Spirit of Construction Foundation

What Spirit of Construction Foundation does

Spirit of Construction Foundation is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit foundation founded in 1994 and headquartered in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. The foundation operates as a coalition of individuals and construction-industry companies dedicated to building the industry's future workforce through education, scholarships, community grants, and industry recognition. Its core offerings include a portfolio of scholarship programs (Women in Construction, Military, Skilled Trades, and university-specific awards), annual community grants to nonprofits providing construction career exposure, workforce development initiatives such as the Construction Career Advocacy Program (CCAP) with Allied Construction Industries, and a four-pillar Endowment Fund. Major fundraising and brand events include the Annual Gala (1,200+ attendees), Spring Fling, Scholarship Breakfast, and Lifetime Achievement Event.

The foundation has no proprietary technology platform; operations are delivered through a 6-person staff, a board of construction industry executives, an Emerging Leaders cohort, and institutional partnerships with regional universities and nonprofits. Revenue is generated through individual and corporate donations, Big Impact Circle Sponsorships at $25,000 per sponsor, Gold and Silver tier event sponsorships, Annual Gala tickets and silent auctions, a co-branded Blue Print Lager product partnership with Braxton Brewing Company, and limited-edition merchandise collaborations including with The Cincy Hat Foundation. Since 2004, the foundation has awarded $666,500 in scholarships to 278 students, $79,000 to 28 recipients in 2025 alone, and distributed $172,365 in community grants to 21 organizations in 2026, while recognizing 116 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees since 1996.

Name

Spirit of Construction Foundation

Legal name

Spirit of Construction Foundation

Website

https://spiritofconstruction.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Spirit of Construction Foundation is a Cincinnati-area nonprofit, founded in 1994, that funds construction-industry scholarships, community grants, and workforce development programs serving students, veterans, and young adults pursuing construction careers in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Industry Workforce Development

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Construction workforce development
• Scholarship fund programs
• Community grant funding
• Skilled trades education
• Nonprofit foundation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakeside Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and corporate donations fund scholarships, community grants, and workforce development programs. The foundation accepts online donations via Givebutter and mailed checks.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Big Impact Circle Sponsors contribute $25,000 each, with proceeds funding workforce development, outreach grants, and general operations. Gold and Silver tier sponsors support specific events and programs.
3. Event Revenue (Gala, Spring Fling): The Annual Gala with 1,200+ attendees and Spring Fling events raise significant funds through ticket sales, silent auctions, and sponsorship activations. Silent auction proceeds at the Gala directly benefit the University of Cincinnati Construction Student Association.
4. Product Partnership Revenue: Partnership with Braxton Brewing Company for the Blue Print Lager — a portion of pint and 15-pack sales funds education grants, workforce training, and scholarships across the Tri-State area.
5. Merchandise Sales: Limited-edition Spirit-branded Cincy Hats sold through The Cincy Hat Foundation partnership, generating awareness and supplemental revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Spirit of Construction Foundation is a nonprofit that funds construction-industry education and workforce development in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region through scholarship programs (Women in Construction, Military, Skilled Trades, university-specific awards), community grants distributed annually to local nonprofits, and the Construction Career Advocacy Program (CCAP). It supplements this with signature fundraising events (Annual Gala with 1,200+ attendees, Spring Fling, Scholarship Breakfast, Lifetime Achievement Event), an Endowment Fund with four program pillars, and corporate partnerships (e.g., Braxton Brewing's Blue Print Lager).

Product overview

Spirit of Construction Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of workforce development programs, not a unified technology platform. Its core offerings include scholarship programs (Women in Construction, Military, Skilled Trades, and university-specific scholarships), community grants distributed annually to 21+ nonprofit recipients, workforce development initiatives through the Construction Career Advocacy Program (CCAP), and major events (Annual Gala, Spring Fling, Scholarship Breakfast, Lifetime Achievement Event). The organization also manages an Endowment Fund with four pillars and a Pick Your Passion donation program allowing targeted giving. All programs serve the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky construction industry's future through education, training, and career pathway development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scholarship Programs Award portfolio of scholarships supporting students pursuing construction-related degrees, skilled trades apprenticeships, and certification programs in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. Includes Women in Construction scholarships (five $2,000 and three $5,000 awards), Military Scholarships ($5,000 each), Skilled Trades scholarships, Public Utilities Skilled Trades scholarships, and university-specific awards at Cincinnati State Technical College and Northern Kentucky University ($4,000 each). Funded by individual and corporate donors, with the Women in Construction program funded by the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund through Fifth Third Bank. Since 2004, 278 scholarships totaling $666,500 have been awarded.
• Community Grants (Outreach Grants) Annual financial grants awarded to nonprofit organizations providing construction career exposure and hands-on learning experiences for youth and young adults. Grants are funded by the Spirit of Construction Outreach Fund, Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation, Spirit of Construction Endowment Fund, and Emerging Leaders. At the 2026 Spring Fling, 21 organizations received a total of $172,365 in grants, with recipients including TOOLS Program, DesignLab, Cincinnati ToolBank, Brighton Center, Habitat for Humanity, LEAD Training, and Enzweiler Building Institute.

