The Forest Hills Foundation for Education

What The Forest Hills Foundation for Education does

The Forest Hills Foundation for Education (FHFE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It operates as the dedicated fundraising arm for the Forest Hills School District, channeling donations from individuals, businesses, and institutional partners into grant programs that serve approximately 7,000 students across all nine district schools (Anderson High School, Turpin High School, Nagel Middle School, and six elementary schools). The foundation's product surface is built around three grant programs — Teacher Grants (STEAM, Language Arts, Creative Arts, Mental Health & Wellness), Student-Led Grants, and District Grants — supplemented by signature programs such as the PBIS Districtwide Foundation Grant and mental health initiatives. In the 2024-25 school year, FHFE granted approximately $230,000 across these programs, including $90,000 specifically for mental health support.

FHFE's revenue model is exclusively donor-driven, with no product pricing or commercial revenue. Funds are raised through online donations (via QGiv), mailed checks, donor-advised funds, estate planning gifts, stock donations, and structured giving tiers including the 1890 Legacy Society (lifetime giving of $1,890 and above) and a Sustainer Circle ($5,000–$9,999). The 2026 FH5K fundraising event alone surpassed its $180,000 goal. The foundation maintains a broad partner ecosystem of more than 35 named community business partners (Kroger, Park National Bank, OrthoCincy, Zicka, The Lyon Group, Ivy Hills Country Club) and institutional financial partners (New York Life Foundation, multiple family foundations, donor-advised funds within the Greater Cincinnati Foundation).

The organization is lean, with 12 employees and volunteer-led governance, led by Executive Director Stacy Gillard. Its go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, leveraging annual events (FH5K, Fall Benefit, Distinguished Alumni & Staff Recognition Celebration), alumni networks, volunteer programs, and digital presence to cultivate donors and distribute grants. Technology is used operationally for secure online donations and grant management, with no proprietary technology, AI capabilities, or software products. FHFE's competitive position is anchored in its structural entanglement with the Forest Hills School District and its decade-plus track record of transparency in finances and program outcomes.

Name

The Forest Hills Foundation for Education

Legal name

The Forest Hills Foundation for Education

Website

https://fhfe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Forest Hills Foundation for Education is a Cincinnati-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that raises and grants funds to support all nine schools and approximately 7,000 students of the Forest Hills School District through teacher, student-led, and district grant programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, businesses, and community partners. Revenue is raised via online donations, mailed checks, donor-advised funds, estate planning gifts, and stock donations. These funds are then distributed as grants to support Forest Hills School District students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Forest Hills Foundation for Education is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support programming that enriches the educational experience of Forest Hills School District (FHSD) students. Its core offerings are Teacher Grants, Student-Led Grants, and District Grants that fund STEAM, Language Arts, Creative Arts, and Mental Health & Wellness initiatives across all nine district schools, supplemented by targeted programs such as the PBIS Districtwide Foundation Grant and annual fundraising events.

Product overview

The Forest Hills Foundation for Education is a non-profit organization that offers a portfolio of grant programs and fundraising events to support the Forest Hills School District. The core offerings include Teacher Grants, Student-Led Grants, and District Grants, which fund initiatives across STEAM, Language Arts, Creative Arts, and Mental Health & Wellness. Additional programs include the PBIS Districtwide Foundation Grant supporting student well-being. The foundation also organizes annual events including the FH5K, Fall Benefit, and Distinguished Alumni & Staff Recognition Celebration to engage the community and raise funds for students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1890 Legacy Society: A donor recognition society honoring lifetime giving of $1,890 and above, named after the founding year of The Forest Hills School District (1890).

