Women's Fund of Central Ohio logo

Women's Fund of Central Ohio

Public charity · Grantmaker Grandview Heights, OH EIN: 31-1784310 Website

The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio is a public charity based in Grandview Heights, Ohio. It supports social change for women and girls through grantmaking, research, advocacy, and community engagement.

Women's Fund of Central Ohio at a glance

In short: Women's Fund of Central Ohio gave $341K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Ohio. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$341,000
-17.7% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
20
+5.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$17,050
-21.8% vs 2024
Median grant
$18,000
Total assets
$9,404,989
+4.5% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
40% first-time grantees (8 of 20, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Women's Fund of Central Ohio

Contact

Mailing address: 831 Goodale Blvd, Grandview Heights, OH 43212
Phone: (614) 203-6283
Website: https://womensfundcentralohio.org

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

Who Women's Fund of Central Ohio funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

WOC Retail Alliance: $50KWOC Retail Alliance$50KBlack Women in Nature: $20KBlack Women in Nature$20KBrown Girls Mentoring: $20KBrown Girls Mentoring$20KCentral Ohio Worker Center: $20KCentral Ohio Worker Center$20KEducation Foundation for Freedom: $20KEducation Foundation forFreedom$20KEmpowering Latinas Leadership Academy: $20KEmpowering Latinas LeadershipAcademy$20KFemergy: $20KFemergy$20KGirls Leap: $20KGirls Leap$20KPolicy Matters Ohio: $20KPolicy Matters Ohio$20KBeautifully Flawed: $18KBeautifully Flawed$18K

The largest 2025 recipient was WOC Retail Alliance ($50K). Together the top 10 received $228K.

Grant Size Distribution

98 grants across all recorded years

93<$50K5$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 98 (95%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The funder is based in Grandview Heights, Ohio. Its website says it supports organizations in Central Ohio. All grant dollars listed for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Ohio.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.

Cities

ColumbusWestervilleClevelandDelawareNew YorkGahannaNew AlbanyBlacklickFremontOaklandAthensCincinnatiDaytonWorthington

Is Women's Fund of Central Ohio open to new grantees?

40%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 8 of 20 grantees (40%) 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 $19K; repeat grants $16K. How we count

Medians: $17K first-time, $19K repeat.

  • 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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

$0$200K$400K$600K20 grants2019 26 grants2020 21 grants2021 17 grants2022 21 grants2023 19 grants2024 20 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $265K (2022) to $415K (2024). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $341K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
WOC Retail Alliance New Albany, OHOperating Support$50,000
Black Women in Nature Columbus, OHBlack Girl Belong: Reclaiming Our Space in Nature$20,000
Brown Girls Mentoring Columbus, OHSchool Year Programming$20,000
Central Ohio Worker Center Columbus, OHKnow your rights in the workplace seminars: bridging the gender gap for social change$20,000
Education Foundation for Freedom Blacklick, OHEmpowering Young Voices Mentoring for the Arts$20,000
Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy Westerville, OHElla Mentoring Program$20,000
Femergy Columbus, OHGHRO Your Future$20,000
Girls Leap Westerville, OHGirls L.E.A.P. STEM Program & STEAM Summer Camp$20,000
Policy Matters Ohio Cleveland, OHChildcare Research and Advocacy$20,000
Beautifully Flawed New Albany, OHBeautifully Flawed Programming$18,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$9,404,989$1,527,739$1,321,000$341,00020$381,465
2024$8,998,595$1,701,721$1,426,311$414,50019$195,142
2023$8,240,439$1,421,521$1,101,808$269,46221$167,743
2022$7,438,223$2,546,715$940,704$264,70017$172,995
2021$6,771,597$2,633,860$1,180,879$296,90021$1,519,164
2020$5,524,240$496,783$1,226,422$320,50026$-109,719
2019$6,111,278$888,135$1,528,932$290,03320$-7,428

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The funder’s mission is to transform the lives of women and girls by mobilizing the collective power and passion of people working together. Its grantmaking priorities are civic engagement and movement building; health and health education; leadership and empowerment; social safety net and care economy; and wealth building and career advancement. Its 2024 filing describes grants as investments in social change for women and girls, including life skills, leadership, and women’s economic sustainability.

The funder supports organizations and programs working on social change for women and girls. For example, grantee Femergy describes its work as providing girls and women with holistic skills training in education, leadership, health, and wellness to overcome gender barriers. New Directions Career Center says it empowers women toward self-sufficiency through career counseling, employment-related education, and information services. Equality Ohio Education Fund says it works to transform systems so LGBTQ+ Ohioans can access legal and lived equality.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the funder gave $341,000 through 20 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $18,000. The funder’s website describes its annual grants as investments in innovative programs focused on economic empowerment and leadership, and also describes multi-year grants addressing systemic issues, immediate-impact funding, and the Enduring Progress Initiative, which invests $50,000 in the transformational vision and leadership of women of color.

