The Frances and Craig Lindner Foundation makes very large, targeted gifts to a small number of local institutions, emphasizing health care and medical research along with support for a local church. Their largest commitments are multi-million dollar endowment- or center-focused gifts that build institutional capacity in behavioral health and blood cancer treatment/research, while occasional giving supports faith-based community ministry in the Cincinnati area.
A $4.9 million endowment gift to Lindner Center of Hope stands out in The Frances and Craig Lindner Foundation’s recent grantmaking, and it sets the tone for a portfolio built around institutional capacity in health care and research. The foundation has also committed $2.4 million to the University of Cincinnati Foundation for the John C. Byrd, MD Blood Cancer Healing Center Fund, showing a strong interest in specialized medical infrastructure rather than scattered project support. Across the recent grants list, the foundation favors targeted gifts that can strengthen a named fund, center, or program over time. Health-related giving includes behavioral health, blood cancer treatment and research, and clinical research capacity. Faith-based support is part of the picture as well, with general operating support to Horizon Community Church in Cincinnati. The foundation’s grant record also reaches into arts and education, including gifts tied to the Kennedy Center, school improvement, and children’s arts access. This is a regional funder with a narrow set of priorities and a pattern of concentrating significant dollars in a few institutions. Several awards are designed to build endowments, support buildings, or sustain specific service lines, which suggests a preference for long-term institutional impact rather than broad, competitive grantmaking.
In behavioral health, the foundation backed the Lindner Center of Hope twice at high levels: $4,892,045 for an endowment fund in 2023 and $701,200 for a building fund the same year. Those gifts point to support for both ongoing operations and physical capacity. Medical research and cancer care are another clear focus. In 2024, The Frances and Craig Lindner Foundation gave $2,400,000 to the University of Cincinnati Foundation for the John C. Byrd, MD Blood Cancer Healing Center Fund. The same institution also received $600,000 for the Craig and Frances Lindner Cancer Center Chaplain Program Endowed Fund, linking clinical care with spiritual support. Beyond health care, the foundation has funded civic and education-related work in Cincinnati, including $200,033 to Accelerate Great Schools for the Great Schools for All Kids Campaign and $25,000 to Artswave for More Arts, More Kids Kickstarter. It has also supported faith-based and community-serving organizations such as Horizon Community Church and United Way of Greater Cincinnati.
$741K
$9.5M
$3M
$871K
Most grants fall between $10K and $151K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$151K
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Highly concentrated giving: very few grants but large award sizes, repeat funding to the same institutional partners, and preference for endowments/center-level capital or program funds rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: Lindner Center of Hope, University of Cincinnati Foundation (John C. Byrd Blood Cancer Healing Center), Horizon Community Church
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $151,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes several multi-million-dollar awards. That spread shows a small number of very large commitments alongside a broader base of mid-sized grants. The pattern leans toward repeat support rather than one-off giving. Lindner Center of Hope, the University of Cincinnati Foundation, Horizon Community Church, Christ Hospital Foundation, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Trust all appear more than once in the recent grants list. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grants are concentrated in the United States, with every recent grant going to a U.S. recipient. Ohio receives the bulk of the awards, and Cincinnati appears repeatedly as a recipient city, alongside Mason, Covington, and Westport as other named locations in the record. Outside Ohio, notable grant locations include Washington, DC; Needham, MA; Nashville, TN; and Westport, CT. Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Cincinnati.
The recent record centers on health care and medical research, especially behavioral health and blood cancer care. It also includes support for a local church, arts access for children, school improvement, and a few civic and community-serving organizations.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $151,000 at the 75th percentile. Its recent activity also includes several much larger awards, including multi-million-dollar gifts for health-related endowments and center funds.
Yes. Several recipients appear multiple times in the recent grants list, including Lindner Center of Hope, the University of Cincinnati Foundation, Horizon Community Church, Christ Hospital Foundation, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Trust.
Yes. Sixty-one percent of its grants go to recipients in Ohio, and Cincinnati shows up repeatedly among recipient cities. The record also includes grants to organizations in Massachusetts, Washington, DC, Tennessee, Connecticut, and Kentucky.
