Research

The Ohio Foundation Salary Report is the most requested resource by Philanthropy Ohio members. This exclusive, data-driven publication provides a comprehensive overview of compensation and benefits within Ohio’s philanthropic sector. The 2025 Midwest Grantmaker Salary, Benefits & Demographics Report offers benchmarking for compensation metrics specific to Midwest funders. These reports are available exclusively to Philanthropy Ohio members, who are encouraged to use them in conjunction with other data sources to inform their staff salary decisions and planning.

This collection of staff research delves into information about foundations that provide low or no-interest loans to nonprofits, as well as mission-related investments, program-related investments, impact investing and resources from Community Development Financial Institutions.

This collection of staff research provides a list of behavioral and mental health funders in Ohio.

This resource provides a comparative overview for philanthropists considering various giving options. It covers direct contributions, community foundation-based funds, donor-advised funds, starting a foundation, as well as frequently asked questions about making contributions and options for estate and planned giving.

This resource explores the legal intricacies and best practices that foundations should understand when navigating situations that may inadvertently violate regulations concerning charitable organizations and their support for or opposition to candidates for public office. 

This guidance addresses the issue of "tipping" for grantmakers, emphasizing the calculation of the public support test and the importance of avoiding "tipping" grantees. In the nonprofit sector, "tipping" occurs when a corporation, private foundation or major donor makes a substantial gift or grant that jeopardizes a nonprofit's public charity status. This situation is most common for very small or young nonprofits, or when there are outsized grants – whether one-time or spread over multiple years – in relation to the nonprofit's overall size. 

This resource provides an overview of private foundation fundamentals, highlighting essential activities and key regulated areas that foundation staff and board members need to understand. The guide covers legal considerations, tax implications, self-dealing, financial management, grantmaking processes, board policies and procedures and human resources for community foundation staff and trustees.

This resource provides an overview of community foundation fundamentals, highlighting essential activities and key regulated areas that foundation staff and board members need to understand. The guide covers legal considerations, tax implications, financial management, fund operations, grantmaking processes, fundraising strategies, gift acceptance policies, charitable gaming, board policies and procedures and human resources for community foundation staff and trustees. 

Philanthropy Ohio administered a member survey on recent federal funding decisions in February 2025. The results highlight the variety of ways members are responding to the political reality of potential funding cuts, eliminated DEIB efforts, deportations and other challenges to “business as usual.” Read about the ways funders in Ohio are leaning in.

The 2024 Ohio Foundation Salary Report details salary data for various full-time paid positions across the state by type of foundation. The 2024 Midwest Grantmaker Salary, Benefits & Demographics Report shares salary and benefits benchmarking for Midwest-specific compensation metrics on foundation staff within Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.