The McConnell Educational Foundation
The McConnell Educational Foundation is a private foundation based in Columbus, Ohio. In its 2025 filing, it reported 30 grants totaling $2,175,000, all to organizations in Ohio.
The McConnell Educational Foundation at a glance
In short: The McConnell Educational Foundation gave $2.2M across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $73K), mostly in Ohio. 3% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,175,000
- +23.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $72,500
- +15.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $34,546,205
- -1.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The McConnell Educational Foundation
- 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 for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 436-2418
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The McConnell Educational Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Star House ($600K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 115 grants of 144 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio. The listed recipients include organizations in Columbus and other Ohio communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The McConnell Educational Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 30 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $73K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2024) to $2.3M (2023). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Star House Columbus, OH | Research and Advancements in Community Supportive Services | $600,000 |
| Ohiohealth Foundation Columbus, OH | Research and Advancements in the Field of Medicine | $500,000 |
| The Columbus Zoo Powell, OH | Research and Advancements in Community Supportive Services | $300,000 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation Columbus, OH | Research and Advancements in the Field of Medicine | $250,000 |
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation Columbus, OH | Research and Advancements in the Field of Medicine | $200,000 |
| Birdies for Buddies Columbus, OH | Research and Advancements in the Field of Medicine | $116,000 |
| Besa Community Columbus, OH | Research and Advancements in Community Supportive Services | $50,000 |
| McConnell Arts Center Columbus, OH | Research and Advancements in Community Supportive Services | $25,000 |
| Dublin High School Hockey Association Columbus, OH | Enhance Continuing Education | $9,500 |
| Dublin Jerome Ice Hockey Boosters Dublin, OH | Enhance Continuing Education | $9,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,546,205 | $1,806,685 | $2,233,207 | $2,175,000 | 30 | $2,178,273 | $1,777,999 | $2,220,060 |
| 2024 | $34,972,727 | $1,825,720 | $1,814,487 | $1,762,000 | 28 | $1,762,000 | $1,773,235 | $2,193,796 |
| 2023 | $34,961,494 | $1,686,250 | $2,339,180 | $2,292,500 | 29 | $2,292,500 | $1,656,714 | $2,062,582 |
| 2022 | $35,614,424 | $1,538,926 | $2,111,565 | $2,073,875 | 28 | $2,073,875 | $1,501,236 | $1,973,719 |
| 2021 | $36,187,063 | $1,425,534 | $2,004,560 | $1,972,375 | 29 | $1,972,375 | $1,393,349 | $2,073,175 |
| 2020 | $36,766,089 | $1,621,220 | $1,940,271 | $1,909,375 | 31 | — | $1,590,324 | $1,967,453 |
| 2019 | $37,085,140 | $1,772,845 | $2,105,968 | $2,078,875 | 30 | — | $1,745,752 | $1,992,860 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McConnell Educational Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided in the available materials. Its 2025 grant purposes included research and advancements in community supportive services, research and advancements in medicine, and continuing education.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Star House says its mission is to partner with teens and young adults as they exit homelessness and thrive in a community of hope. The Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation says it supports youth health and wellness in Central Ohio. Birdies for Buddies describes its work as raising awareness of prostate cancer, improving the lives of those impacted by it, and raising funds for prostate cancer research. BESA Community says it connects people with the community through experiences that change lives. Olentangy Berlin Athletic Boosters says it supports education through financial and other support to the school’s athletic programs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $2,175,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $600,000, with a median of $7,000. Its largest listed awards included $600,000 to Star House, $500,000 to OhioHealth Foundation, $300,000 to The Columbus Zoo, $250,000 to Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation, and $200,000 to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The filing also lists $116,000 to Birdies for Buddies, $50,000 to BESA Community, and $25,000 to McConnell Arts Center. Continuing education grants included $9,500 each to Dublin High School Hockey Association, Dublin Jerome Ice Hockey Boosters, and St Charles Preparatory School, and $7,000 to Gahanna Lincoln Hockey.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John P McConnell as president and trustee, Michael A Priest as vice president/treasurer and trustee, Daniel J Minor as trustee, and Kimberly R Sievers as secretary.
The McConnell Educational Foundation is led by John P. McConnell, President & Trustee on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John P. McConnell
President & Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel J. Minor
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael A. Priest
Vice President, Treasurer & Trustee
Vice President & Treasurer → Vice President, Treasurer & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly R. Sievers
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The McConnell Educational Foundation
How much does The McConnell Educational Foundation give each year?
The McConnell Educational Foundation gave $2.2M across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 28 grants.
What is The McConnell Educational Foundation's typical grant size?
The McConnell Educational Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,000, and its average grant was $72,500, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The McConnell Educational Foundation that year got $50K on average.
Where does The McConnell Educational Foundation give grants?
The McConnell Educational Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (12 grants), Gahanna, OH (3 grants), Worthington, OH (2 grants) and Lewis Center, OH (2 grants).
Does The McConnell Educational Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on The McConnell Educational Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Enhance Continuing Education" (21 grants), "Research and Advancements in Community Supportive Services" (5 grants) and "Research and Advancements in the Field of Medicine" (4 grants).
Who are The McConnell Educational Foundation's largest grantees?
The McConnell Educational Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Star House ($600,000), Ohiohealth Foundation ($500,000) and The Columbus Zoo ($300,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The McConnell Educational Foundation?
The McConnell Educational Foundation reported $34.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The McConnell Educational Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided in the available materials. Its 2025 grant purposes included research and advancements in community supportive services, research and advancements in medicine, and continuing education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The McConnell Educational Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The McConnell Educational Foundation's EIN?
The McConnell Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1365344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The McConnell Educational 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 8, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The McConnell Educational Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The McConnell Educational Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcconnell-educational-foundation-morg_153ecf138245451f90d7627cab61f3ff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311365344_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The McConnell Educational Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcconnell-educational-foundation-morg_153ecf138245451f90d7627cab61f3ff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The McConnell Educational Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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