To improve the quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving; to provide a vehicle for donors of varied interests to support charitable and community activities; to assess and respond to emerging and changing community needs in education, youth services, recreation, arts and culture, social services, and civic and community development; and to develop a permanent endowment for the community and serve as a catalyst for vital projects.
A defining feature of Knox County Foundation is its use of donor-advised and designated giving alongside competitive community grantmaking in Knox County. The recent record shows large commitments to economic development, health care, housing, and education, with repeat support for local institutions over multiple years. Knox Development Partnership received three major grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including $525,000 in 2024 and $500,000 in 2025 for economic development. The Salvation Army in Mount Vernon received $392,542 in 2025 for a child care facility, and Foundation for Knox Comm Hosp received $320,900 in 2025 for an ER expansion project. Those awards sit within a broader portfolio that also reaches scholarship programs, food support, parks, and community facilities. The foundation’s public purpose centers on improving quality of life in Knox County through charitable giving, serving as a vehicle for donors with varied interests, and responding to changing community needs in education, youth services, recreation, arts and culture, social services, and civic and community development. Its grant activity shows a local institution funding both immediate projects and longer-range community infrastructure.
Education is a major lane for Knox County Foundation, especially postsecondary access. Mt Vernon Nazarene Univ received $135,848 in 2024 for the Academic Class/Ignite Program, and Kenyon College received $86,750 in 2025 for Annual Desig/Community Intership support. The foundation also maintains scholarship programming for college-bound students, current college students, and adults pursuing certificates or degrees. In social services and basic needs, Food for the Hungry received $70,900 in 2023 for food support, while Interchurch Social Services received $118,035 in 2025 for the Centerburg Expansion. Civic and community development appears in grants such as $79,777 to Village of Fredericktown for a streetscape project and $81,152 to Hilliar Township for Memorial Park Playground. Health-related support includes $150,000 to Knox Public Heatlth for a health center.
Typical grant size is mid-sized rather than highly concentrated at the very top: p25 is $13,575, median is $21,633, and p75 is $51,801. The recent list also shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including Knox Development Partnership, First Congreg United Church, Kenyon College, Mt Vernon Nazarene Univ, and Alcohol & Drug Freedom. That pattern points to recurring relationships rather than one-time awards only. The foundation gives through a mix of competitive programs, donor-advised grants, annual/designated giving, and project-specific support. It also runs unsolicited programs, including Small Grants, Major Grants, scholarships, and community development initiatives, with some programs using an expression-of-intent step before full application.
$3.4M
$116.2M
$11.7M
$6.5M
Most grants fall between $14K and $52K, with a median of $22K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$22K
75th Percentile
$52K
Marc Odenweller
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 97% of grants go to recipients in Ohio, and all listed recipient-country data is in the US. Mount Vernon appears most often among recent recipients, including The Salvation Army, Foundation for Knox Comm Hosp, United Way of Knox County, and Interchurch Social Services. Other Knox County locations show up as well, such as Centerburg, Gambier, Fredericktown, and Danville. The geographic pattern matches a county-based funder serving nearby villages, townships, and community institutions rather than a multi-state portfolio.
The foundation supports education, youth services, recreation, arts and culture, social services, civic and community development, and economic vitality. Its programs also include scholarships, community development, small grants, major grants, and addiction recovery-related grants in Knox County.
Its typical grant size is $13,575 at the 25th percentile, $21,633 at the median, and $51,801 at the 75th percentile. The foundation uses a mix of competitive grants, donor-advised support, annual and designated giving, and project-specific funding.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Knox Development Partnership, First Congreg United Church, Kenyon College, Mt Vernon Nazarene Univ, and Alcohol & Drug Freedom. That shows ongoing support as well as single-year awards.
Yes. The foundation’s active programs include Small Grants, Major Grants, Community Development Program, Summer Youth Enrichment Grants, Knox County OneOhio Grants, and multiple scholarship programs. Several of these are marked as accepting unsolicited applications.
Nearly all grants go to recipients in Ohio, with 97% of grants given to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. The recent grant list is concentrated in Mount Vernon and other Knox County communities such as Centerburg, Gambier, Fredericktown, and Danville.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Knox County Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations must focus on evidence-based or proven children and family support projects related to addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Deadline: EOI forms due October 3; applications due October 10.