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Cincy Hat FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2025Spirit of Construction Foundation partnered with The Cincy Hat Foundation (founded by Bengals center Ted Karras) to offer limited-edition Spirit-branded Cincy Hats. The collaboration generates awareness for construction trades while supporting the foundation's mission.
• Braxton Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpirit of Construction partnered with Braxton Brewing Company on the Blue Print American Light Lager. A portion of every pint and 15-pack sold funds education grants, workforce training, and scholarships across the Tri-State area. The partnership also includes Touch-a-Truck community events at Braxton's regional taprooms.
• University of Cincinnati — Construction Student AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2000, Spirit of Construction has donated to the University of Cincinnati Construction Student Association. The Annual Gala's silent auction proceeds directly benefit the association — $16,329 was contributed in 2024 alone, funding student-led initiatives, professional development, and hands-on learning experiences.
• Allied Construction Industries — Construction Career Advocacy Program (CCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Construction Career Advocacy Program (CCAP), developed by Allied Construction Industries and supported by Spirit of Construction, ensures the economic vitality of the Cincinnati region by developing and strengthening construction career pathways for youth that are visible, accessible, and achievable.
• TOOLS ProgramminorOthers2026 Spring Fling grant recipient providing construction trade education and career exposure programs for youth in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.
• DesignLabminorOthers2026 Spring Fling grant recipient — DesignLab provides design, learning, and build experiences for students exploring architecture and construction careers.
• JATC (Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee) Local 212minorOthersSkilled Trades Scholarship recipient (Brody Lehmann) enrolled in JATC Local 212 Electrical Apprenticeship program. JATC provides registered apprenticeship training for the electrical trade.
• Northern Kentucky University — Construction Management Advisory BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpirit of Construction board member Sean Foley (NKU) and other board members contribute to NKU's Construction Management Advisory Board, helping shape curriculum and workforce pathways.
• BRAY Construction Services, J&D Rack, O'Rourke Wrecking Company, SRM Concrete, Eaton Asphalt PavingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating partners in the Braxton Touch-a-Truck events series, bringing construction equipment to Braxton Brewing taprooms for family-friendly community engagement events in June 2025.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research): NCCER is the leading national nonprofit credentialing body for the construction industry, developing curricula and craft training standards. While national in scope, its mission of building a qualified construction workforce directly parallels Spirit of Construction's regional workforce development work.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): ABC is the largest U.S. construction trade association representing merit-shop contractors. Through its apprenticeship, training, and workforce development programs, it addresses similar industry workforce challenges as Spirit of Construction but at a national scale.
• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): AGC is a national construction trade association providing workforce development, education, and advocacy for the commercial construction industry. Its Foundation is a comparable entity to Spirit of Construction in mission and structure.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): NAHB is a major U.S. trade association for the residential construction industry, with workforce development initiatives that overlap Spirit of Construction's mission to recruit and train construction talent.

Direct peers

• Build Your Future (BYF): Build Your Future is a national construction industry initiative that promotes career pathways and workforce development in the trades. It serves a similar mission to Spirit of Construction's CCAP program — connecting youth to construction careers — but operates at a national rather than regional level.
• Home Builders Institute (HBI): HBI is a national nonprofit that provides skilled trades training and education for the residential construction industry. It shares Spirit of Construction's model of scholarships, training programs, and career pathway advocacy, and serves a comparable set of beneficiaries.
• ACE Mentor Program: ACE Mentor Program is a national nonprofit that introduces high school students to careers in architecture, construction, and engineering through mentorship. Its mission of youth exposure to the construction industry closely parallels Spirit of Construction's grade school and college pipeline programs.
• Construction Industry Workforce Foundation: Industry workforce foundations in other major metros address similar skilled trades labor shortages through scholarships and grants. Spirit of Construction serves as the regional equivalent for Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.

Emerging players

• SkillsUSA: SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit serving middle school, high school, and college students preparing for skilled trades careers. Its workforce development and career-readiness mission overlaps Spirit of Construction's pipeline programs targeting grade school to college students.

Regional players

• Allied Construction Industries: Allied Construction Industries is a Greater Cincinnati construction trade association that co-developed the Construction Career Advocacy Program (CCAP) supported by Spirit of Construction. It is a direct regional partner with overlapping mission and audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SpiritofConstruction-t6z
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpiritofConstructionFdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spirit-of-construction-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spirit of Construction Foundation