), Knox County Land Reutilization Corporation ($775,811), City of Mount Vernon ($750,964).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREEDOM CENTER OF KNOX COUNTY MOUNT VERNON, OH | CAPITAL EXPANSION PROJECT | $500,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF KNOX COUNTY MOUNT VERNON, OH | RED CROSS PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCY IN KNOX COUNTY 2024 | $12,000 |
| ASHLAND PARENTING PLUS ASHLAND, OH | GROWING CASA SERVICES IN KNOX COUNTY 2024 | $50,000 |
| BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE PARTNERS OF CENTRAL OHIO MOUNT VERNON, OH | KNOX COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTER | $250,000 |
| BOARD OF KNOX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MOUNT VERNON, OH | JFS YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM EXPANSION 2024 | $39,159 |
| CALVIN UNIVERSITY GRAND RAPIDS, MI | NETSANET WAAL SCHOLARSHIP 2024 - 2025 | $5,000 |
| CITY OF MOUNT VERNON MOUNT VERNON, OH | VARIOUS PROJECTS | $750,964 |
| COOPER PARK DEVELOPMENT COMPANY MOUNT VERNON, OH | HEARTLAND COMMERCE PARK (HCP) CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT | $2,760,850 |
| EXPERIENCE MOUNT VERNON FKA MAIN STREET MOUNT VERNON MOUNT VERNON, OH | VARIOUS PROJECTS | $8,525 |
| FOUNDATION PARK CONSERVANCY MOUNT VERNON, OH | VARIOUS PROJECTS | $50,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ariel Foundation fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from The Ariel Foundation?
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. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500 to $2,760,850 • Recent grants include: $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 $500,000 to Knox County Foundation for economic dev…
Where does The Ariel Foundation make grants?
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Mount Vernon, Ohio and Knox County, with some activity in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.
What size grants does The Ariel Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ariel Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $7.8M — an average of about $216K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ariel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ariel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ariel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Cooper Tire Foundation Inc
AKRON, OH
Assets
$71K
Grants
2
Total Given
$67K
Auburn Education Foundation
CONCORD TOWNSHIP, OH
Assets
$352K
Grants
2
Total Given
$214K
Galpin-white Ta
BROOKLYN, OH
Assets
$16K
Grants
1
Total Given
$887
The Cleveland Superior Arts
CLEVELAND, OH
Assets
$5K
Grants
1
Total Given
$251K
Mary E H Rutter Tr Para 28
BROOKLYN, OH
Assets
$401K
Grants
1
Total Given
$26K
Carrie Peska Memorial Scholarship Fund
ANDOVER, OH
Assets
$19K
Grants
1
Total Given
$4K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Ariel Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Ariel Foundation to a real strategy.