Among its 2025 grants, WOC Retail Alliance received $50,000 for operating support. Black Women in Nature, Brown Girls Mentoring, Central Ohio Worker Center, Education Foundation for Freedom, Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy, Femergy, Girls LEAP, and Policy Matters Ohio each received $20,000. Other listed recipients included Beautifullly Flawed and Per Scholas Inc., each at $18,000, and Equality Ohio Education Fund at $15,000. Policy Matters Ohio describes its mission as research to create a more prosperous, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive Ohio; those are the grantee’s stated aims, not the funder’s.

The application process begins with a letter of intent. Staff review LOIs for eligibility and alignment, and selected applicants are invited to submit a full application. Eligible applications are reviewed and scored by volunteer Grant Readers; applications above a score threshold go to the Grants Committee, which recommends a slate to the Board. The funder says it offers a webinar and office hours before full applications are due, and that it streamlines paperwork and limits administrative hurdles. Its website states that the 2027 LOI is closed.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Dr. Sierra Austin-King as chair; Claudia Herrington as vice chair and treasurer; Lachandra B. Baker as secretary; and Sophia Fifner as immediate past chair. It also lists Jennifer Battle, Grace Hunter, Abby Cover, Courtney Falato, Ronnie Marquez-Posey, and Leah McDonald as directors.

Women's Fund of Central Ohio is led by Kelley Griesmer, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 24 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Kelley Griesmer

    President & CEO

    President & CEO → CEO, 2022

    CEO → President & CEO, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $185K (2020) → $184K (2025)

  • Sierra Austin-King

    Chair

    Director → Vice Chair, 2023

    Vice Chair → Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ronnie Marquez-Posey

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christine Murry

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Letha Pugh

    Director

    Director → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melissa McHenry

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dana Sims

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Battle

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kimber Perfect

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melinda Nenning

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Natalie Moretz

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Abby Cover

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Courtney Falato

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Daphne McKinnie

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leah McDonald

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shakarra Touray

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Grace Hunter

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Goettemoeller

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kristen Moosmiller

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sue Frost

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Krohne

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sophia Fifner

    Immediate Past Chair

    Chair Elect → Chair, 2023

    Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Claudia Herrington

    Vice Chair & Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2024

    Treasurer → Vice Chair & Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lachandra B. Baker

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (26)
  • Former: Andrea Pfaadt (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Jennifer Yaross (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Shelley Bird (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Denise Mirman (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Heather Whaling (2019–2023) — Past Chair
  • Former: Rebecca Wiggins (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Katharine B. Bowman (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Anne Boninsegna (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Carol Andreae (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Dina Tantra (2019–2021) — Secretary
  • Former: Kathy Bowman (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Lonni Dieck (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Lori Kaiser (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Sandra Lopez (2019–2021) — Chair Elect
  • Former: Sierra Austin (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Angela Petro (2019–2020) — Chair
  • Former: Deborah Aubert Thomas (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Kim Zavislak (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Susan Rector (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Susan Snowden (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Jody Scheiman (2020) — Director & Alumnae Liason
  • Former: Darci Congrove (2019) — Director & Alumnae Liaison
  • Former: Jean Droste (2019) — Director
  • Former: Jennifer Fountain (2019) — Director
  • Former: Mary Cusick (2019) — President & CEO · Filing note: Thru 81618
  • Former: Wendy Arlin (2019) — Immediate Past Chair

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Kelley Griesmer — President and CEO: $184KKelley GriesmerPresident and CEO$184K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $184K, to Kelley Griesmer (President and CEO).

Frequently asked questions about Women's Fund of Central Ohio

How much does Women's Fund of Central Ohio give each year?

Women's Fund of Central Ohio gave $341K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $415K across 19 grants.

What is Women's Fund of Central Ohio's typical grant size?

Women's Fund of Central Ohio's median grant in 2025 was $18,000, and its average grant was $17,050, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Women's Fund of Central Ohio that year got $19K on average.

Where does Women's Fund of Central Ohio give grants?

Women's Fund of Central Ohio gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (9 grants), Westerville, OH (3 grants), New Albany, OH (2 grants) and Cleveland, OH (2 grants).

Does Women's Fund of Central Ohio give general operating support?

Occasionally: 5% of Women's Fund of Central Ohio's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are Women's Fund of Central Ohio's largest grantees?

Women's Fund of Central Ohio's largest 2025 grantees include WOC Retail Alliance ($50,000), Black Women in Nature ($20,000) and Brown Girls Mentoring ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Women's Fund of Central Ohio?

Women's Fund of Central Ohio reported $9.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.

What does Women's Fund of Central Ohio fund?

The funder’s mission is to transform the lives of women and girls by mobilizing the collective power and passion of people working together. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Women's Fund of Central Ohio?

Women's Fund of Central Ohio has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check womensfundcentralohio.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Women's Fund of Central Ohio's EIN?

Women's Fund of Central Ohio's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1784310. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 3, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Women's Fund of Central Ohio funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/women-s-fund-of-central-ohio-morg_3a530ef8bae34dfd80627bcf4e3ca839

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311784310_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Women's Fund of Central Ohio funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/women-s-fund-of-central-ohio-morg_3a530ef8bae34dfd80627bcf4e3ca839},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Women's Fund of Central Ohio'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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