Columbus Foundation

Analysis

Columbus Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Columbus, OH. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in October 1937, 89 years ago. Its declared purposes cover philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking foundations, which this site groups under grant-making and general purposes. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, Columbus Foundation reported income of $255.8m and spending of $342.7m, spending 134% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income fell from $304.5m to $255.8m (-16%), an average of -4.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 84%. Over the whole period it spent 70% of the income it received.

Among 19,413 United States charities whose main cause is grant-making and general purposes and that reported income, Columbus Foundation sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 100th percentile, and in the 100th percentile within OH. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Greater Houston Community Foundation ($242.9m), United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Ny Inc ($262.2m) and New Partners Inc ($236.4m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 59% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.6m (0.5% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $6.9m. At year end it held assets of $2.49bn against liabilities of $16.0m, net assets of $2.47bn. It reported 72 employees.