The Ohnell Family Foundation
The Ohnell Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1992 and based in Greenwich, Connecticut. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it has been tax-exempt since April 1993. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting nonprofit initiatives across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.7M
-1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+16.2% YoY
Grant Count
44
+4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+10.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ohnell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was created for the purpose of distributing net investment income from RAM Partners. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Arts and Creative Writing
- Historic Buildings
- Journalism
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$10,000
Average Grant
$43,900
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, New York, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,743,273
- Total Revenue: $3,436,129
- Total Expenses: $2,170,829
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Giving Rate: 27.6% of assets
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Grants and contributions: $1,418,864
- Investment income and dividends: $365,100
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,743,273 | $7,892,318 | $7,324,958 |
| Revenue | $3,436,129 | $3,532,081 | $1,214,846 |
| Expenses | $2,170,829 | $1,848,588 | $1,675,486 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,141,000 | $1,842,000 | $1,638,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,010,681 | $2,404,666 | $288,441 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,943,184 | $1,717,497 | $1,563,577 |
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
207 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pathways ($420,000), Boca Raton Museum of Art ($360,000), Boys and Girls Club of Newburgh ($265,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABILIS GREENWICH, CT | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| ACHIEVEMENT FIRST NEW HAVEN, CT | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH GREAT BARRINGTON, MA | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY BURR RIDGE, IL | SOCIAL | $30,000 |
| BOCA RATON MUSEUM OF ART BOCA RATON, FL | ARTS | $360,000 |
| BOCA RATON REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION BOCA RATON, FL | MEDICAL | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF NEWBURGH NEWBURGH, NY | EDUCATION | $265,000 |
| CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | MEDICAL | $10,000 |
| CARAMOOR CENTER KATONAH, NY | ARTS | $25,000 |
| CITY HOUSE PLANO, TX | SOCIAL | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ernst Ohnell – President
- Patricia Ohnell – Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERNST OHNELL | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| PATRICIA OHNELL | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 75 Khakum Wood Road, Greenwich, CT 06831-3729
- Telephone: 914-232-9221
- EIN: 22-3219022
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ohnell Family Foundation fund?
The foundation was created for the purpose of distributing net investment income from RAM Partners. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Arts and Creative Writing • Historic Buildings • Journalism • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Ohnell Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $2,141,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 44 (2024) • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant size: $43,900 • Grant range: $1,000–$500,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Pathways: $420,000 (Community) • Boca Raton Museum of Art: $360,000 (Arts) • Boys and Girls Club of Newburgh: $265,000 (Education) **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Where does The Ohnell Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, New York, and Florida.
What size grants does The Ohnell Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ohnell Family Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ohnell Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ohnell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ohnell Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ohnell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3219022. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ohnell Family Foundation'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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