At a time when funders must be more responsive and adaptive than ever before to meet the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio’s communities, Philanthropy Ohio is here to lead and support the philanthropic sector in an ever-changing Ohio. Philanthropy Ohio is an association of foundations, corporate giving programs, individuals, United Ways and other organizations actively involved in philanthropy in Ohio. This membership community provides funders the network, tools and knowledge to tackle the most significant issues in your community while helping you build relationships and increase your impact. When you join Philanthropy Ohio, you join a community of funders serving in the same roles, who have gone through similar situations and are here to support you.
Grow your network, develop relationships and become an even better leader
Philanthropy Ohio is the network that links Ohio funders to your peers across the state, forming a broad, strong group of people to tap into for experience and advice. Through Philanthropy Ohio, advance your leadership and expertise both at your organization and across the sector. Connect with funders in like roles and with similar funding interests to share practices and build relationships, developing personal connections and lifelong friendships.
Build rapport with policymakers and advocate for the issues that matter most
As the recognized advocate representing the interests of Ohio philanthropy in the state and nation, our legislative agenda guides our relationship-building with key policymakers as we strive to advance policies that strengthen our communities. Philanthropy Ohio takes the lead and advocates for and alongside you for key issues that impact our sector. By building and strengthening public/private partnership opportunities with the governor’s office, relevant state agencies and community stakeholders, Philanthropy Ohio helps Ohio funders address statewide challenges and opportunities.
Enhance your knowledge, skills and impact
Philanthropy Ohio taps the wisdom of local experts and national thought leaders to bring you high-quality programs and knowledge resources to improve your practice, fine-tune policies and advance your impact on the community. Whether through workshops and in-person events, monthly enewsletters or our quarterly news magazine, we offer the latest and best ideas for your staff and trustees – both new and seasoned.
Advance equity in your organization, grantmaking and community
Philanthropy has an important role to play in promoting equity, and Philanthropy Ohio is here to help your foundation on your unique journey. We lead and support your work to center racial equity and bring training, tools, inspiration and conversations to more Ohio communities, holding space for peer sharing and cohort learning and expanding to include other marginalized identities and issues. Our diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work encompasses all types of identities and issues, from gender to geographic, economic to health and more.
“Not many individuals go to college to become a leader of a foundation. I have learned so much from my involvement with Philanthropy Ohio and the relationships I have made through this organization. I recommend to anyone wanting to build those connections or to learn how others are "doing it" to participate in all that Philanthropy Ohio has to offer.” - Amy Eyman, Executive Director, Fairfield County Foundation
Who Can Join
Philanthropy Ohio membership is open to philanthropic organizations and Professional Partners throughout the state. Foundations and grantmaking organizations that are eligible to join Philanthropy Ohio must have been created for charitable purposes with the principal function to make grants to eligible exempt organizations; are tax-exempt, as defined by the IRS; receive the majority of their annual revenue from the general public or public sources; and award the majority of their grants to external 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.
Philanthropy Ohio currently has the following organization types within our membership:
Community Foundations are tax-exempt charitable organizations that provide grant support – primarily for the needs of the geographic community or region where they are based – from funds that it maintains and administers on behalf of multiple donors.
Component Funds are established and administered by a parent foundation to help individual donors, groups and families fund nonprofit community organizations and interest areas.
Corporate Funders are companies with an active grantmaking program. They may have a company-sponsored private foundation, corporate operating foundation, a corporate direct giving program, a separate legal entity for their giving, an endowment, an employee-driven giving program or a combination of these.
Federated Funds are cooperatively owned and managed by their members who develop a fund's criteria for giving and then make grants or other donations to nonprofits whose missions fulfill those criteria. Federated funds use workplace fundraising and community giving programs to support a broad range of missions through a variety of nonprofits and other recipients.
Government Grantmaker staff are employed by a government agency. This grantmaker type does not file a 990 and does not hold a 501(c)3.
Grantmaking Public Charities are nonprofit organizations that give grants to other public charities. As defined by the IRS, grantmaking public charities seek support from the general public and must pass the public support test. Charitable organizations fall under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Tax Code, and the IRS divides charitable organizations into two groups: private foundations and public charities.
Individual Members are charitable individuals who are not employed by an eligible funder.
Operating Foundations are a unique form of private foundation which uses the bulk of its income to actively run its own charitable programs or services.
Private (Family) Foundations are independent legal entities set up for solely charitable purposes. The funding for a private foundation typically comes from a single individual, a family or a corporation, which receives a tax deduction for donations.
Professional Partner Members are for-profit businesses that provide services or products to philanthropic organizations.
Supporting Organizations are charities that carry out their exempt purposes by supporting other exempt organizations, usually other public charities.
