Philanthropy Ohio
Philanthropy Ohio is a statewide nonprofit membership association serving roughly 200 Ohio funders managing over $50 billion in assets through peer networking, advocacy, learning programs, equity-centered programming, and the annual Philanthropy Forward conference.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Philanthropy Ohio does
Philanthropy Ohio is a private nonprofit statewide membership association serving funders in Ohio from its headquarters at 500 S. Front St., Suite 870, Columbus. Founded in the mid-1980s and now in its fifth year past its 40th anniversary, the organization supports nearly 200 foundation, corporate, family, community, and government grantmakers that collectively manage more than $50 billion in assets and distribute over $4 billion in grants annually. Its stated mission is to lead and equip Ohio philanthropy through advocacy, learning, peer convening, public-private partnerships, and equity-centered programming.
The organization's core products are membership services and convenings rather than technology. Members receive access to a searchable Membership Directory, organized Peer Groups, Online Communities and listservs, an 8-month Mentorship Learning Exchange, a curated Resource Center, a Job Board, and policy tables in education, health, and housing. The flagship annual event is the Philanthropy Forward conference (scheduled for October 13-15, 2026, at the Hilton Columbus Downtown), supplemented by nearly 100 other events per year — including workshops, webinars, and policy convenings — and the annual Ohio Philanthropy Awards. The organization also produces Ohio-specific research, most notably the 2025 Ohio Transfer of Wealth Study, and has intentionally led equity-centered programming for more than 17 years.
Philanthropy Ohio's revenue model is primarily subscription-membership combined with event, workshop, and ancillary fees. Membership dues are on a sliding scale tied to a three-year average of grantmaking, ranging from $1,000 to $13,000 for most funders; government grantmakers, individuals, and Professional Partners (for-profit service providers to philanthropy) pay $1,000 to $1,500. The organization sells conference and workshop registrations at member and nonmember rates, with one-off fees of $50 to $1,200, and operates a paid nonmember job board at $95 per posting. Membership is organization-wide (covering all staff and trustees of member foundations) and renews annually, beginning in January. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operates as an independent association governed by a Board of Trustees under President & CEO Meghan Cummings.
Philanthropy Ohio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Philanthropy Ohio
- Legal name
- Philanthropy Ohio
- Website
- https://philanthropyohio.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Philanthropy Ohio is a statewide nonprofit membership association serving roughly 200 Ohio funders managing over $50 billion in assets through peer networking, advocacy, learning programs, equity-centered programming, and the annual Philanthropy Forward conference.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Philanthropy Ohio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropy Membership Association Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
Keywords
Where Philanthropy Ohio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Philanthropy Ohio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Membership support is calculated on a sliding scale based on total 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. Memberships begin in January and are renewed annually.
- Conference and Event Registrations: Revenue generated from the annual Philanthropy Forward conference and other workshops and events. Priority member registration is $750 (early bird) / $850 (regular); nonmembers pay $1,200. One-day rates range from $300-$750 depending on day and membership status.
- Workshop and Program Fees: Fees for specialized workshops such as the Navigating AI series ($150 for members), Equity-Embedded Capacity Building Workshop ($50 for members / $200 for nonmembers), and Scholarship Managers Summit ($85 for members / $150 for nonmembers).
- Job Board Postings: Free job postings for members; nonmembers pay $95 per job title per 30-day posting.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Funder Membership (sliding scale by grantmaking) |
| Subscription | Annual | Government Grantmaker / Individual / Professional Partner Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Philanthropy Forward '26 Annual Conference |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Navigating AI as a Philanthropic Leader Series |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Equity-Embedded Capacity Building Workshop |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Scholarship Managers Summit 2026 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Job Board Posting |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Philanthropy Ohio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Philanthropy Ohio is a statewide membership association for funders in Ohio, offering annual memberships, peer convenings, learning programs, advocacy representation, equity-centered programming, and the signature annual Philanthropy Forward conference. Its membership base of nearly 200 organizations collectively holds over $50 billion in assets and provides more than $4 billion in grants annually. The organization does not make grants itself; it operates as a service and advocacy body for philanthropic institutions.
Product overview
Philanthropy Ohio is a statewide membership organization serving over 200 foundations and funders. The organization provides a unified membership platform offering peer networking through Peer Groups and Online Communities, professional development via Programs and Meetings and the Mentorship Learning Exchange, and policy advocacy through Education, Health, and Housing Policy Tables. Key offerings include the annual Philanthropy Forward Conference, Ohio Philanthropy Awards, Resource Center with curated knowledge resources, Job Board for sector employment, and the Ohio Transfer of Wealth research initiative. The organization also facilitates diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging programming and maintains a searchable Membership Directory. Professional Partner membership is available for service providers to the philanthropy sector.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Annual Membership Annual organization-wide membership for Ohio funders (community foundations, corporate funders, private/family foundations, government grantmakers, individuals, Professional Partners) providing sliding-scale dues from $1,000 to $13,000 based on three-year average grantmaking. Membership includes access to peer groups, online communities, the Resource Center, Job Board, free legal consulting, and the Annual Salary & Benefits Report.
- Philanthropy Forward Annual Conference Signature three-day annual conference for Ohio philanthropy practitioners and thought leaders, held at the Hilton Columbus Downtown with keynote speakers, breakout sessions, deep-dive learning, and off-site experiences. The 2026 edition runs October 13–15, 2026, covering AI, rural philanthropy, health policy, and community engagement. Registration is tiered with early-bird and member/nonmember pricing.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 200 member organizations collectively hold over $50 billion in assets and provide over $4 billion in grants annually.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Philanthropy Ohio
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Philanthropy Ohio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Philanthropy Ohio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, leadership investor and minor.
