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Vortex Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Perrysburg, OH EIN: 34-6883855 Website

Vortex Foundation is a private foundation based in Perrysburg, Ohio. Its 2024 grant records show support for charitable organizations including a community foundation, hospital foundations, educational institutions, and organizations working in human services, conservation, and historic preservation.

Vortex Foundation at a glance

In short: Vortex Foundation gave $713K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $36K), mostly in Ohio. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$713,000
+92.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
20
+11.1% vs 2023
Average grant
$35,650
+73.0% vs 2023
Median grant
$7,500
Total assets
$6,075,523
-0.7% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (5 of 20, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Ohio (83% 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 Vortex Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 132 West Second Street, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Phone: (419) 874-0487
Website: https://vortex.foundation

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Vortex Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Toledo Community Foundation - Waterfall Fund: $500KToledo Community Foundation -Waterfall Fund$500KCraig Hospital Foundation: $50KCraig Hospital Foundation$50KHillsdale College: $25KHillsdale College$25KToledo Museum Of Art: $25KToledo Museum Of Art$25KToledo Children's Hospital Foundation: $15KToledo Children's HospitalFoundation$15KUnited Way Of Greater Toledo: $15KUnited Way Of Greater Toledo$15KSunshine Foundation: $12KSunshine Foundation$12KAMI Kids: $10KAMI Kids$10KBeaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation: $10KBeaufort Memorial HospitalFoundation$10KToledo Community Foundation Friends Campaign: $10KToledo Community FoundationFriends Campaign$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Toledo Community Foundation - Waterfall Fund ($500K). Together the top 10 received $672K.

Grant Size Distribution

95 grants across all recorded years

88<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K3$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 95 (93%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, Ohio recipients received 83% of grant dollars. The other listed shares were Colorado, 7%; South Carolina, 4%; Michigan, 4%; and Florida, 1%.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.

Cities

ToledoBeaufortPerrysburgArlingtonCharlestonMaumeeTampaBlufftonEvanstonAmbridgeYemasseeEnglewoodHillsdaleWhitehouse

Is Vortex Foundation open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 20 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $40K. How we count

Medians: $25K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 62% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 136% 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

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K18 grants2020 20 grants2021 19 grants2022 18 grants2023 20 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $371K (2023) to $713K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $713K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Toledo Community Foundation - Waterfall Fund Toledo, OHDirect Charitable Support$500,000
Craig Hospital Foundation Englewood, CODirect Charitable Support$50,000
Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MIDirect Charitable Support$25,000
Toledo Museum Of Art Toledo, OHDirect Charitable Support$25,000
Toledo Children's Hospital Foundation Toledo, OHDirect Charitable Support$15,000
United Way Of Greater Toledo Toledo, OHDirect Charitable Support$15,000
Sunshine Foundation Maumee, OHDirect Charitable Support$12,000
AMI Kids Tampa, FLDirect Charitable Support$10,000
Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation Beaufort, SCDirect Charitable Support$10,000
Toledo Community Foundation Friends Campaign Toledo, OHDirect Charitable Support$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$6,075,523$741,715$742,506$713,00020$713,400$693,100$525,424
2023$6,119,315$544,575$417,230$371,00018$371,600$440,328$515,775
2022$6,088,592$453,549$494,714$466,00019$466,200$361,960$511,918
2021$6,201,026$643,677$468,917$440,00020$440,140$620,900$525,557
2020$6,015,407$292,703$663,948$635,00018—$151,387$540,566

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vortex Foundation reported a distributable amount of $525K 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

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants indicate support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Craig Hospital Foundation says it raises funds for patient assistance, hospital programs, equipment, and research related to spinal cord and brain injuries. United Way of Greater Toledo says it unites people to improve lives, while Historic Beaufort Foundation says it works to preserve and present historic, architectural, and cultural sites and artifacts.

Other 2024 recipients include educational institutions such as Hillsdale College and Maumee Valley Country Day School, and organizations such as Sunshine Foundation Inc., whose stated role is to solicit donations and steward investments in support of Sunshine Inc. Residential & Support Services.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $713,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $7,500. Among the largest awards were $500,000 to Toledo Community Foundation – Waterfall Fund, $50,000 to Craig Hospital Foundation, $25,000 each to Hillsdale College and Toledo Museum of Art, and $15,000 each to Toledo Children’s Hospital Foundation and United Way of Greater Toledo.

The foundation reported 18 grants totaling $371,000 in 2023 and 19 grants totaling $466,000 in 2022.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Lawrence T Foster and Diana K Foster as trustees, and Amy L Steele as manager.

Vortex Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Diana K Foster

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lawrence T Foster

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amy L Steele

    Manager

    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.

Frequently asked questions about Vortex Foundation

How much does Vortex Foundation give each year?

Vortex Foundation gave $713K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $371K across 18 grants.

What is Vortex Foundation's typical grant size?

Vortex Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $35,650, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vortex Foundation that year got $22K on average.

Where does Vortex Foundation give grants?

Vortex Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Toledo, OH (8 grants), Beaufort, SC (3 grants) and Perrysburg, OH (2 grants).

Does Vortex Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Vortex Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Direct Charitable Support" (20 grants).

Who are Vortex Foundation's largest grantees?

Vortex Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Toledo Community Foundation - Waterfall Fund ($500,000), Craig Hospital Foundation ($50,000) and Hillsdale College ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Vortex Foundation?

Vortex Foundation reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $713K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $525K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Vortex Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants indicate support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Craig Hospital Foundation says it raises funds for patient assistance, hospital programs, equipment, and research related to spinal cord and brain injuries. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Vortex Foundation?

The foundation 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 Vortex Foundation's EIN?

Vortex Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6883855. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Vortex 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 September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Vortex Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Ohio

Toledo Community Foundation Inc

Toledo, OH

Greater Toledo Community Foundation supports education, health, social services, arts and culture, neighborhood development, the environment, and other community needs in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, especially the greater Toledo area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,026 to $1,042,367, with a median of $15,500; applicants apply through the online process for specific grant programs.

Assets

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Total Given

$17.8M

The O-I Charities Foundation

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Assets

—

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187

Total Given

$1.4M

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

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Total Given

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Aetna Foundation Inc

Hartford, CT

Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.

Assets

—

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Columbus Foundation

Columbus, OH

The Columbus Foundation supports a broad range of nonprofit work, including arts, education, health, basic needs, neighborhoods, and capacity building, primarily in central Ohio. Its 2024 grants had a median of $21,471, though amounts varied widely. Most grants are directed by donors and aren’t made through an application process, but some specific programs accept applications.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$2.8B

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Total Given

$242.7M

The Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Cincinnati, OH

The Greater Cincinnati Foundation funds nonprofits working on education, housing, community and cultural vibrancy, and related regional needs, with responsive grants focused on its eight-county Greater Cincinnati service area. Its 2024 median grant was $20,000, though amounts vary widely; specific opportunities include awards of up to $35,000 for Resilient Communities and up to $450,000 through the Neighborhood Development Fund. It lists RFP and letter-of-intent opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.0B

Grants

1,408

Total Given

$184.4M

More similar funders

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Vortex Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/vortex-foundation-morg_5498bc16e2b745369007688512aadc1c

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_346883855_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Vortex Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/vortex-foundation-morg_5498bc16e2b745369007688512aadc1c},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Vortex 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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