The Foundation's primary goal is to use the power of philanthropy to change people's lives and to improve our communities; it seeks to educate individuals that through their charitable giving they can make a profound difference in individual lives and local and regional communities.
Cambridge Charitable Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by large operating grants to Cincinnati-area Jewish institutions, led by a $2,493,700 award to Mesivta of Cincinnati for general programs and operating funds in 2025. The pattern shows a foundation that supports both ongoing institutional costs and program delivery, with a visible mix of schools, congregations, and cultural organizations. Among the larger recurring recipients are Ohr Torah Cincinnati, which received $2,090,160 in 2025 after prior grants in 2024 and 2023, and Cincinnati Community Kollel, which also appears across multiple years. The foundation also backs education through scholarship programs tied to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Miami University, including sponsored scholarship arrangements administered with the universities. Its public grant descriptions indicate that trustees consider applications for specific projects or programs, while some donor-designated funds support defined charitable purposes. The result is a grantmaker with a strong recurring pattern in Greater Cincinnati, plus selected support for educational, arts, and other charitable purposes beyond its largest local awards.
Education is a clear part of the foundation’s grantmaking, especially through scholarship support. Cambridge Charitable Foundation sponsored a University of Wisconsin–Madison Scholarship for students at the university, and it also sponsors a Miami University scholarship program administered with the university. A separate scholarship fund, the Parke G. & Dorothy M. Smith Charitable Fund Scholarship, supports Miami University students majoring in Chemistry, Zoology, and/or Microbiology who plan to enter medical school, with first consideration for students from Southwest Ohio. The foundation also supports arts and culture through a grant to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for general programs and operating funds. In health and human services, it gave to Ner Israel Rabbinical College and to senior-services related charitable funds, while environmental and community-focused support appears in its general grant programs.
Typical awards cluster in the $10,000 to $40,000 range, with a median grant size of $20,000. The recent grant list also shows that Cambridge Charitable Foundation makes both very large and much smaller awards, especially when donor-designated funds or long-running institutional grants are involved. The data shows repeated grants to the same recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to recurring support rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is classified as a Regular Funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals. Its general grant programs accept applications, but the scholarship programs are handled through the relevant universities rather than unsolicited applications.
$9.9M
$51.9M
$9.4M
$10.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $40K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$40K
DANIEL P RANDOLPH
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Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Ohio: 55% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s home state. Cincinnati appears repeatedly among recipient cities, especially for local schools, congregations, and community organizations. Outside Ohio, New York is the top state by grant count, and the recent grants list also includes recipients in Washington, DC; Baltimore, Maryland; and Brookview Heights, Ohio. All recorded recipient-country grants are in the United States.
The foundation supports schools, congregations, cultural institutions, and charitable organizations through general programs and operating funds, along with scholarship programs. Recent grants include repeated support for Cincinnati-area Jewish educational and religious institutions, plus awards to arts organizations and universities through sponsored scholarship arrangements.
Yes, some of its general grant programs accept applications. The General Grants & Scholarships program and the General Grant Program both state that trustees consider requests submitted on the Foundation’s Grant Application form. Its sponsored scholarship programs are managed through the universities rather than through unsolicited applications.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $40,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger grants, reflecting a mix of routine support and major institutional funding.
Ohio receives 55% of its grants, and Cincinnati appears frequently in the recipient list. Outside Ohio, New York is the top state by grant count, and recent grantees also appear in Washington, DC; Baltimore, Maryland; and Arizona.
