The Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation concentrates its giving on education, health, and basic social services with a pronounced focus on Catholic and faith-based schooling in Ohio and Greater Columbus. It funds large institutional partners (hospitals, diocesan education funds, and community foundations) while also supporting local social-service providers and a small set of international education/poverty-alleviation partners. Grants range from multi-year, high-dollar commitments to repeat smaller awards for schools, youth programs, and basic-needs organizations, indicating a mix of strategic flagship investments and community-level support.
A $2.5 million grant to Nationwide Children's Hospital stands out in the Margaret and Robert Walter Foundation's recent record and reflects the scale of its giving to institutions in Columbus. The foundation also made a $2 million award to the Foundation of the Catholic Diocese and a $1 million grant to Ohio State University Foundation, showing a pattern of large commitments to hospitals, Catholic education, and higher education. Across the latest grants list, the foundation backs schools, health systems, social-service providers, and selected arts and philanthropy partners, with many awards tied to faith-based education and community support in Ohio. Its recent activity also includes support for organizations serving domestic violence survivors, food and basic-needs programs, and youth academic success efforts. The grant list points to a funder that combines major institutional support with repeat local grants, especially for organizations anchored in Columbus and nearby communities. The foundation's giving also reaches a small number of partners outside Ohio, including education and social-service groups in Massachusetts, Kentucky, New York, Wisconsin, and a Kenya-related partner organization.
Education is a central theme in the foundation's recent grants. It gave $1 million to Lawrence Catholic Academy of Lawrence for education, $100,000 to I Know I Can for education, and $50,000 to Saint Francis DeSales High School for education. Faith-based schooling appears repeatedly through awards to the Catholic Schools Foundation Inc., including $50,000 and $49,550 grants for education. Health support is another recurring area: the foundation made a $50,000 health grant to Warrior Meditation Foundation Inc DBA and a $50,000 health grant to Columbus Foundation. Its social-service giving includes $375,000 to Choices for Victims of Domestic Violence, $250,000 to Jewish Family Services, and $42,500 to Children's Hunger Alliance. The foundation also made a $50,000 arts and humanities grant to Columbus Museum of Art.
Typical grants cluster in a moderate-to-large range, with a p25 of $23,170, a median of $30,000, and a p75 of $52,500. The recent list shows both one-time major awards and repeat support: Columbus Foundation appears across education, social services, health, and advancing philanthropy, while Catholic Schools Foundation Inc. received multiple education grants in consecutive years. The foundation is a private foundation led by Scott Heitkamp, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Its grantmaking combines institutional commitments with smaller community grants, and the 2024 file shows continued awards to organizations that were also funded in 2023.
$6.2M
$143.1M
$20.4M
$6.7M
Most grants fall between $23K and $53K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$23K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$53K
SCOTT HEITKAMP
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Concentrated, institution-focused giving with several large multi-hundred-thousand to multi-million dollar awards to a few core organizations, combined with repeat smaller grants to local schools and social-service providers; geographic emphasis on Columbus/Ohio with selective international giving.
Notable grantees: Nationwide Children's Hospital, Foundation of the Catholic Diocese (Catholic schools support), Columbus Foundation, Lawrence Catholic Academy of Lawrence, Kenya Works
Grants are heavily concentrated in Ohio, which accounts for 67% of recipient locations and is also the top state by grant count. Columbus is the clearest hub, with awards to Nationwide Children's Hospital, the Foundation of the Catholic Diocese, Columbus Foundation, I Know I Can, and Children's Hunger Alliance. Outside Ohio, the foundation gave to Lawrence Catholic Academy of Lawrence in Massachusetts, Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York, and Catholic Schools Foundation Inc. in Boston. Other recipient locations in the recent list include Louisville, Kentucky; Appleton and Green Bay, Wisconsin; and a Kenya-related partner organization.
The recent grants show consistent support for education, health, and social services, with repeated gifts to Catholic and faith-based schools, hospitals, domestic violence services, and basic-needs groups. Examples include Lawrence Catholic Academy of Lawrence, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Choices for Victims of Domestic Violence, and Children's Hunger Alliance.
Typical awards are moderate to large: the 25th percentile is $23,170, the median is $30,000, and the 75th percentile is $52,500. The recent list also includes larger commitments such as $2.5 million to Nationwide Children's Hospital and $2 million to the Foundation of the Catholic Diocese.
Yes. Ohio recipients account for 67% of grants in the file, and Columbus is the most common city in the recent list. Funding in Ohio includes major awards to Columbus Foundation, Ohio State University Foundation, and several local service providers.
Yes. Catholic education appears repeatedly in the recent grants, including $2 million to the Foundation of the Catholic Diocese, $1 million to Lawrence Catholic Academy of Lawrence, $50,000 to Catholic Schools Foundation Inc., and $50,000 to Saint Francis DeSales High School.
