The foundation is overwhelmingly focused on regional economic and community development in the Cincinnati metro area, funding organizations that drive workforce development, small business incubation (with an emphasis on minority entrepreneurs), immigrant/refugee economic inclusion, and place-based vitality (festivals/events/startup support). Its awards are highly concentrated in a few core institutions that it supports repeatedly and at scale to advance regional prosperity and inclusion. Smaller grants target workforce pipeline and training partners that connect underserved populations to employer demand.
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Foundation’s largest recent awards all back the same regional engine: the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, which received $7,841,963 in 2025, $4,226,726 in 2024, and $6,937,339 in 2023 to support festivals, events, workforce initiatives, and regional prosperity. That recurring pattern shows a funder working at scale through a small set of institutions rather than a wide, dispersed portfolio. The foundation’s grantmaking is tied to economic development and place-based vitality in the Cincinnati metro area, with repeated support for efforts that connect workforce pipelines, entrepreneurship, and community inclusion to regional growth. Alongside the Chamber, the foundation has made substantial awards to the Minority Business Accelerator, including $1,411,330 in 2023, to increase economic inclusion and empowerment in the Cincinnati region. It also uses grants to support organizations serving immigrants and refugees, early-stage startup infrastructure, and employer-facing talent development. The result is a portfolio centered on regional prosperity, with the foundation funding organizations that shape the local economic ecosystem rather than isolated projects.
A major focus is minority entrepreneurship and economic inclusion. The Minority Business Accelerator received $1,411,330 in 2023, $1,144,878 in 2024, and $893,143 in 2025 to increase economic inclusion and empowerment in the Cincinnati region. Another clear theme is immigrant and refugee integration: Cincinnati Compass was awarded $401,206 in 2023, $244,232 in 2024, and $243,994 in 2025 to advance the economic and social inclusion of immigrants and refugees. The foundation also supports regional growth institutions, giving Redi Cincinnati $624,000 in 2024 and $235,000 in 2023 to advance economic growth and prosperity in the 16-county Cincinnati region. Startup ecosystem support appears through a 2025 grant of $110,000 to Cincytech to act as a catalyst for startup growth in the region.
Grant sizes are highly uneven. The typical award sits at a median of $884,439, with the 25th percentile at $361,962 and the 75th percentile at $2,115,179, showing a mix of large institutional grants and smaller workforce or partner awards. The portfolio is clearly recurring: several grantees appear across multiple years, including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Minority Business Accelerator, Redi Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Compass. The foundation is a public charity and also makes program-related investments. The recent grant list shows a strongly concentrated approach, with most awards going to a few organizations rather than many one-time recipients.
$9.7M
$5.3M
$10.1M
$10.8M
Most grants fall between $362K and $2.1M, with a median of $884K.
25th Percentile
$362K
Median
$884K
75th Percentile
$2.1M
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Concentrated, large-dollar funding to a small set of repeat core grantees (multi-grant support), supplemented by modest operational/ program grants to workforce and community organizations; primarily regionally focused and strategic rather than widely distributed.
Notable grantees: CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER, MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR, REDI CINCINNATI, CINCINNATI COMPASS, CINCYTECH
Grantmaking is local and entirely in Ohio in the recent data, with 100% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Most recipients are in Cincinnati, including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Minority Business Accelerator, Redi Cincinnati, Cincinnati Compass, Cincytech, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, The Gaskins Foundation, and Urban League of Greater Cincinnati. The list also includes Brighton Center Inc in Newport, Kentucky, which sits just across the river from Cincinnati but is still part of the regional talent pipeline the foundation supports.
The foundation backs organizations tied to regional economic development, including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Minority Business Accelerator, Redi Cincinnati, Cincinnati Compass, and Cincytech. Recent grants also support workforce pipeline partners such as Brighton Center Inc, Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, The Gaskins Foundation, and Urban League of Greater Cincinnati.
Yes. The recent grants show repeat awards to several recipients across multiple years. The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Minority Business Accelerator, Redi Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Compass all appear more than once, indicating ongoing support rather than one-time funding.
The median recent grant size is $884,439. The 25th percentile is $361,962 and the 75th percentile is $2,115,179, so the foundation often gives large awards, with a smaller set of lower-value workforce and partner grants.
