CINCINNATI—Ten private family foundations in The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, National Association, announced grants totaling $6.9 million in 2023. Grants were awarded to organizations that focus on education, arts and culture, civic and community programs, health and human services, and community reinvestment activities that benefit low- to moderate-income earners, small businesses, affordable housing, financial literacy and workforce development efforts.
"Through the Foundation Office, the visions of individuals, families and institutions are realized and legacies are made possible," said Heidi B. Jark, senior vice president and managing director for the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank. "We are committed to creating a greater impact on programs and initiatives that create healthy, strong, vibrant communities and provide pathways to opportunity."
Earlier this year, The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank celebrated the milestone anniversaries of the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts and the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund. In the last 40 years alone, the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts and the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund have benefited the Greater Cincinnati region through more than $120 million dollars in giving.
The Celebrate a Legacy of Giving Event marked the 120th Anniversary of the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts and 115th Anniversary of the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund. "Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust’s commitment to improving health and caring for children in need has impacted lives throughout our community," said Michael Sorter, MD, director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
In 2023, the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts and the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund combined awarded $3.35 million of grants to support initiatives that empower and assist women and girls in achieving self-sufficiency and initiatives that mobilize charitable or educational purposes, healthcare, the care of young children and the elderly and improvement of overall living conditions.
The Luther Charitable Foundation supports environmental and historical preservation and educational and arts organizations in the greater Cincinnati area. In 2023, it provided more that $2.36 million in grants. The funds included gifts to the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.
"The $100,000 grant from the H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation to The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is assisting TCT in revitalizing the Emery Theater, a treasured cultural and historical asset, and providing a permanent home for the oldest professional theater for young audiences in the country. This project will contribute to revitalization of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, allow TCT to unlock its potential to inspire diverse audiences with innovative and original works, expand programming for younger children (theatre for the very young) and teenagers, and will expand access to the arts for all children, with a focus on those considered underserved," said Kim Kern, TCT managing director and CEO.
According to survey responses from educators that attend TCT productions with their students, 95% indicate TCT fills the gap left by the reduction of arts education in their schools and 99% indicate TCT effectively creates access to theatre for children who would not otherwise have this opportunity.
"The Luther Foundation and the Cincinnati Zoo are both working toward the common goal of nature conservation right in our own backyard, and their generous grant is helping expand our reach beyond the Zoo’s gates. Through our team of 18 AmeriCorps members, we are able to fill in where our limited Zoo staff cannot, engaging local public school students and their families in activities that make a real difference in how students live, think, and interact with nature," said Kathy Chambers director of foundation relations at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
"The AmeriCorps team uses the Zoo’s resources in wildlife and horticulture to help teachers teach STEM subjects and bring it to life in the classroom, on the playground, in school gardens, and at home. With the Luther Foundation’s help, we are engaging the next generation of environmental heroes," Chambers added.
The foundations and trusts accept applications from qualifying nonprofit organizations seeking grant support from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 each year. For guidelines on the application process, visit https://www.cybergrants.com/pls/cybergrants/quiz.display_question?x_gm_id=6990&x_quiz_id=8160.
The available funds are listed below with brief descriptions of their focus areas and the total amount distributed from them in 2023 to charitable organizations.
Fund and description |
2023 grants |
|---|---|
Charles Moerlein Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Supports religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes. |
$75,000 |
Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Supports initiatives that empower and assist women and girls |
$1.0 million |
Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Supports charitable and educational purposes for the city of Cincinnati, |
$135,000 |
Helen G., Henry F., & Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Supports nature and the conservation of nature’s beauty, as well as organizations that are beneficial to children, with a preference to organizations that Miss Dornette identified during her lifetime. |
$40,000 |
Louis & Melba Schott Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Supports assistance to youth, with emphasis on youth of primary school through junior high school age, who are disadvantaged because of medical conditions, economic status, family background, or for other similar reasons. |
$90,000 |
Patricia Kisker Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Supports organizations that benefit or serve children, and educational, musical or arts organizations, as well as organizations that Patricia Kisker supported during her lifetime. |
$355,000 |
Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trusts, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Supports charitable or educational purposes; for relief in sickness, suffering and distress; for the care of young children, the aged or the helpless or afflicted; for the promotion of education, and to improve living conditions. |
$2.33 million |
Ohio Valley Foundation®, Fifth Third Bank, Agent Funds small equipment and capital improvement projects in the Ohio Valley. |
$310,000 |
Stillson Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee Helps children and provides assistance to those charities the Stillsons supported during their lifetime. |
$175,000
|
H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation Supports mainly environmental and historical preservation, and educational and arts organizations in the greater Cincinnati area, as well as named preferred organizations named in the trust document.
|
$2.36 million |
Total |
$6.9 million |
The Foundation Office
The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, National Association, serves as trustee, co-trustee or agent for more than 300 private and corporate foundations that grant millions of dollars annually to worthy charities across the United States. The foundations support a variety of causes, from education to the arts and from basic-needs organizations like shelters and counseling centers to environmental projects and animal rescue. To learn more about The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, please visit 53.com/foundationoffice.