The Austin E Knowlton Foundation Inc
Cincinnati, OH · EIN 31-1044475. Reported 196 grants totalling $46.7M to 95 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. 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. The Austin E Knowlton Foundation Inc 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 $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $100,000; the smallest was $2,500 and the largest $6,000,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University Foundation | Columbus, OH | $9,605,000 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island, IL | $8,729,256 | 11 | 4 | 2024 |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | $7,260,000 | 11 | 4 | 2024 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, OH | $4,400,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The College of Wooster | Wooster, OH | $4,000,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ronald Reagan Presidential Fdn & Institute | Simi Valley, CA | $3,315,000 | 7 | 3 | 2024 |
| Centre College | Danville, KY | $1,500,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ronald Reagan Presidential Fnd & Institute | Simi Valley, CA | $820,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Georgetown College | Georgetown, KY | $500,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Camping and Education Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $447,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ten Thousand Villages | Akron, PA | $440,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Prokids | Cincinnati, OH | $380,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Archbishop Moeller High School | Cincinnati, OH | $300,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Cincinnati Ballet Company Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $250,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Community Partners - Ahep | Los Angeles, CA | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Institute for Citizens and Scholars | Princeton, NJ | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mount St Joseph University | Cincinnati, OH | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Muskingum University | New Concord, OH | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Alexander Hamilton Society | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wilmington College | Wilmington, OH | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Springer School and Center | Cincinnati, OH | $175,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Alliance for Higher Education in Prison | Denver, CO | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Most Valuable Kids of Greater Cincinnati | Norwood, OH | $150,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ten Thousand Villages of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Asbury University | Wilmore, KY | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Goshen College | Goshen, IN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Heidelberg University | Tiffin, OH | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kenyon College | Gambier, OH | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ohio Justice and Policy Center | Cincinnati, OH | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Cincinnati Ballet Co Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Ronald Presidential Foundation & Institute | Simi Valley, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills, KY | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tiffin University | Tiffin, OH | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Good Samaritan Center | Fredericksburg, TX | $95,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship | Cincinnati, OH | $85,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Gillespie Cty Youth Livestock Show Assoc | Fredericksburg, TX | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Luzerne Music Center Inc | Lake Luzerne, NY | $75,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Uatx | Austin, TX | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Childhood Food Solutions | Cincinnati, OH | $70,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hill Country Community Needs Council | Fredericksburg, TX | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mennonite Central Committee US | Akron, PA | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Stepping Stones Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Tx Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas, TX | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra | Cincinnati, OH | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Former Texas Rangers Foundation | Fredericksburg, TX | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary | Elkhart, IN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Indian Hill Public Schools Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Underground Rr Freedom Center | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dan Beard Council BSA | Cincinnati, OH | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Frontiers of Flight Museum Inc | Dallas, TX | $45,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cincinnati Nature Center | Milford, OH | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Easter Seals Tristate | Cincinnati, OH | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fredericksburg Isd Education Foundation | Fredericksburg, TX | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lighthouse Youth Services | Cincinnati, OH | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison Inc | Ossining, NY | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mater Filius Queen City Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sisters of Charity Senior Care Dba Bayley | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Central District Conference of Mennonite | Goshen, IN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Community-Partner Alliance for Higher Ed in Prison | Los Angeles, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mennonite Church USA | Elkhart, IN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Association of Scholars Inc | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Citylink Center | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Equiatude Foundation | Fredericksburg, TX | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Friends of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Stepping Stonesinc | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show Assn | Fredericksburg, TX | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hill County Community Needs Council | Fredericksburg, TX | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Anabaptist Biblical Seminary | Elkhart, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Children's Hospital Medical Center | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Educational Theatre Association Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Experimental Aircraft Association Inc | Oshkosh, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Girl Scouts of Ky's Wilderness Rd Council | Erlanger, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ken Anderson Alliance | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue Inc | San Angelo, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Greater Cinti Television Ed Fdn | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The University of Cincinnati Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hudson Link for Higher Ed in Prison Inc | Ossining, NY | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| 4 the Kidz | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Activities Beyond the Classroom | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Girl Scouts Nky Wilderness Road Council | Erlanger, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Grad Cincinnati Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kindervelt #50 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kindervelt #50 Cinti Children's Hosp Med Center | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| National Whitetail Deer Education Foundation | Cambridge, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Greater Cinci Tv Educational Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Business Jet Cares Inc | Dallas, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Business Jet Caresinc | Dallas, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cincinnati Academy of Performing Arts | Cincinnati, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dance Downtown La Inc Dba La Dance Project | Los Angeles, CA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
40 of 95 (42%) received money in more than one year over the 4 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 49%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. 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.
- Augustana College
PJL MD HEALTH CENTER AND SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS - Denison University
CAREER EXPLORATION CENTER - Centre College
AEK CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS - Georgetown College
DAVIS-REID ALUMNI GYM PROJECT - Ohio State University Foundation
KNOWLTON SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 106 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 | 53 | $11.5M | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 54 | $11.4M | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 43 | $12.2M | $30,000 |
| 2024 | 46 | $11.6M | $30,000 |
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.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Austin E Knowlton Foundation Inc has 26 of them, worth $83.8M. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University Foundation | Columbus, OH | $14.5M |
| Ohio State University Foundation | Columbus, OH | $11.5M |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | $11.0M |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | $10.0M |
| Augustana College | Rock Island, IL | $6,000,000 |
| Ohio State University Foundation | Columbus, OH | $5,500,000 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island, IL | $3,000,000 |
| The College of Wooster | Wooster, OH | $3,000,000 |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | $2,600,000 |
| Ronald Reagan Presidential Fdn & Institute | Simi Valley, CA | $2,025,000 |
| The College of Wooster | Wooster, OH | $2,000,000 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, OH | $1,900,000 |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | $1,600,000 |
| Denison University | Granville, OH | $1,500,000 |
| Ronald Reagan Presidential Fdn & Institute | Simi Valley, CA | $1,450,000 |
Where its money goes
63% 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 $25,000. 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 The Austin E Knowlton Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). 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: 312 Walnut Street 3130, Cincinnati, OH, 45202. 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 31-1044475 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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