- Iowa Council of FoundationscorePhilanthropy Ohio collaborates with the Iowa Council of Foundations on the Midwest Partnership Series, including the Navigating AI as a Philanthropic Leader Series. The Iowa Council of Foundations hosts the virtual meetings while Philanthropy Ohio supports outreach and programming. Philanthropy Missouri is also a partner in this multi-state collaborative initiative.
- Philanthropy MissouricorePhilanthropy Ohio partners with Philanthropy Missouri on the Midwest Partnership Series, including the Navigating AI as a Philanthropic Leader Series. This multi-state collaboration brings together participants from multiple states for shared learning experiences.
- GEO (Grantmakers for Effective Organizations)corePhilanthropy Ohio partners with GEO to present the Equity-Embedded Capacity Building Workshop, a two-part interactive virtual workshop focused on equity-centered capacity building approaches for philanthropy. The workshop is co-branded and offered at a discounted rate for both organizations' members.
- The Columbus Foundationleadership investorLeadership investor and co-commissioner of the 2025 Ohio Transfer of Wealth Study. Also serves as a conference co-chair for Philanthropy Forward '26.
- The Dayton Foundationleadership investorLeadership investor in the 2025 Ohio Transfer of Wealth Study, which provides Ohio-specific data to guide philanthropic strategies statewide.
- Erie County Community Foundationleadership investorLeadership investor in the 2025 Ohio Transfer of Wealth Study.
- Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valleyleadership investorLeadership investor in the 2025 Ohio Transfer of Wealth Study.
- Richland County Foundationleadership investorLeadership investor in the 2025 Ohio Transfer of Wealth Study.
- Don Macke and Cathy Kottwitz / Macke Carver & Associates LLCminorResearchers who conducted the 2025 Ohio Transfer of Wealth Study. They are part of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship and worked with LOCUS Impact Investing's Transfer of Wealth Research Team from 2000 to 2018.
- The Raymond John Wean FoundationminorSponsor of the Equity-Embedded Capacity Building Workshop presented by Philanthropy Ohio and GEO.
- Osteopathic Heritage FoundationsminorGenerously hosted the Scholarship Managers Summit 2026 space at Ohio University Dublin campus.
- Forum NetworkminorPhilanthropy Ohio is a proud member of the Forum Network, a national affiliation of philanthropy-serving organizations that extends the organization's reach and connects it to broader sector initiatives.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Philanthropy Ohio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Minnesota Council on Foundations: Minnesota's statewide philanthropy membership association serving a comparable mix of community, corporate, family, and private foundations with advocacy, programming, and grantmaker capacity-building offerings.
- Philanthropy Massachusetts: Statewide membership association serving grantmakers in Massachusetts, with parallel mission of advocacy, peer convening, and learning programs for funders. Closely comparable in structure, segment mix, and membership association model.
- Council of Michigan Foundations: Michigan-based statewide membership association for funders, offering peer convening, policy, and learning programs analogous to Philanthropy Ohio. Comparable size and member composition.
- Exponent Philanthropy: National membership association supporting lean foundations and staffed nonprofits. Comparable member-association model with annual conference, peer networks, and learning programs serving a similar funder audience.
- Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO): National philanthropy effectiveness organization and existing co-programming partner with Philanthropy Ohio (e.g., Equity-Embedded Capacity Building Workshop). Directly comparable capacity-building, equity, and learning program offerings.
- Indiana Philanthropy Alliance: Indiana's statewide philanthropy membership association offering member services, advocacy, and learning programs to Indiana funders. Direct regional peer with same operating model.
- Iowa Council of Foundations: Iowa's statewide membership association for foundations and funders, also a Midwest Partnership Series partner with Philanthropy Ohio. Closely comparable scope and member-driven model.
- Philanthropy Missouri: Statewide Missouri philanthropy membership association and existing Midwest Partnership Series collaborator with Philanthropy Ohio. Operates the same model of funder membership, policy advocacy, and programming.
Broad incumbents
- Council on Foundations: Large national membership association for U.S. foundations and corporations serving as a broad incumbent in the same space. Philanthropy Ohio is a Forum Network affiliate, indicating direct member-network overlap.
- Independent Sector: National coalition of nonprofits, foundations, and corporate philanthropy-serving organizations operating broader advocacy, research, and member programs across the charitable sector. Comparable broader incumbent in the policy/advocacy space POhio operates in.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Philanthropy Ohio social profiles
Digital presencePhilanthropy Ohio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Philanthropy Ohio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Philanthropy Ohio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Philanthropy Ohio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Philanthropy Ohio
What does Philanthropy Ohio do?
Philanthropy Ohio is a statewide membership association for funders in Ohio, offering annual memberships, peer convenings, learning programs, advocacy representation, equity-centered programming, and the signature annual Philanthropy Forward conference. Its membership base of nearly 200 organizations collectively holds over $50 billion in assets and provides more than $4 billion in grants annually. The organization does not make grants itself; it operates as a service and advocacy body for philanthropic institutions.
Is Philanthropy Ohio a public or private company?
Philanthropy Ohio is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Philanthropy Ohio founded?
Philanthropy Ohio was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Philanthropy Ohio based?
Philanthropy Ohio is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Philanthropy Ohio make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are conference and Event Registrations, workshop and Program Fees and job Board Postings.
Who are Philanthropy Ohio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Minnesota Council on Foundations, Philanthropy Massachusetts, Council of Michigan Foundations, Exponent Philanthropy, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, Iowa Council of Foundations and Philanthropy Missouri. Broad incumbents are Council on Foundations and Independent Sector.
Does Philanthropy Ohio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Philanthropy Ohio.
What industry is Philanthropy Ohio in?
Philanthropy Ohio's product category is Philanthropy Membership Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8600.