The BGSU Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established to raise and manage private funds for Bowling Green State University to support scholarships, research, programs, infrastructure and other university priorities in accordance with donor intent.
Bowling Green State University Foundation Inc. channels private funds into Bowling Green State University through large exempt-purpose grants that support the institution itself and its alumni organization. Three recent transfers to Bowling Green State University total more than $26.8 million, showing that the foundation’s grantmaking is primarily an internal funding mechanism for university priorities rather than a broad external grant program. The largest of those awards, $12,245,607 in 2025, went to the university for its exempt purpose, followed by $8,380,095 in 2023 and $6,276,962 in 2024 for the same purpose. The foundation also supports the BGSU Alumni Association, with recent awards of $150,000 in 2025, $120,000 in 2023, and $60,000 in 2024. That pattern fits its stated role of raising and managing private funds for scholarships, research, academic programs, athletics, student support, and other university priorities in line with donor intent. Its active giving options include donor-directed funds, an annual day of giving, recurring monthly gifts, and crowdfunding for campus projects.
Scholarships are one of the foundation’s core funding areas, and they appear in several of its active giving channels, including donor-directed funds, the annual day of giving, and monthly recurring gifts. Those vehicles are structured to support scholarships alongside academic programs and student support within BGSU. Research is another clear thread. The Center for Aging Families offers calls for proposals such as Emerging Scholars: Call for Proposals and Innovation Grants, while the foundation’s donor-directed funds also include research. That makes aging and family research a distinct part of its funding profile. Athletics and student experience also receive support. Donor-directed gifts can be routed to athletics, and Falcon Funded connects student organizations and campus projects with supporters for travel, equipment, and other specific needs. The foundation also lists student emergency support among its focus areas, which points to responsive aid within the university community.
Typical grant size is highly skewed: the 25th percentile is $127,500, the median is $3,213,481, and the 75th percentile is $7,854,312. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same university recipient across 2023, 2024, and 2025, along with recurring support for the alumni association in those same years. The foundation is an institutional support funder rather than an individual-giving or PRI organization: it funds the university, does not fund individuals, and makes no program-related investments. Giving appears to flow through donor-directed funds and organized campus fundraising channels rather than an open external grant application process.
$8.1M
$352.4M
$52.7M
$37.5M
Most grants fall between $128K and $7.9M, with a median of $3.2M.
25th Percentile
$128K
Median
$3.2M
75th Percentile
$7.9M
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Grantmaking is entirely local: 100% of grants go to recipients in Ohio, and the recipient country distribution is 100% United States. Recent awards are concentrated in Bowling Green, including Bowling Green State University and BGSU Alumni Association. The active giving portfolio is also centered on Bowling Green State University, with donor-directed funds, BGSU One Day, Roll Along Society, and Falcon Funded all tied to the university community.
It funds Bowling Green State University priorities, including scholarships, research, academic programs, athletics, student support, and donor-directed university needs. Recent grants went to Bowling Green State University for its exempt purpose, and the foundation also supports the BGSU Alumni Association.
The grant-size profile is concentrated at the high end: p25 is $127,500, median grant size is $3,213,481, and p75 is $7,854,312. Recent awards include multi-million-dollar transfers to Bowling Green State University and smaller support for the alumni association.
No. All grants in the recent data go to recipients in Ohio, and the recipient country distribution is 100% United States. The recent grants listed are to Bowling Green entities in Bowling Green, OH.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals. Its giving is organized around university support, including donor-directed funds, annual giving, recurring gifts, and crowdfunding for campus projects and student organizations.
Active options include Give to BGSU for donor-directed gifts, BGSU One Day, Roll Along Society monthly gifts, Falcon Funded crowdfunding, and Center for Aging Families calls for proposals such as Emerging Scholars and Innovation Grants.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Bowling Green State University Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Not specified in the provided content; the program is described as supporting scholars working on aging families research.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY | BOWLING GREEN, OH | $7,931,256 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BGSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | BOWLING GREEN, OH | $150,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY | BOWLING GREEN, OH | $12,245,607 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| BGSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | BOWLING GREEN, OH | $150,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE. |
| Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH | $6,276,962 | 2024 | To support the University's exempt purpose. |
| BGSU Alumni Association | Bowling Green, OH | $60,000 | 2024 | To support the Alumni Association's Exempt purpose. |
| Bowling Green State University | Bowling Green, OH | $8,380,095 | 2023 | To support the University's exempt purpose. |
| BGSU Alumni Association | Bowling Green, OH | $120,000 | 2023 | To support the Alumni Association's Exempt purpose. |
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
$7,931,256TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
BGSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
$150,000TO SUPPORT THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,245,607TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
BGSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
$150,000TO SUPPORT THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE.
Bowling Green State University
$6,276,962To support the University's exempt purpose.
BGSU Alumni Association
$60,000To support the Alumni Association's Exempt purpose.
Bowling Green State University
$8,380,095To support the University's exempt purpose.
BGSU Alumni Association
$120,000To support the Alumni Association's Exempt purpose.
