The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation
THE CISSELL FAMILY CHARITABLE is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its 2020 filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the organization appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Key facts about The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation
In short: The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation gave $65K across 25 grants in 2020 (avg $3K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 81-4721684
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020
- Annual giving (2020)
- $64,893
- Grants made (2020)
- 25
- Average grant
- $2,596
- Median grant
- $2,162
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2020 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$65K
Grant Count
25
Avg Grant Size
$3K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2020 grants included support for Cincinnati arts and cultural organizations and grants to the Greater Cincinnati Foundation designated for “Cincinnati development.” The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park describes its mission as bringing diverse, engaging theater to the community and highlighting Cincinnati’s artistic excellence. The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company says it brings Shakespeare and the classics to audiences of all ages.
Other 2020 recipients included Xavier University, whose stated mission centers on educating students intellectually, morally, and spiritually, and the Cincinnati Bar Foundation, which says it promotes justice and seeks to serve the legal profession, the justice system, and the Greater Cincinnati community.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $64,893. Grant amounts ranged from $75 to $10,000, with a median of $2,162.
Notable grants included $10,000 to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and multiple grants to the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, including grants of $9,280, $5,938, and $5,523, each for “Cincinnati development.” Other reported grants included $1,500 to Xavier University, $250 to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and $75 to the Cincinnati Bar Foundation.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its 2020 filing is marked as a final return; these application details should not be treated as current.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2020 went to recipients in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 25 grants totaling $65K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was Greater Cincinnati Foundation ($51K across 15 grants). Together the top 10 received $65K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 25 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Cincinnati, OH | Regional Theater Performances | $10,000 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $9,280 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $5,938 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $5,523 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $5,081 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $3,402 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $3,380 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $3,367 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $2,204 |
| Greater Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Cincinnati Development | $2,190 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $3,649 | $67,066 | $64,893 |
| Metric | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Revenue | $3,649 |
| Expenses | $67,066 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,095 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,549 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
James C Cissell was listed as trustee on the 2020 filing.
The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation is led by James C. Cissell, Trustee on the 2020 filing — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2020 filing
James C. Cissell
Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 5300 Hamilton Ave Unit 310, Cincinnati, OH 45224
Phone: (513) 421-1000
Frequently asked questions about The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation
How much does The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation gave $65K across 25 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $2,162, and its average grant was $2,596, across 25 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (24 grants).
Does The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2020: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation's 2020 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cincinnati Development" (14 grants).
Who are The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include Greater Cincinnati Foundation ($51,218 across 15 grants), Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park ($10,000) and Xavier University ($1,500), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2020 grants included support for Cincinnati arts and cultural organizations and grants to the Greater Cincinnati Foundation designated for “Cincinnati development.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Cissell Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4721684. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
Does The Cissell Family Charitable 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.
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