The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust
The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust is a private charitable trust established in August 2000 in Ohio. Based in Cincinnati, the trust operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with significant philanthropic resources dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region and surrounding areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$53.1M
+2.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+29.0% YoY
Grant Count
33
-15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$92K
+52.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's mission centers on making charitable contributions to organizations as specified in its governing agreement, using investment income earned by the trust. Primary funding priorities include:
- Arts and Culture
- Children's Services (including children's hospitals)
- Social Services
- Community Development
Grantmaking
The foundation operates through trustee-discretionary grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Fifth Third Bank, as trustee, reviews grant opportunities and makes funding decisions based on the trust's established charitable purposes and the donor's original funding priorities. The foundation does not maintain a dedicated website or public-facing contact email.
Grant Range
$15,000–$500,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in Ohio and Kentucky, with particular emphasis on the Cincinnati area and Greater Cincinnati region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $53,081,479
- Total Revenue: $4,685,301
- Total Expenses: $3,640,565
- Total Giving: $3,050,000
- Number of Employees: 1
As of 2023:
- Annual Giving: $2,365,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $53,081,479 | $52,040,463 | $37,820,154 |
| Revenue | $4,685,301 | $17,500,984 | $9,074,924 |
| Expenses | $3,640,565 | $3,063,420 | $3,496,357 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,133,543 | $2,491,306 | $3,030,940 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,172,688 | $17,180,755 | $8,804,764 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,793,283 | $2,392,339 | $2,682,204 |
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
203 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Children's Hospital Medical Center ($500,000), Cincinnati Usa Regional Chamber Fdtn ($350,000), Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TAFT MUSEUM OF ART CINCINNATI, OH | PROJECT/PROGRAM SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER FDTN CINCINNATI, OH | PROJECT/PROGRAM SUPPORT | $350,000 |
| FREESTORE FOODBANK CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| PUBLIC LIBRARY OF CINCINNATI & HAMILTON CINCINNATI, OH | PROJECT/PROGRAM SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| CINCINNATI MEMORIAL HALL SOCIETY CINCINNATI, OH | PROJECT/PROGRAM SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CINCINNATI, OH | PROJECT/PROGRAM SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CINCINNATI, OH | PROJECT/PROGRAM SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| CINCINNATI INSTITUTE OF FINE ARTS CINCINNATI, OH | ANNUAL FUND | $300,000 |
| XAVIER UNIVERSITY CINCINNATI, OH | ENDOWMENT | $50,000 |
| GREATER CINCINNATI TELEVISION CINCINNATI, OH | PROJECT/PROGRAM SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustee: Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (Co-Trustee)
Former Co-Trustee: Narley L. Haley (served until February 2022)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFTH THIRD BANK N A | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | $550,718 |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 630858, Cincinnati, OH 45263-0858
Phone: 513-534-5310
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust fund?
The trust's mission centers on making charitable contributions to organizations as specified in its governing agreement, using investment income earned by the trust. Primary funding priorities include: • **Arts and Culture** • **Children's Services** (including children's hospitals) • **Social Services** • **Community Development**
How do I apply for a grant from The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 45 grants in 2024 • Made 39 awards in 2023 • Typical grant range: $15,000–$500,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center: $500,000 (Project/program support) • ArtsWave: $300,000 (Annual fund) • Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: Grant amount not specified • Cincinnati Ballet: Grant amount not specified **Application Process:** The foundation operates through trustee-discretionary grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Fifth Thir…
Where does The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust primarily funds organizations in Ohio and Kentucky, with particular emphasis on the Cincinnati area and Greater Cincinnati region.
What size grants does The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust awarded 33 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $92K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6646985. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Frances R Luther Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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