The recent record suggests a preference for targeted, named funds and institutional capacity building. Many awards support endowments, building funds, endowed programs, or general funds for established organizations rather than short-term project grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HORIZON COMMUNITY CHURCH | CINCINNATI, OH | $275,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| JOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ARTSWAVE | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | MORE ARTS, MORE KIDS KICKSTARTER |
| CHRIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | AIM FOR WELLBEING - DRS STEVE AND SANDI AMOILS |
| ENSWORTH SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PAN-MASSACHUSETTS CHALLENGE TRUST | NEEDHAM, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHILDREN'S HOME OF CINCINNATI OHIO INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | FUND THE MISSION - IN HONOR OF TAD LAWRENCE |
| LIFE LEARNING CENTER INC | COVINGTON, KY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TAFT MUSEUM OF ART | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | A RACE TO THE TAFT |
| THE STORE | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | NASHVILLE'S GOT TALENT SPONSORSHIP |
| NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES MASSACHUSETTS BAY COUNCIL | BOSTON, MA | $2,500 | 2025 | USS NANTUCKET COMMISSIONING COMMITTEE |
| CHRIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,000 | 2025 | MAYA'S WAY |
| INTERNATIONAL ESSENTIAL TREMOR FOUNDATION | LENEXA, KS | $1,000 | 2025 | MEMORIAL GIFT - STEVE LESCHER |
| UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,400,000 | 2024 | JOHN C. BYRD, MD BLOOD CANCER HEALING CENTER FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $600,000 | 2024 | CRAIG AND FRANCES LINDNER CANCER CENTER CHAPLAIN PROGRAM ENDOWED FUND |
| FORD'S THEATRE SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $151,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ELIZABETH'S SMILE FOUNDATION | WESTPORT, CT | $110,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| CINCINNATI COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | CINCINNATI, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ENSWORTH SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| PAN-MASSACHUSETTS CHALLENGE TRUST | NEEDHAM, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY THE BUTLER FOUNDATION | COVINGTON, KY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUNDEXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT FOR THE 2023 990-PF:1. NAME & ADDRESS OF GRANTEE: THE BUTLER FOUNDATION 100 E. RIVERCENTER SUITE 1100 COVINGTON, KY 410112. DATE AND AMOUNT OF GRANT: GRANTEE HAS RECEIVED ONE GRANT FROM GRANTOR DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR OF $10,000 ON 7/11/2023. 3. PURPOSE OF THE GRANT: THE GRANT WAS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FOR GRANTEE'S GENERAL GRANTMAKING PURPOSES. 4. EXPENDITURE OF GRANT: GRANTEE DISBURSED QUALIFIED CHARITABLE GRANTS OF MORE THAN $1,000,000 FOR THEIR FISCAL YEAR END 9/30/24.5. DIVERSION OF FUNDS: THE GRANTEE HAS NOT DIVERTED ANY PORTION OF THE GRANT RECEIVED FROM GRANTOR FROM THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE GRANT WAS MADE. 6. GRANTOR RECEIVED THE EXPENDITURE REPORT FROM THE GRANTEE ON 10/30/24. 7. GRANTOR REVIEWED THE GRANTEE'S 2022 FYE 9/30/23 FORM 990-PF ON 10/28/24 AND VERIFIED THAT GRANTEE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $1.1 MILLION TO PUBLIC CHARITIES. |
| PARTNERS FOR MEDICAL RELIEF | CINCINNATI, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TAFT MUSEUM OF ART | CINCINNATI, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| NANTUCKET BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC | NANTUCKET, MA | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| LINDNER CENTER OF HOPE | MASON, OH | $4,892,045 | 2023 | ENDOWMENT FUND |
| LINDNER CENTER OF HOPE | MASON, OH | $701,200 | 2023 | BUILDING FUND |
| JOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,086 | 2023 | 2022 ANNUAL NCPA 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE |
| HORIZON COMMUNITY CHURCH | CINCINNATI, OH | $249,991 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER | CINCINNATI, OH | $200,033 | 2023 | COLLEGE HILL NEURO-BEHAVIORAL CLINIC LEVEL 2 |