Recent grants center on festivals and events, workforce initiatives, minority business support, immigrant and refugee inclusion, and startup ecosystem growth. Those themes appear in awards to the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Minority Business Accelerator, Cincinnati Compass, Redi Cincinnati, and Cincytech.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER | CINCINNATI, OH | $7,841,963 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT CINCINNATI FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, REGIONAL WORKFORCE INNITIATIVES, AND GROW THE VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR | CINCINNATI, OH | $893,143 | 2025 | TO INCREASE ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT IN THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| REDI CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $425,000 | 2025 | TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN THE 16-COUNTY CINCINNATI REGION. |
| CINCINNATI COMPASS | CINCINNATI, OH | $243,994 | 2025 | TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| CINCYTECH | CINCINNATI, OH | $110,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO BE A CATALYST FOR STARTUP GROWTH IN OUR REGION |
| URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $40,250 | 2025 | TO ADVANCE THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED TALENT FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND SKILL UP INDIVIDUALS |
| BRIGHTON CENTER INC | NEWPORT, KY | $40,250 | 2025 | TO ADVANCE THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED TALENT FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND SKILL UP INDIVIDUALS |
| CINCINNATI-HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY | CINCINNATI, OH | $40,250 | 2025 | TO ADVANCE THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED TALENT FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND SKILL UP INDIVIDUALS |
| THE GASKINS FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $40,250 | 2025 | TO ADVANCE THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED TALENT FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND SKILL UP INDIVIDUALS |
| CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER | CINCINNATI, OH | $4,226,726 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT CINCINNATI FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, REGIONAL WORKFORCE INNITIATIVES, AND GROW THE VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR | CINCINNATI, OH | $1,144,878 | 2024 | TO INCREASE ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT IN THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| REDI CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $624,000 | 2024 | TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN THE 16-COUNTY CINCINNATI REGION. |
| CINCINNATI COMPASS | CINCINNATI, OH | $244,232 | 2024 | TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER | CINCINNATI, OH | $6,937,339 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT CINCINNATI FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, REGIONAL WORKFORCE INNITIATIVES, AND GROW THE VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR | CINCINNATI, OH | $1,411,330 | 2023 | TO INCREASE ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT IN THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| CINCINNATI COMPASS | CINCINNATI, OH | $401,206 | 2023 | TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CINCINNATI REGION. |
| REDI CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $235,000 | 2023 | TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN THE 16-COUNTY CINCINNATI REGION. |
CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER
$7,841,963TO SUPPORT CINCINNATI FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, REGIONAL WORKFORCE INNITIATIVES, AND GROW THE VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE CINCINNATI REGION.
MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
$893,143TO INCREASE ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT IN THE CINCINNATI REGION.
REDI CINCINNATI
$425,000TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN THE 16-COUNTY CINCINNATI REGION.
CINCINNATI COMPASS
$243,994TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CINCINNATI REGION.
CINCYTECH
$110,000TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO BE A CATALYST FOR STARTUP GROWTH IN OUR REGION
URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER CINCINNATI
$40,250TO ADVANCE THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED TALENT FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND SKILL UP INDIVIDUALS
BRIGHTON CENTER INC
$40,250TO ADVANCE THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED TALENT FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND SKILL UP INDIVIDUALS
CINCINNATI-HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
$40,250TO ADVANCE THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED TALENT FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND SKILL UP INDIVIDUALS
THE GASKINS FOUNDATION
$40,250TO ADVANCE THE PIPELINE OF SKILLED TALENT FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS AND SKILL UP INDIVIDUALS
CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER
$4,226,726TO SUPPORT CINCINNATI FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, REGIONAL WORKFORCE INNITIATIVES, AND GROW THE VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE CINCINNATI REGION.
MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
$1,144,878TO INCREASE ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT IN THE CINCINNATI REGION.
REDI CINCINNATI
$624,000TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN THE 16-COUNTY CINCINNATI REGION.
CINCINNATI COMPASS
$244,232TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CINCINNATI REGION.
CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER
$6,937,339TO SUPPORT CINCINNATI FESTIVALS AND EVENTS, REGIONAL WORKFORCE INNITIATIVES, AND GROW THE VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF THE CINCINNATI REGION.
MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
$1,411,330TO INCREASE ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT IN THE CINCINNATI REGION.
CINCINNATI COMPASS
$401,206TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL VIBRANCY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CINCINNATI REGION.
REDI CINCINNATI
$235,000TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN THE 16-COUNTY CINCINNATI REGION.