Products and services

• Teacher Grants Grants awarded to teachers across all nine Forest Hills School District schools to fund STEAM, Language Arts, Creative Arts, and Mental Health & Wellness initiatives identified by teachers. Applications are submitted by teachers and reviewed by the foundation committee.
• Student-Led Grants Grants open to Forest Hills School District students and parents to promote wellness, innovative learning opportunities, and community connections. Funds are distributed through the foundation's student-led grant program.
• District Grants District-wide grants awarded in partnership with Forest Hills School District based on broad reach and impact across all nine schools. Reviewed by a committee that includes foundation board members and student representatives.
• PBIS Districtwide Foundation Grant District-wide PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) grant funding an evidence-based framework supporting student behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental well-being across all nine Forest Hills School District schools.
• FH5K - Forest Hills 5K Annual 5K run/walk fundraising event held to support the foundation's mission of investing in Forest Hills School District students. The 2026 edition surpassed its $180,000 fundraising goal.
• FHFE Fall Benefit Annual signature fall fundraising event supporting the foundation's grant programs and student enrichment initiatives.
• Distinguished Alumni & Staff Recognition Celebration Annual celebration event recognizing distinguished alumni from Anderson and Turpin High Schools and Forest Hills School District staff members, while raising funds for the foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Funding innovation, enrichment, and wellness across all nine schools—reaching more than 7,000 students
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Lyon GroupcoreOthersA community business partner supporting Forest Hills Foundation education initiatives. The Lyon Group provides ongoing support for students and community programs.
• Park National BankcoreOthersCommunity business partner providing financial support for education initiatives in the Forest Hills School District.
• OrthoCincycoreOthersHealthcare partner supporting community education initiatives through the foundation.
• Barre3 MariemontminorOthersFitness studio partner contributing to community education support.
• Map Your ShowminorOthersBusiness partner supporting foundation initiatives.
• Gardner Business MediaminorOthersBusiness partner supporting education initiatives.
• La Rosa'sminorOthersLocal restaurant partner contributing to community education support.
• Tri-State RunningcoreOthersRunning company partner supporting FH5K events and education fundraising.
• Amy B Real EstateminorOthersReal estate partner supporting foundation programs.
• KrogercoreOthersGrocery retailer partner supporting community education initiatives.
• Riverbend Music CenterminorOthersEntertainment venue partner supporting foundation initiatives.
• Gorilla GlueminorOthersProduct company partner supporting education programs.
• The Ben Kimble FoundationcoreOthersFoundation partner supporting education initiatives and student programs.
• Wandering Monsters BrewingminorOthersBrewery partner supporting community education.
• Eastgate GraphixminorOthersGraphics and printing partner contributing to foundation support.
• ZickacoreOthersHomebuilder partner supporting foundation education initiatives.
• Ivy Hills Country ClubcoreOthersCountry club partner hosting Distinguished Alumni & Staff Recognition Celebration events.
• Burn Boot Camp Anderson TownshipminorOthersFitness partner supporting foundation at Sustainer Circle level.
• CORE Resources, Inc.coreOthersBusiness partner supporting foundation at Sustainer Circle level.
• Evans LandscapingminorOthersLandscaping business partner supporting foundation.
• Gorilla GlueminorOthersProduct company partner at Sustainer Circle level.
• Inner Light TherapyminorOthersTherapy partner supporting foundation.
• M.E. Lyons YMCAminorOthersYMCA partner supporting community education.
• SENCOminorOthersBusiness partner at Sustainer Circle level.
• T.P. White & SonsminorOthersFamily business partner.
• Warner Law Firm, LLCminorOthersLegal partner supporting foundation.
• ZimcomminorOthersTechnology partner at Sustainer Circle level.
• Forest Hills School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation's primary partner - the school district that FHFE supports through grants, programs, and community connections across all nine schools. The partnership is co-developed through district grant programs and collaborative initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cincinnati Public Schools Education Foundation: A nonprofit education foundation that raises and grants funds to support Cincinnati Public Schools students, mirroring FHFE's district-specific grantmaking model in the same metropolitan area.
• Boise Schools Education Foundation: A district-specific education foundation that raises funds through community events, corporate partners, and donor-advised funds to grant to a single public school district, mirroring FHFE's operating model outside Ohio.

Others

• AdoptAClassroom.org: A national education nonprofit that directs donor funds to teachers and classrooms for supplies and experiences; directly comparable to FHFE's Teacher Grants program but operating nationally.

Regional players

• The Strive Partnership (StriveTogether): A national education-crisis network with deep Cincinnati roots focused on cradle-to-career student outcomes; overlaps with FHFE's community-driven, multi-stakeholder education support model in the same region.
• Lakota Schools Education Foundation: A Cincinnati-area district education foundation supporting Lakota Local Schools, providing a near-identical single-district grantmaking template in the same competitive regional philanthropic market as FHFE.

Broad incumbents

• DonorsChoose: A national nonprofit that crowdsources donations for teacher classroom project requests, performing the same Teacher Grant function as FHFE but at a vastly larger national scale via an online marketplace.
• Greater Cincinnati Foundation: A large regional community foundation serving the greater Cincinnati area with donor-advised funds and grantmaking; several FHFE donors (Bob & Jeanne Coughlin Fund) route contributions through GCF, making it both a partner and a competitor for local philanthropic dollars.

Emerging players

• New York Life Foundation: A corporate foundation providing Community Impact Grants to education nonprofits including FHFE; comparable as a funder of education grantmaking but operating from the corporate-foundation side rather than as a community-based nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/2550690598
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fhfeorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Forest Hills Foundation for Education