Who can apply: Organizations seeking funding for projects of $10,000 or less; applications are submitted through the Foundation's grant portal. The Foundation indicates nonprofits serving Knox County may apply.
Deadline: Applications due January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15; Expression of Intent due by the 15th of the prior month.
Who can apply: Nonprofit community partners serving Knox County youth; funding may support scholarships, registration fees, activity passes, or related costs for youth from low-income or underserved backgrounds.
Deadline: Applications due January 15 each year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox Development Partnership | Mount Vernon, OH | $500,000 | 2025 | Economic Development |
| The Salvation Army | Mount Vernon, OH | $392,542 | 2025 | Child Care Facility |
| Foundation for Knox Comm Hosp | Mount Vernon, OH | $320,900 | 2025 | ER Expansion Project |
| Acacia Fraternity Foundation | Carmel, IN | $275,000 | 2025 | Donor Advised Support |
| Habitat for Humanity Knox Co | Mount Vernon, OH | $176,360 | 2025 | Headquarters Improv. |
| Schwab Charitable | Omaha, NE | $160,869 | 2025 | Donor Advised Support |
| United Way of Knox County | Mount Vernon, OH | $133,963 | 2025 | Program Support/Designations |
| Interchurch Social Services | Mount Vernon, OH | $118,035 | 2025 | Centerburg Expansion |
| First Congreg United Church | Mount Vernon, OH | $100,073 | 2025 | Annual & Donor Designations |
| Vista Village Inc | Columbus, OH | $99,500 | 2025 | Donor Advised Support |
| Kenyon College | Gambier, OH | $86,750 | 2025 | Annual Desig/Community Intership |
| Mt Vernon Nazarene Univ | Mount Vernon, OH | $71,176 | 2025 | Academic Clamps/Ignite Program |
| Knox Co Regional Airport | Mount Vernon, OH | $60,100 | 2025 | Aviation Center |
| Food for the Hungry | Mount Vernon, OH | $56,870 | 2025 | Donor Designations |
| Woodward Development Corp | Mount Vernon, OH | $53,500 | 2025 | Annual Designation |
| Central Ohio Tech College | Newark, OH | $52,846 | 2025 | Knox Promise - Tuition Support |
| Lifewise Inc | Hilliard, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | Donor Advised Support |
| Bladensburg Comm Heritage | Bladensburg, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | Donor Advised Support |
| Pregnancy Srv of Delaware Co | Delaware, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | Donor Advised Support |
| YMCA of Mount Vernon | MOUNT VERNON, OH | $45,590 | 2025 | Annual/Donor Designations |
| Alcohol & Drug Freedom | Mount Vernon, OH | $37,100 | 2025 | Donor Designations |
| Area Development Foundation | Mount Vernon, OH | $36,575 | 2025 | Downtown Exp Coord. |
| Knox Co Educational Srv Ctr | Mount Vernon, OH | $34,980 | 2025 | Career Navigator/Youth Enrich. |
| New Life Church | Mount Vernon, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | Lamb Park Project |
| The Catholic Foundation | Columbus, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | Donor Advised Support |
| Northgate Church | Sunbury, OH | $27,000 | 2025 | Donor Advised Grant |
| Fredericktown Comm Dev Found | Fredericktown, OH | $26,000 | 2025 | Economic Development |
| Ground Truth Project | Beaverton, OR | $25,000 | 2025 | Intel Impact Report Study |
| Jelloway United Methodist | Danville, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | Annual Designation |
| Knox Co Historical Society | Mount Vernon, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | Donor Advised Grant |
| Foundation Park Conservancy | Mount Vernon, OH | $24,600 | 2025 | Donor Advised Support |
| Faith Lutheran Church | Mount Vernon, OH | $23,129 | 2025 | Annual Desig. |
| Doctors without Borders | Hagerstown, MD | $21,830 | 2025 | Donor advised grant |
