The Thomas J Emery Memorial
The Thomas J. Emery Memorial is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded as a not-for-profit corporation by Mary M. Emery in 1925, it makes grants to enhance the lives of Greater Cincinnati residents by improving their social, cultural, educational, civic, and physical conditions.
The Thomas J Emery Memorial at a glance
In short: The Thomas J Emery Memorial gave $1.6M across 67 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in Ohio. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,590,000
- -0.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 67
- +1.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,731
- -2.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $33,897,481
- +7.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (25 of 67, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Thomas J Emery Memorial
- How to Apply
-
The Memorial accepts letters of inquiry. Applicants must be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations. The filing lists Jennifer Geisheimer as the contact and directs applicants to the Memorial’s application form. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- Letters of inquiry are due June 15 and December 1. Proposal deadlines are August 1 and February 1, with decisions scheduled for November 30 and April 30, respectively. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it moves to the next business day.
- Deadline
- Letters of inquiry are due June 15 and December 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Jennifer Geisheimer
Mailing address: 720 Pete Rose Way Suite 120, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Phone: (513) 241-2880
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Thomas J Emery Memorial funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati ($175K). Together the top 10 received $780K.
Grant Size Distribution
292 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 248 grants of 292 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In most cases, applicants must be located in the Greater Cincinnati area: Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, or Warren County in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, or Kenton County in Kentucky; or Dearborn County in Indiana. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 2% to recipients in Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 67 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Thomas J Emery Memorial open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 25 of 67 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 15% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2022) to $1.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 67 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Charitable Purposes | $175,000 |
| Artswave Cincinnati, OH | 2024 Campaign | $110,000 |
| Mariemont Preservation Foundation Mariemont, OH | Charitable Purposes | $100,000 |
| United Way of Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Charitable Purposes | $80,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Charitable Purposes | $75,000 |
| Central Clinic Behavioral Health Cincinnati, OH | Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| Children's Home of Cincinnati DBA Best Point Education & Behavioral Health Cincinnati, OH | Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Cincinnati, OH | Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| Manifest Creative Research Gallery and Drawing Center Cincinnati, OH | Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| Springer School and Center Cincinnati, OH | Charitable Purposes | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Thomas J Emery Memorial?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Memorial files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $33,897,481 | $2,413,450 | $1,981,004 | $1,590,000 | 67 | $1,908,402 | $2,245,343 | $1,694,625 |
| 2023 | $31,436,456 | $1,058,447 | $1,808,712 | $1,599,350 | 66 | $1,882,754 | $902,075 | $1,484,760 |
| 2022 | $29,164,116 | $1,137,000 | $1,270,781 | $1,278,388 | 32 | $1,485,272 | $1,000,603 | $1,437,309 |
| 2021 | $34,932,147 | $4,221,495 | $2,652,584 | $1,450,000 | 70 | $1,613,720 | $4,086,184 | $1,444,739 |
| 2020 | $31,502,312 | $885,449 | $1,631,569 | $1,389,000 | 57 | — | $754,904 | $1,254,157 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thomas J Emery Memorial reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Memorial’s stated purpose is “to secure a citizenry which shall be more sane, sound and effective because of more satisfactory initial conditions of environment and education.” Its grants are intended for the “physical, social, civic and educational betterment” of individuals.
The Memorial generally supports capital and program needs. Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of work: The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati says its mission is to educate, entertain, and engage audiences through theatrical productions and arts education; Springer School and Center says it empowers students with learning disabilities to lead successful lives; and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra says its mission is to seek and share inspiration. Other 2024 grantees describe work in areas including Mariemont preservation, human services, literature, and employment support.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Memorial awarded 67 grants totaling $1,590,000. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $175,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest awards included $175,000 to The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, $110,000 to ArtsWave for its 2024 campaign, $100,000 to the Mariemont Preservation Foundation, $80,000 to United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and $75,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati.
The Memorial makes a limited number of grants for operating support, endowments, and selected federated campaigns, but does not provide continuing operational support to a grantee. It ordinarily does not award grants to individuals, taxing authorities, political subdivisions, or for conferences or loans. It usually prefers to participate with other donors in support of a specific project. In most cases, an organization must wait 24 months after a grant’s final payment or an application’s decline before reapplying; declined letters of inquiry have no wait period.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lee A. Carter as president, John F. Barrett as vice president, Michael A. Hirschfeld as secretary, Thomas L. Williams as treasurer, and Jeffrey P. March as trustee.
The Thomas J Emery Memorial is led by Lee A. Carter, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lee A. Carter
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Jeffrey P. March
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John F. Barrett
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael A. Hirschfeld
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas L. Williams
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $15K, to Lee a Carter (President).
Frequently asked questions about The Thomas J Emery Memorial
How much does The Thomas J Emery Memorial give each year?
The Thomas J Emery Memorial gave $1.6M across 67 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 66 grants.
What is The Thomas J Emery Memorial's typical grant size?
The Thomas J Emery Memorial's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $23,731, across 67 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Thomas J Emery Memorial that year got $16K on average.
Where does The Thomas J Emery Memorial give grants?
The Thomas J Emery Memorial gives mostly in Ohio: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (60 grants), Loveland, OH (2 grants) and Milford, OH (2 grants).
Who are The Thomas J Emery Memorial's largest grantees?
The Thomas J Emery Memorial's largest 2024 grantees include The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati ($175,000), Artswave ($110,000) and Mariemont Preservation Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Thomas J Emery Memorial?
The Thomas J Emery Memorial reported $33.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Thomas J Emery Memorial fund?
The Memorial’s stated purpose is “to secure a citizenry which shall be more sane, sound and effective because of more satisfactory initial conditions of environment and education.” Its grants are intended for the “physical, social, civic and educational betterment” of individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Thomas J Emery Memorial?
The Memorial accepts letters of inquiry. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Thomas J Emery Memorial's EIN?
The Thomas J Emery Memorial's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0536711. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Thomas J Emery Memorial funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-thomas-j-emery-memorial-morg_fefea307bdc74c5dbf8ed7c0c203e9c1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_310536711_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Thomas J Emery Memorial funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-thomas-j-emery-memorial-morg_fefea307bdc74c5dbf8ed7c0c203e9c1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Thomas J Emery Memorial'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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