The Thomas J Emery Memorial
The Thomas J Emery Memorial is a private foundation based in Cincinnati, Ohio, established in 1925 by prominent Cincinnati philanthropists Thomas J. Emery and Mary M. Emery. Thomas was an industrialist and real estate developer who made significant contributions to Cincinnati's development. Mary Emery, known as "Cincinnati's Lady Bountiful," provided the inspiration and capital to build the Village of Mariemont. The foundation operates as a non-operating foundation dedicated to improving the lives of Greater Cincinnati citizens.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.9M
+7.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-0.6% YoY
Grant Count
67
+1.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-2.1% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose, as outlined in Mary M. Emery's Last Will and Testament, is "to secure a citizenry which shall be more sane, sound and effective because of more satisfactory initial conditions of environment and education." The Memorial supports the "physical, social, civic and educational betterment" of individuals.
The foundation makes grants that enhance the lives of Greater Cincinnati citizens by improving their social, cultural, educational, civic, and physical conditions. Primary funding areas include education, human services, and cultural institutions.
Grantmaking
The Memorial generally supports capital and program needs. A limited number of grants are made for operating support, endowments, and selected federated campaigns. The Memorial will not provide continuing operational support to a grantee.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
Average Grant
amount: $22,017 to $27,000
Review Cycle
and application procedures.
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Memorial primarily funds organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area, including:
- Ohio counties: Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, and Warren
- Kentucky counties: Boone, Campbell, and Kenton
- Indiana: Dearborn County
Grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with primary concentration in Ohio and Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total assets: $33,897,481
- Total giving: $1,908,402
- Total revenue: $2,413,450
- Total expenses: $1,981,004
- Annual income: $11.6M
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $24M in 2011 to $31.4M in 2023. Annual distributions have ranged between $1.4M and $2.6M from 2020 to 2023, with the highest grantmaking activity in 2022 at $2.6M distributed across 64 grants.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,897,481 | $31,436,456 | $29,164,116 |
| Revenue | $2,413,450 | $1,058,447 | $1,137,000 |
| Expenses | $1,981,004 | $1,808,712 | $1,270,781 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,908,402 | $1,882,754 | $1,485,272 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,245,343 | $902,075 | $1,000,603 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,694,625 | $1,484,760 | $1,437,309 |
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
232 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Artswave ($110,000), Mariemont Preservation Foundation ($100,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS -CINCINNATI CHAPTER CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OUTREACH CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| ARTSWAVE CINCINNATI, OH | 2024 CAMPAIGN | $110,000 |
| BEST POINT EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - DAN BEARD COUNCIL CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $75,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| CAMPING AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| CENTER FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT CINCINNATI, OH | CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lee A Carter – President (5 hours/week, $15,000 compensation)
- John F Barrett – Vice President (1 hour/week)
- Michael A Hirschfeld – Secretary (1 hour/week)
- Thomas L Williams – Treasurer (1 hour/week)
- Jeffrey P March – Trustee (1 hour/week)
The foundation is governed by 5 officers and trustees. The Greater Cincinnati Foundation serves as the principal officer.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEE A CARTER | PRESIDENT | 5 | $15,000 |
| JOHN F BARRETT | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL A HIRSCHFELD | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| THOMAS L WILLIAMS | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY P MARCH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 720 E Pete Rose Way, Suite 120, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Phone: (513) 241-2880
- Website: www.gcfdn.org/THOMAS-J-EMERY-MEMORIAL
- EIN: 31-0536711
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Thomas J Emery Memorial fund?
The foundation's stated purpose, as outlined in Mary M. Emery's Last Will and Testament, is "to secure a citizenry which shall be more sane, sound and effective because of more satisfactory initial conditions of environment and education." The Memorial supports the "physical, social, civic and educational betterment" of individuals. The foundation makes grants that enhance the lives of Greater Cincinnati citizens by improving their social, cultural, educational, civic, and physical conditions. …
How do I apply for a grant from The Thomas J Emery Memorial?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Total assets: $33,897,481 • Annual giving: $1,590,000 to $1,908,402 (recent years) • Grant range: $1,500 to $370,888 • Average grant amount: $22,017 to $27,000 • Median grant amount: $15,000 to $21,009 • Recent grantmaking activity: 153 grants awarded in 2024; 257 total grants made historically • Giving rate: 5.8% **Grant Types:** The Memorial generally supports capital and program needs. A limited number of grants are made for operating support, endowments, and …
Where does The Thomas J Emery Memorial make grants?
The Memorial primarily funds organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area, including: • **Ohio counties:** Hamilton, Butler, Clermont, and Warren • **Kentucky counties:** Boone, Campbell, and Kenton • **Indiana:** Dearborn County Grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with primary concentration in Ohio and Kentucky.
What size grants does The Thomas J Emery Memorial award?
In 2024, The Thomas J Emery Memorial awarded 67 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Thomas J Emery Memorial required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Thomas J Emery Memorial reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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