| American Red Cross of Knox Co | Mount Vernon, OH | $21,473 | 2025 | Designated Fund/Donor Advised |
| City of Mount Vernon | Mount Vernon, OH | $21,100 | 2025 | MVPD K-9/Donor Desig |
| St Vincent DePaul School | Mount Vernon, OH | $19,730 | 2025 | Annual Desig. |
| Knox Co Humane Society | Mount Vernon, OH | $18,850 | 2025 | Annual Designations |
| Gay St United Methodist Ch | Mount Vernon, OH | $18,029 | 2025 | Annual Designations |
| Sanctuary Community Action | Danville, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | Donor Advised Grant |
| MTVarts Inc | Mount Vernon, OH | $14,900 | 2025 | MTVarts Warehouse |
| St Pauls Episcopal Church | Mount Vernon, OH | $13,908 | 2025 | Annual Designations |
| St Lukes Catholic Church | Danville, OH | $11,000 | 2025 | Donor / Annual Designations |
| New Directions Shelter | Mount Vernon, OH | $10,543 | 2025 | Donor/Annual Designations |
| Knox Development Partnership | Mount Vernon, OH | $525,000 | 2024 | Economic Development |
| Knox Public Heatlth | Mount Vernon, OH | $150,000 | 2024 | Health Center |
| Mt Vernon Nazarene Univ | Mount Vernon, OH | $135,848 | 2024 | Academic Class/Ignite Program |
| Alcohol & Drug Freedom | Mount Vernon, OH | $107,000 | 2024 | Donor Designations |
| First Congreg United Church | Mount Vernon, OH | $95,582 | 2024 | Annual & Donor Designations |
| Hilliar Township | Centerburg, OH | $81,152 | 2024 | Memorial Park Playground |
| Kenyon College | Gambier, OH | $72,535 | 2024 | Annual Desig/Community Intership |
Knox Development Partnership
$500,000Economic Development
The Salvation Army
$392,542Child Care Facility
Foundation for Knox Comm Hosp
$320,900ER Expansion Project
Acacia Fraternity Foundation
$275,000Donor Advised Support
Habitat for Humanity Knox Co
$176,360Headquarters Improv.
Donor Advised Support
United Way of Knox County
$133,963Program Support/Designations
First Congreg United Church
$100,073Annual & Donor Designations
Mt Vernon Nazarene Univ
$71,176Academic Clamps/Ignite Program
Knox Co Regional Airport
$60,100Aviation Center
Food for the Hungry
$56,870Donor Designations
Woodward Development Corp
$53,500Annual Designation
Central Ohio Tech College
$52,846Knox Promise - Tuition Support
Bladensburg Comm Heritage
$50,000Donor Advised Support
Pregnancy Srv of Delaware Co
$50,000Donor Advised Support
YMCA of Mount Vernon
$45,590Annual/Donor Designations
Alcohol & Drug Freedom
$37,100Donor Designations
Area Development Foundation
$36,575Downtown Exp Coord.
Knox Co Educational Srv Ctr
$34,980Career Navigator/Youth Enrich.
New Life Church
$30,000Lamb Park Project
Northgate Church
$27,000Donor Advised Grant
Fredericktown Comm Dev Found
$26,000Economic Development
Jelloway United Methodist
$25,000Annual Designation
Knox Co Historical Society
$25,000Donor Advised Grant
Foundation Park Conservancy
$24,600Donor Advised Support
Faith Lutheran Church
$23,129Annual Desig.
City of Mount Vernon
$21,100MVPD K-9/Donor Desig
St Vincent DePaul School
$19,730Annual Desig.
Knox Co Humane Society
$18,850Annual Designations
Gay St United Methodist Ch
$18,029Annual Designations
Sanctuary Community Action
$15,000Donor Advised Grant
MTVarts Inc
$14,900MTVarts Warehouse
St Pauls Episcopal Church
$13,908Annual Designations
St Lukes Catholic Church
$11,000Donor / Annual Designations
New Directions Shelter
$10,543Donor/Annual Designations
Knox Development Partnership
$525,000Economic Development
Knox Public Heatlth
$150,000Health Center
Mt Vernon Nazarene Univ
$135,848Academic Class/Ignite Program
Alcohol & Drug Freedom
$107,000Donor Designations
First Congreg United Church
$95,582Annual & Donor Designations
Hilliar Township
$81,152Memorial Park Playground