Fact Sheet
Mission
To assist donors and others in strengthening and improving the community for the benefit of all its citizens.
Description
Founded in 1943, The Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor to nearly 1,700 individuals, families, and businesses, who have created funds to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. The Foundation has served the central Ohio region for 64 years as a resource for philanthropic strategy and community knowledge and as a partner in improving central Ohio.
Grants
Grants from Columbus Foundation donors support a variety of needs and nonprofit organizations in central Ohio and beyond. In 2006, grants to the community increased by 16.8 percent, with the Foundation and its donors awarding $72.4 million in grants paid to nonprofit organizations. This included nearly $1.5 million in scholarship grants for the first time ever.
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–15%, Conservation–4%, Education–34%, Health–18%, Social Services–16%, Urban Affairs–5%, and Religion and Advancing Philanthropy–8%. Since its inception in 1943, the Foundation and its donors have granted nearly $800 million back to the community.
2006 Critical Needs Initiative
The Columbus Foundation and its donors worked together and raised $214,500 to bring The Benefit Bank to central Ohio, a free service helping the working poor gain access to the tax credits and benefit programs they are eligible for. Today there are 24 nonprofit sites in central Ohio using The Benefit Bank and helping families achieve greater financial stability.
Assets
The assets of The Columbus Foundation total $1 billion and are held in 1,665 charitable funds 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 ninth in market value of assets.
Giving
People from a wide variety of cultural and financial backgrounds participate in philanthropy through The Columbus Foundation. In 2007, donors made a record $119.3 million in contributions to new and existing funds and foundations, a 11.4 percent increase over the previous year. This is the second consecutive year that it received more than $100 million in total gifts.
Current Giving
Last year, over 4,800 individuals, families, and businesses made gifts to the Foundation, ranging from five dollars to several million dollars. 136 funds and foundations were created, each with a unique philanthropic focus. The average gift in 2007 was $24,850.
The majority of giving to The Columbus Foundation comes from donors who want to be engaged in giving during their lifetime—70 percent of gifts in 2007 came from living donors. The remaining gifts came from donors who left a legacy to benefit the community through a planned gift.
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. New gifts to donor advised funds have doubled over the past five years. In 2006, gifts to donor advised funds totaled $49 million, and represent 48 percent of all new funds created by donors.
Future Giving
Future planned gifts known to the Foundation increased by 9.3 percent, and in 2007 totaled $727.3 million. Last year the Foundation was informed by donors of 51 new planned gifts with projected value of $89.2 million.
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 Board Chairman David R. Meuse; Vice Chairman Tanny Crane; Michael R. Fiorile; John B. Gerlach, Jr.; Archie M. Griffin; Bruce A. Soll; Barbara Trueman; and Frank Wobst. 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.
Information as of: March 4, 2008