The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati
The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati is a private philanthropic foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 1996, the foundation serves as a major charitable organization supporting Jewish communities and broader community development initiatives across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$346.3M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$20.6M
-10.9% YoY
Grant Count
38
-37.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$542K
+43.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati reported a distributable amount of $23.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation strives to address the needs and aspirations of a broad and diverse spectrum of Jewishly identified individuals and families in Greater Cincinnati, including both those already immersed in Jewish life and activities, as well as those seeking their own personal connections and new expressions of Jewish involvement.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Jewish people and Jewish community initiatives
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Community and economic development
- Elementary education
- Family services
- Human services
The foundation commits to learning from, with, and about its grantee partners and the constituencies they serve, and to sharing these learnings widely.
Grantmaking
The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati currently does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations with programs or funding opportunities that align with one or more of the foundation's funding pillars are encouraged to contact the foundation directly to inquire about a possible funding relationship. The foundation does fund Civic and Cultural grant requests, but applications must be invited first.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in Ohio, with significant activity in the District of Columbia and New York. These three regions account for 94% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across seven states, including California, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $346.3 million to $349.3 million
- Annual Income: $9.5 million
- Total Revenue: Approximately $27.8 million
- Total Expenses: Approximately $27.2 million
- Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $69.4 million in 2010 to $349.3 million in 2023
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $346,321,989 | $349,325,538 | $344,244,193 |
| Revenue | $16,865,477 | $27,798,662 | $25,965,403 |
| Expenses | $24,884,567 | $27,220,096 | $26,385,883 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $22,855,174 | $25,854,195 | $24,402,556 |
| Net Investment Income | $15,035,043 | $26,483,439 | $24,405,735 |
| Distributable Amount | $23,620,781 | $22,603,742 | $25,823,143 |
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
191 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Federation of Cincinnati ($6,643,556), Rockwern Academy ($3,154,296), Jewish Family Service ($2,936,040).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Art Opportunities Cincinnati, OH | ArtWorks Jewish Cultural Mural | $35,000 |
| B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Inc Washington, DC | Cincinnati Teen Initiative Grant | $352,000 |
| Bon Secours Mercy Health Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Jewish Hospital Pastoral Education Program | $25,000 |
| Chabad of the East Side Inc Cincinnati, OH | Camp Chabad Marketing Support for Summer 2024 Programming | $18,000 |
| Camp Livingston Cincinnati, OH | 2023 - 2025 Operating Support | $144,242 |
| Center for Jewish Living & Learn Inc Cincinnati, OH | Friendship Circle; Sycamore Township Eruv Extension | $85,000 |
| Cincinnati Community Kollel Cincinnati, OH | Capacity Building Grant | $100,000 |
| Cincinnati Hebrew Day School Cincinnati, OH | 2022 - 2026 Operating Support | $1,038,500 |
| Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Cincinnati, OH | Sponsorship of Rutka | $50,000 |
| Chris Miller Chorale Cleves, OH | Cincinnati Camerata Plum Street Temple Concert | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Brian Jaffee – Chief Executive Officer (annual compensation: $358,000)
- John Stein – President
- Teresa S Haught – Principal Officer
- The foundation is governed by 12 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced recent grants to local educational institutions and expanded funding for mental health services. The foundation continues to support Cincinnati-based organizations including day schools and family service agencies, reflecting its longstanding commitment to local Jewish community institutions.
Articles & Press - Jewish Foundation of CincinnatiSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati fund?
The foundation strives to address the needs and aspirations of a broad and diverse spectrum of Jewishly identified individuals and families in Greater Cincinnati, including both those already immersed in Jewish life and activities, as well as those seeking their own personal connections and new expressions of Jewish involvement. Primary funding focus areas include: • Jewish people and Jewish community initiatives • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Community and economic development • Elementary e…
How do I apply for a grant from The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $20.6 million (most recent filing) • Annual giving has grown from $5 million in 2020 to $23.1 million in 2023 • Highest grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $43.6 million distributed across 94 grants • Historical grants totaling $71.7 million across 169 grants • Individual grants have ranged from $3,000 to $5.8 million, with an average award of $424,000 • Median grant: $60,000 **Application Process:** The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati currently does n…
Where does The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in Ohio, with significant activity in the District of Columbia and New York. These three regions account for 94% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across seven states, including California, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and New York.
What size grants does The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati award?
In 2024, The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati awarded 38 grants totaling $20.6M — an average of about $542K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati reported a distributable amount of $23.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati's EIN?
The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1451489. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati'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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