The pattern is clearly recurring. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including organizations in Cincinnati and scholarship programs tied to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Miami University. That suggests the foundation often renews support rather than making only one-off gifts.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Cambridge Charitable Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Charities should apply if they are named by a fund or if their charity or a specific project meets a listed fund purpose. Applications must generally be submitted on the Cambridge Charitable Foundation Grant Application. Specific projects are generally favored over general operating requests.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MESIVTA OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,493,700 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| OHR TORAH CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,090,160 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CINCINNATI COMMUNITY KOLLEL | CINCINNATI, OH | $1,162,668 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| KNESETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $787,505 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| AGUDATH ACHIM OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $499,900 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CINCINNATI HEBREW DAY SCHOOL | CINCINNATI, OH | $323,870 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CAMP ASHREINU OF CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $309,827 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| NER ISRAEL RABBINICAL COLLEGE | BALTIMORE, MD | $144,215 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CONGREGATION ZICHRON ELIEZER | CINCINNATI, OH | $127,450 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| LAWRENCE SCHOOL | BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH | $126,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| AGUDATH ISRAEL OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $118,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CONGREGATION YESHIVA YAD MOSHE | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE JOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| WOLFTRAP FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | VIENNA, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| OHIO STATE UNIV FDN-COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY | COLUMBUS, OH | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| MESORAH HERITAGE FOUNDATION | RAHWAY, NJ | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| NUSACH HARI-BNAI ZION CONGREGATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $75,640 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| TORAH COMMUNITY FUND INC | PASSAIC, NJ | $75,600 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME | NEWPORT, RI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONS CENTER INC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| ANCHOR FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| ICHUD HAKOLLELIM INC | LAKEWOOD, NJ | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| PLAYHOUSE SQUARE FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $47,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| NEW DAY UMC CHURCH | CINCINNATI, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CLEVELAND SIGHT CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| TPHERIS ISRAEL CHEVRA KADISHA - KOLLEL | CHESTERFIELD, MO | $30,100 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| FREESTORE FOODBANK | CINCINNATI, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| PARK SYNAGOGUE | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| ORTHODOX UNION UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| TENDER MERCIES INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF GTR CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $29,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY - SCHOLARSHIPS | OXFORD, OH | $28,375 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| NAALEH CLEVELAND INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $28,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| PEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $27,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $27,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| UPSTAGE LUNG CANCER | BROOKLINE, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY HILLEL FOUNDATION | OXFORD, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| IFCJ THE FELLOWSHIP | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| GATEWAYS ORGANIZATION INC | MONSEY, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| KOLLEL MECHANCHIM ZICHRON MEIR | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| AGUDATH ISRAEL OF OHIO | SOUTH EUCLID, OH | $18,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| MATTHEW 25 MINISTRIES | BLUE ASH, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| MT ST JOSEPH UNIVERSITY | CINCINNATI, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER | CINCINNATI, OH | $14,360 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| SOCIETY ST VINCENT DE PAUL ST ANDREW CONFERENCE | MILFORD, OH | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,842 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY EDUCATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
| BIKUR CHOLIM OF CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS |
MESIVTA OF CINCINNATI
$2,493,700GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
OHR TORAH CINCINNATI
$2,090,160GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
CINCINNATI COMMUNITY KOLLEL
$1,162,668GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
KNESETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
$787,505GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
AGUDATH ACHIM OF CINCINNATI
$499,900GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
CAMP ASHREINU OF CINCINNATI
$309,827GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
NER ISRAEL RABBINICAL COLLEGE
$144,215GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
CONGREGATION ZICHRON ELIEZER
$127,450GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
CONGREGATION YESHIVA YAD MOSHE
$100,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
OHIO STATE UNIV FDN-COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY
$80,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
NUSACH HARI-BNAI ZION CONGREGATION
$75,640GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME
$50,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
ANCHOR FUND
$50,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
ICHUD HAKOLLELIM INC
$50,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
NEW DAY UMC CHURCH
$35,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
TPHERIS ISRAEL CHEVRA KADISHA - KOLLEL
$30,100GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
PARK SYNAGOGUE
$30,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
ORTHODOX UNION UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS OF AMERICA
$30,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
PEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY INC
$27,500GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
UPSTAGE LUNG CANCER
$25,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
MIAMI UNIVERSITY HILLEL FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
KOLLEL MECHANCHIM ZICHRON MEIR
$20,000GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
AGUDATH ISRAEL OF OHIO
$18,500GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
SOCIETY ST VINCENT DE PAUL ST ANDREW CONFERENCE
$12,500GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$10,842GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
GENERAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATING FUNDS