| ACCELERATE GREAT SCHOOLS | CINCINNATI, OH | $200,033 | 2023 | GREAT SCHOOLS FOR ALL KIDS CAMPAIGN |
| CHRIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $100,017 | 2023 | ENDOWMENT FOR THE LINDNER FAMILY DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN CLINICAL RESEARCH |
| CHRIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $100,016 | 2023 | ENDOWMENT FOR THE CARL H AND EDYTH LINDNER CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION |
| LITTLE FORK THE SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| FORD'S THEATRE SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| LIFE LEARNING CENTER INC | COVINGTON, KY | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| NASHVILLE ZOO INC | NASHVILLE, TN | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
| INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $15,000 | 2023 | MAYA'S WAY FUND |
| PAN MASSACHUSETTS CHALLENGE TRUST | NEEDHAM, MA | $15,000 | 2023 | LEE NADLER RESEARCH |
| LINDNER CENTER OF HOPE | MASON, OH | $10,000 | 2023 | DAVID CHAL VEGETABLE GARDEN FUND |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2023 | CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN |
| HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $5,000 | 2023 | KUKIO COMMUNITY FUND |
| PARTNERS FOR MEDICAL RELIEF | CINCINNATI, OH | $5,000 | 2023 | PARTNERS FOR BELIZE |
| CINCINNATI COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | CINCINNATI, OH | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL FUND |
HORIZON COMMUNITY CHURCH
$275,000GENERAL FUND
ENSWORTH SCHOOL
$25,000GENERAL FUND
FUND THE MISSION - IN HONOR OF TAD LAWRENCE
NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES MASSACHUSETTS BAY COUNCIL
$2,500USS NANTUCKET COMMISSIONING COMMITTEE
INTERNATIONAL ESSENTIAL TREMOR FOUNDATION
$1,000MEMORIAL GIFT - STEVE LESCHER
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI FOUNDATION
$2,400,000JOHN C. BYRD, MD BLOOD CANCER HEALING CENTER FUND
CRAIG AND FRANCES LINDNER CANCER CENTER CHAPLAIN PROGRAM ENDOWED FUND
ELIZABETH'S SMILE FOUNDATION
$110,000GENERAL FUND
ENSWORTH SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL FUND
SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL
$10,000GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY THE BUTLER FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL FUNDEXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITY REPORT FOR THE 2023 990-PF:1. NAME & ADDRESS OF GRANTEE: THE BUTLER FOUNDATION 100 E. RIVERCENTER SUITE 1100 COVINGTON, KY 410112. DATE AND AMOUNT OF GRANT: GRANTEE HAS RECEIVED ONE GRANT FROM GRANTOR DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR OF $10,000 ON 7/11/2023. 3. PURPOSE OF THE GRANT: THE GRANT WAS MADE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FOR GRANTEE'S GENERAL GRANTMAKING PURPOSES. 4. EXPENDITURE OF GRANT: GRANTEE DISBURSED QUALIFIED CHARITABLE GRANTS OF MORE THAN $1,000,000 FOR THEIR FISCAL YEAR END 9/30/24.5. DIVERSION OF FUNDS: THE GRANTEE HAS NOT DIVERTED ANY PORTION OF THE GRANT RECEIVED FROM GRANTOR FROM THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE GRANT WAS MADE. 6. GRANTOR RECEIVED THE EXPENDITURE REPORT FROM THE GRANTEE ON 10/30/24. 7. GRANTOR REVIEWED THE GRANTEE'S 2022 FYE 9/30/23 FORM 990-PF ON 10/28/24 AND VERIFIED THAT GRANTEE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $1.1 MILLION TO PUBLIC CHARITIES.
PARTNERS FOR MEDICAL RELIEF
$5,000GENERAL FUND
LINDNER CENTER OF HOPE
$4,892,045ENDOWMENT FUND
LINDNER CENTER OF HOPE
$701,200BUILDING FUND
2022 ANNUAL NCPA 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE
HORIZON COMMUNITY CHURCH
$249,991GENERAL FUND
COLLEGE HILL NEURO-BEHAVIORAL CLINIC LEVEL 2
ENDOWMENT FOR THE LINDNER FAMILY DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN CLINICAL RESEARCH
ENDOWMENT FOR THE CARL H AND EDYTH LINDNER CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
LITTLE FORK THE SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER INC
$50,000GENERAL FUND
INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE FOUNDATION
$15,000MAYA'S WAY FUND
LINDNER CENTER OF HOPE
$10,000DAVID CHAL VEGETABLE GARDEN FUND
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER CINCINNATI
$10,000CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN
PARTNERS FOR MEDICAL RELIEF
$5,000PARTNERS FOR BELIZE