Fact Sheet
Mission
To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving the community for the benefit of all its citizens.
Description
The Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor to nearly 1,700 individuals, families, and businesses, who have created unique funds to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Serving the region for 66 years, The Columbus Foundation is one of the ten largest community foundations in the United States. The Foundation’s new online resource,
PowerPhilanthropy®, makes it possible for donors and the public to access valuable information about central Ohio nonprofits.
Grants
Grants from Columbus Foundation donors support a variety of needs and nonprofit organizations in central Ohio and beyond. In 2008, grants to help our communities and the causes they care about totaled $98.8 million and benefited 2,037 nonprofit organizations. This included over $1.5 million in scholarship grants awarded to 813 students.
Impact
The grants distributed through the Foundation have an incredible impact inside and outside our community. The key areas where grants were made are as follows: Arts–12%, , Education–32%, Health–18%, Social Services–17%, Urban Affairs–8%, and Conservation, Religion and Advancing Philanthropy–13%. Since its inception in 1943, the Foundation and its donors have granted nearly $992 million back to the community.
Assets
The assets of The Columbus Foundation total $817.1 million and are held in 1,716 charitable funds, one affiliate, and 29 supporting foundations. As a benchmark, in 1957, the assets of the Foundation totaled $1 million. Today, among more than 650 community foundations in the United States, The Columbus Foundation ranks tenth in market value of assets.
Giving
People from a wide variety of cultural and financial backgrounds participate in philanthropy through The Columbus Foundation. In 2008, donors created 95 new funds and added to existing funds totaling $98.8 million received in gifts. The average gift in 2008 was $17,790.
Donor advised funds, which are used for giving during one’s lifetime, are the fastest growing form of philanthropy in the United States today. One of the first foundations in the country to offer this option, the first Columbus Foundation donor advised fund was created in 1948. Donor advised funds represent 35 percent of all new funds created by donors.
Future Giving
Future planned gifts known to the Foundation totaled $748.3 million. Last year the Foundation was informed by donors of 47 new planned gifts with projected value of $52.8 million.
History
The Columbus Foundation was established in 1943 with a $700 grant. At the time, the Foundation was made up of a group of community minded citizens, led by Harrison M. Sayre, whose mission was to receive gifts to improve the quality of life in central Ohio. The first unsolicited gift was given to The Columbus Foundation in 1946 by the first woman to be elected to Columbus City Coucil, journalist Olga Anna Jones. That gift was for $25.
Governance
A Governing Committee of volunteers, made up of a cross section of central Ohio business, civic, and philanthropic leaders, provides stewardship for The Columbus Foundation. Current members of the Governing Committee are Chairman David R. Meuse; Vice Chairman Tanny Crane; Michael R. Fiorile; John B. Gerlach, Jr.; Archie M. Griffin; Jerry Jurgensen; Bruce A. Soll; Barbara Trueman;
and Barbara Siemer. Serving as President and CEO is Douglas F. Kridler.
National Standards
The Foundation is nationally certified for its organizational and financial practices by the national Council on Foundations and is in compliance with national standards for US community foundations. It has received the “Standards of Excellence Seal” for Ethics and Accountability Standards by the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations. It recently received the highest rank possible (four stars) from Charity Navigator.
Information as of: December 31, 2009