Justin R Niklas Family Foundation
Cincinnati, OH · EIN 83-2610559. Reported 196 grants totalling $1,381,000 to 78 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Justin R Niklas Family Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,500 and $7,500; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $60,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of Light Ministries | Cincinnati, OH | $275,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Xavier Jesuit Academy | Cincinnati, OH | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| St Stephen Church | Cincinnati, OH | $67,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Athenaeum of Ohio | Cincinnati, OH | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| St Cecilia School | Cincinnati, OH | $42,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Greater Cincinnati Behavior Health Services | Cincinnati, OH | $37,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sisters of Notre Dame | Park Hills, KY | $37,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bethany House Services | Cincinnati, OH | $35,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Anthenaeum of Ohio | Cincinnati, OH | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Springer School and Center | Cincinnati, OH | $32,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| St Martin of Tours | Cincinnati, OH | $32,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Catholic Inner-City School Edu | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lydia's House | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $28,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Churches Active in Northside (cain) | Cincinnati, OH | $27,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| CASA De Paz | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Genesis at Work Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Inner City Youth Opportunities | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| St Peter in Chains Cathedral | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Dragonfly Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $23,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shelterhouse | Cincinnati, OH | $22,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Springer School & Center Maureen P Wenker | Cincinnati, OH | $21,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Up Spring | Cincinnati, OH | $21,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank | Cincinnati, OH | $20,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Society of St Vincent Depaul Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| St Xavier Church | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Autism Connections | Milford, OH | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ladd Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $15,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $14,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Faith Freedom Life | Cincinnati, OH | $14,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Beachwood Home | Cincinnati, OH | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Notre Dame Urban Education Center | Covington, KY | $12,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul Norther Kentucky | Covington, KY | $11,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| 1N5 | Cincinnati, OH | $10,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| New Life Furniture Bank | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| St Rose Church | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bellarmine Chapel - St Vincent Depaul | Cincinnati, OH | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Catholic Inner School Education Cise | Cincinnati, OH | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Catholic Inner-City School Edu Cise | Cincinnati, OH | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Public Radio | Cincinnati, OH | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Found House Interfaith Housing | Cincinnati, OH | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Corryville Catholic Elementary School | Cincinnati, OH | $7,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Eye Institue Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $6,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| First Step Home | Cincinnati, OH | $6,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Stepping Stones | Cincinnati, OH | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $5,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Adventure Crew | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Bellarmine Chapel St Vincent Dde Paul | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Camp Joy | Clarcksville, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Catholic Charities Sw Ohio | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Chatfield College | St Martin, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dorothy Day Center for Faith & Justice Xavier University | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Down Syndrome Assn of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| May We Help | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul Ky | Covington, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Always Lifting Spirits | Mason, OH | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Beech Acres | Cincinnati, OH | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The Chatfield Edge | St Martin, OH | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Hearing Speech & Deaf Centrer | Cincinnati, OH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Elizabeths New Life Center | Dayton, OH | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Franciscan Friars of St John Baptisit Province | Cincinnati, OH | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| St Francis - St Joseph Catholic Worker House | Cincinnati, OH | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| East End Adult Education Center | Cincinnati, OH | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Adopt a Class | Cincinnati, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Caring Partners | Franklin, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Church of the Resurrection | Cincinnati, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cincinnati Youth Collaborative | Cincinnati, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cornerstone | Cincinnati, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Cincinnati, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Lighthouse Youth & Family Services | Cincinnati, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mercy Health Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Clovernook Center for the Blind | Cincinnati, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Pregnancy Center West | Cincinnati, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Franciscan Friars | Cincinnati, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Joshua's Place | South Lebanon, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Christ Hospital Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Xavier University (the Store) | Cincinnati, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
49 of 78 (63%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 76%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Our Lady of Light Ministries
PROMOTE CHARITABLE PURPOSE - CASA De Paz
PROMOTE CHARITABLE PURPOSSE - Cincinnati Public Radio
PROMOTE CHARITABLE PUPOSE
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 78 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37 | $277,000 | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 34 | $263,500 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 33 | $239,000 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 41 | $285,000 | $3,500 |
| 2025 | 51 | $316,500 | $5,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
95% of its giving went to organizations in Ohio. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Ohio.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Justin R Niklas Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 9885 3874 Paxton Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45209. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 83-2610559 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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