Siemer Family Foundation

Grantmaking Focus

The Siemer Family Foundation is guided by Barbara Siemer as chairperson; Mrs. Siemer’s career experience as a high school English teacher and her many community volunteer experiences benefiting children inform the Foundation’s grantmaking interests. 

The Siemer Family Foundation supports programs that:
  • Improve educational opportunities for school age children, including those during the school day and those outside of traditional school hours.  The focus of such programs may be related to specific academic areas or include those intended to enhance overall academic achievement;
  • Provide young children access to opportunities that prepare them for school, especially those including a parental involvement component;
  • Improve education and literacy throughout the community; or
  • Improve the economic or housing status and physical well-being and safety of underprivileged families with the intention of creating greater stability for all family members, especially children.

The Foundation would like its grants to be broad both in terms of type of programs and areas of the central Ohio community that benefit, but there are some limitations for applicants to consider.
  • Grants are limited to central Ohio.
  • Grants will not be awarded for capital campaigns.
  • Grants will not be awarded for computer hardware or software.
  • Grants will not be awarded for vehicles.


Grant Application Instructions

The Siemer Family Foundation has an annual grantmaking cycle and requires submission of three copies of a full proposal consisting of a cover sheet and proposal requirements as detailed in the Siemer Family Foundation Application Packet. The application deadline is the first working day in July with an October decision.  Applicants are required to contact Sidney Hargro (see below) 60 to 90 days in advance of the application deadline to discuss your proposal.

For those unfamiliar with the Foundation’s application process, you are strongly encouraged to attend a workshop, which is held several times per year, to provide you with an overview of the grant application process for all supporting foundations and The Columbus Foundation.  Consult the events calendar for specific dates and registration. 

Examples of Grants

In 2007, the grants made included:
  • Action for Children Council of Franklin County: $15,000 to support distribution of literacy kits to low-income families.
  • Central Ohio Youth for Christ: $4,800 to support the volunteer tutoring program at Avondale Elementary for students struggling to learn fundamental reading skills.
  • Columbus Literacy Council: $20,000 to support the Family Literacy Initiative, a partnership with the Salvation Army and the Columbus Housing Partnership.
  • Gladden Community House: $10,000 to support the preschool program serving over 50 children ages 3 - 5 with multiple poverty-related risk factors.
  • YWCA of Columbus: $20,000 to support an out-of-school program at the YWCA Homeless Family Center.

Reporting Requirements

The Siemer Family Foundation requires final reports from organizations receiving grants. Final report forms are generally due 30 days following the project grant period.  Please refer to your grant award letter for the exact deadline date.  Please e-mail Heidi Trace to request a Final Report Form.

Staff Contact

If you have questions about how your organization’s program might fit with the grantmaking interests of the Siemer Family Foundation, please e-mail Sidney Hargro.  Be sure to include a brief summary of the program. 

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing technical problems with your grant submission or final report, please contact Heidi Trace at 614/251-4000 or by e-mail.