The Austin E Knowlton Foundation Inc
The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation Inc. is a private philanthropic organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1981 by Austin E. "Dutch" Knowlton and Charles D. Lindberg, the foundation operates as a large and activist philanthropic partner focused on supporting higher education institutions across the American Midwest and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$266.5M
+12.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.6M
-5.2% YoY
Grant Count
46
+7.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$252K
-11.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation promotes the ideals of higher education, supports student success, and enables colleges and universities to create more rewarding and inspiring educational experiences. Primary funding areas include:
- Higher education institutions
- Student scholarships and financial aid
- STEM education and student support
- Educational experiences and student success initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation does not restrict grantmaking to preselected applicants only, indicating openness to applications.
Grant Range
$25,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Ohio, the Midwest, and across the United States. Primary funding regions include Ohio, Illinois, and California, which account for approximately 70% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across nine states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $266.5 million (as of 2024)
- Annual Income: $28.7 million
- Asset Growth: Increased from $31.3 million in 2011 to $266.5 million in 2024
- Annual Giving Trend: Grew from $10.6 million in 2020 to $22.8 million in 2022
The foundation ranks in the top 1% of U.S. foundations by asset size.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $266,549,523 | $237,444,476 | $215,831,198 |
| Revenue | $9,276,471 | $5,944,556 | $5,094,681 |
| Expenses | $13,982,264 | $14,456,222 | $13,779,334 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,994,621 | $13,500,208 | $13,003,635 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,570,430 | $5,376,963 | $4,535,657 |
| Distributable Amount | $12,499,267 | $11,043,811 | $11,382,138 |
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
239 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Austin E Knowlton Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John C Lindberg – President (15 hours/week, $200,000 compensation)
- Eric V Lindberg – Vice President and Chief Investment Officer (25 hours/week, $631,000 compensation)
- Robert A Pitcairn Jr – Secretary (25 hours/week, $200,000 compensation)
- Edward D Diller – Treasurer (12 hours/week, $200,000 compensation)
- Sherri L Calk – Chief Administrative Officer (40 hours/week, $133,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN C LINDBERG | PRESIDENT | 15 | $200,000 |
| ERIC V LINDBERG | VICE PRESIDENT AND CIO | 25 | $631,297 |
| ROBERT A PITCAIRN JR | SECRETARY | 25 | $200,000 |
| EDWARD D DILLER | TREASURER | 12 | $200,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements demonstrate continued focus on STEM education and student scholarships:
Bluffton University received $500,000 for Knowlton Scholarship grants
Bluffton University receives $500K Knowlton Scholarship grant | BlufftonUniversity of Findlay received funding for STEM student scholarships
STEM Students to Receive Half-Million of Scholarship Support - Findlay NewsroomAugustana College received $500,000 for student scholarships and financial aid
Augustana College Receives $500,000 for Student Scholarships and FinancialThe foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with recent grant activity reported in current tax filings.
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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