United Ways are local public charities that raise funds through individual contributions and allocate them to benefit charitable programs and organizations. They often use workplace fundraising and community giving programs to support their mission through a variety of nonprofits.
Philanthropy Ohio does not make grants. Those seeking grants can find more information on the Candid website.
Membership in Philanthropy Ohio is organization-wide and open to all your philanthropic staff members and trustees. Memberships begin in January and are renewed annually at the beginning of the calendar year. Membership support is calculated on a sliding scale for most members, based on grantmaking averaged over a three-year period. Minimum support is $1,000, with an upper limit of $13,000. Government grantmakers, individuals and Professional Partners pay fees ranging from $1,000 to $1,500. The support calculation can be found on the membership form. New members may join at any time throughout the year and therefore, dues may be prorated.
Key values and benefits available exclusively to Philanthropy Ohio members include:
Staff and organizational development
Learning programs, trainings, cohorts and webinars (many are free or deeply discounted) that will increase your knowledge and skills around core competencies and beyond
Lead programs as a speaker or moderator or serve on a planning committee to help develop a program’s content
Access to the latest data, reports, best practices and sample documents we compile in our Resource Center from your peers throughout the state
Newsletters that include the latest philanthropy trends, ideas and best practices delivered to your inbox
Networking with peers
Connect with your peers at our annual convenings, regional events and convenings by funder type
Participate in or initiate a member peer group convening, such as the equity peer groups, scholarship managers, Blacks in Ohio Philanthropy, Community Foundation Leaders, Appalachia Ohio Funders and more
Get involved in special policy projects that aim to increase public dialogue on issues of particular concern to the philanthropic community, including education, health and housing policy
Suggest issues that Philanthropy Ohio’s Public Policy Committee should explore, which might lead to the creation of an issue guide on the topic and/or Philanthropy Ohio taking an official position
Connect with state and federal policymakers through Philanthropy Ohio, where we also represent you on the Ohio Charitable Advisory Committee
Join Philanthropy Ohio staff in meetings with Ohio’s congressional delegation during Foundations on the Hill
Information sharing
Submit your organizational news for Ohio Philanthropy News, our newsletters and social media
Write a guest blog or article for the Philanthropy Review news magazine
Submit your organization’s research, reports and other sample documents for the Resource Center
Enrollment in the Online Communities (formerly listservs), which are online spaces exclusively for members to connect based on shared interests, roles, issue areas and identities to ask questions, give answers, share resources, participate in discussions and learn from one another
Annual Salary & Benefits Report to influence your operations – Ohio data updated annually on grantmaker compensation at professional levels throughout the philanthropic field
Top-line foundation giving data in our annual Ohio Gives report
Staff expertise – timely responses to your questions and access to other experts
Unlimited, free job listings on our online Job Board and in our monthly NewsLine
Peer sample documents, reports, listserv discussions, archived webinars and other program resources in the Resource Center
Member features in the weekly Ohio Philanthropy News digest to increase the reach of your organization's news
Philanthropy Ohio staff can support your convenings by facilitating conversations, supporting common objectives and guiding groups to plan to achieve goals
Fiscal sponsorship of member-driven projects
Access to Back Office Services – finance and administrative duties to release organizations to focus on their mission (additional costs apply)
Free use of our Columbus and Cleveland conference rooms for meetings up to 20 people
Amalgamated Bank – offers free or discounted socially responsible banking and investment products designed for funders
The Foundation Review – receive a 20% discount on a subscription to the peer-reviewed journal of philanthropy
Foundation Source – receive a discount to Impactfully, which brings together the best of Foundation Source - Advisory Services, Foundation Management and Grants Management into one powerful platform
Inside Philanthropy – save 25% on a subscription to the philanthropy news publication
ValuesAdvisor – free access to the nonprofit database of financial advisors recommended by investors for mission-related investment strategies
For questions or assistance in accessing any of your membership benefits, please contact Jessica Howard.
Professional Partner Membership
Join Philanthropy Ohio as a Professional Partner and connect with our statewide network of individuals, foundations, corporate giving programs and organizations actively involved in philanthropy throughout Ohio. Professional Partner members are businesses that provide services or products to philanthropic organizations, such as:
Accounting/Auditing
Consulting
Insurance
Investment/Financial Advising
Information Technology (IT)/Software
Legal
Benefits of becoming a Professional Partner
Share your expertise with our members by submitting articles for our print and digital publications
Attend the Philanthropy Forward conference a discounted rate to build your network
Discounted exhibitor rate at the Philanthropy Forward conference
Professional Partner membership support is $1,500. Ready to join? Complete the membership form and email it to Alyssa Donahey. Want us to contact you? Complete the contact form and a membership team member will be in touch!
Need help?
Want to learn more about joining Philanthropy Ohio or getting the most out of your membership? Contact Jessica Howard.
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