Yes. Columbus Foundation appears multiple times across different purposes, including education, social services, health, and advancing philanthropy. Catholic Schools Foundation Inc. also received more than one education grant, and Kenya Works appears in consecutive years.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MISSION GRAMMAR SCHOOL | ROXBURY, MA | $4,042,050 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| KENYA WORKS INC | APPLETON, WI | $373,600 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| ST MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $185,000 | 2026 | RELIGION |
| COLUMBUS FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $160,000 | 2026 | NEIGHBORHOOD |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF COLUMBUS | COLUMBUS, OH | $150,000 | 2026 | RELIGION |
| LAWRENCE CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF LAWRENCE MASSACHUSETTS | LAWRENCE, MA | $134,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ETHIOPIAN TEWAHEDO SOCIAL SERVICES | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| LOWER LIGHTS CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| COMMUNITY REFUGEE AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | NEIGHBORHOOD |
| ST STEPHEN'S COMMUNITY HOUSE | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| UNITED SCHOOLS NETWORK INC DBA UNITED SCHOOLS | COLUMBUS, OH | $82,062 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ST MARY SCHOOL | COLUMBUS, OH | $55,180 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| A KID AGAIN INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| BASIC NEEDS GIVING PARTNERSHIP | GREEN BAY, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| CHILDREN'S HUNGER ALLIANCE | COLUMBUS, OH | $49,500 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| ST CHARLES PREPARATORY SCHOOL | COLUMBUS, OH | $28,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HARMONY PROJECT PRODUCTIONS INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $26,000 | 2026 | ARTS AND HUMANITIES |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| THE CHILDHOOD LEAGUE CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF ART | COLUMBUS, OH | $24,000 | 2026 | ARTS AND HUMANITIES |
| CRISTO REY COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL WORK STUDY PROGRAM | COLUMBUS, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| VITA NOVA MATERNITY COMMUNITY | OMAHA, NE | $10,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY |
| YOUNG AUDIENCES ARTS FOR LEARNING | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| OAK ROSE FUND | GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | $7,500 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| COLUMBUS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (CAPA) | COLUMBUS, OH | $6,000 | 2026 | ARTS AND HUMANITIES |
| ST CHARLES PREPARATORY SCHOOL | COLUMBUS, OH | $3,048,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| STAR HOUSE | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| ST MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $625,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| MEUSE FAMILY FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $525,000 | 2025 | ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY |
| HARMONY PROJECT PRODUCTIONS INC | COLUMBUS, OH | $300,000 | 2025 | ARTS AND HUMANITIES |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES | COLUMBUS, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| HOME FOR FAMILIES | COLUMBUS, OH | $160,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| COMMUNITY FINANCIAL WELLNESS | COLUMBUS, OH | $125,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FLYING HORSE FARMS | MT GILEAD, OH | $125,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| COLUMBUS FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY |
| ADAPTIVE SPORTS CONNECTION | POWELL, OH | $80,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| MARY'S MEALS USA INC | BLOOMFIELD, NJ | $75,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| LAWRENCE CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF LAWRENCE MASSACHUSETTS | LAWRENCE, MA | $60,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BASIC NEEDS GIVING PARTNERSHIP | GREEN BAY, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| GLADDEN COMMUNITY HOUSE | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF ART | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | ARTS AND HUMANITIES |
| KINDWAY | WESTERVILLE, OH | $45,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SAVE A WARRIOR | COLUMBUS, OH | $40,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| ST MARY SCHOOL | COLUMBUS, OH | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SANCTUARY NIGHT | COLUMBUS, OH | $37,500 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| KENYA WORKS INC | APPLETON, WI | $31,600 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
MISSION GRAMMAR SCHOOL
$4,042,050EDUCATION
KENYA WORKS INC
$373,600SOCIAL SERVICES
ST MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH
$185,000RELIGION
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF COLUMBUS
$150,000RELIGION
LAWRENCE CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF LAWRENCE MASSACHUSETTS
$134,500EDUCATION
LOWER LIGHTS CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER
$100,000HEALTH
ST MARY SCHOOL
$55,180EDUCATION
ST CHARLES PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$28,000EDUCATION
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$25,000EDUCATION
THE CHILDHOOD LEAGUE CENTER
$25,000EDUCATION
CRISTO REY COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL WORK STUDY PROGRAM
$20,000EDUCATION
VITA NOVA MATERNITY COMMUNITY
$10,000SOCIAL SERVICES
ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY
YOUNG AUDIENCES ARTS FOR LEARNING
$10,000EDUCATION
ST CHARLES PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$3,048,000EDUCATION
ST MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH
$625,000RELIGION
MEUSE FAMILY FOUNDATION
$525,000ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY
COMMUNITY FINANCIAL WELLNESS
$125,000EDUCATION
LAWRENCE CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF LAWRENCE MASSACHUSETTS
$60,000EDUCATION
ST MARY SCHOOL
$40,000EDUCATION
KENYA WORKS INC
$31,600SOCIAL SERVICES