The McConnell Educational Foundation concentrates its sizable, strategic philanthropy on advancing medical research and clinical programs within the Columbus / Central Ohio health ecosystem. It makes large, repeat grants to regional hospital systems and health foundations—particularly adult and pediatric clinical research—and also channels funding through a local professional sports foundation for health-related initiatives. The foundation operates with a small number of high-value awards rather than many modest grants, indicating a preference for concentrated investments that build institutional capacity and research advancement.
The Mcconnell Educational Foundation’s giving is anchored by repeated seven-figure support for OhioHealth Foundation, which received $1,250,000 in both 2023 and 2024 and another $500,000 in 2025 for research and advancements in the field of medicine. That pattern points to a funder that uses large, recurring awards to back medical research and clinical program development rather than spreading money broadly across many one-time gifts. The same approach appears in its support for Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, which received $500,000 in 2024 and $144,375 in 2023 for the same general purpose. The foundation also funds Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation at a high level, including $350,000 in 2025 and $250,000 in 2023, showing that its health-related grantmaking extends beyond hospital systems into other local institutions. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears tightly linked to Central Ohio medical and community organizations. Its awards are concentrated enough to suggest a deliberate focus on institutional capacity, research infrastructure, and program support within a small number of recipient relationships.
Medical research is the clearest thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. OhioHealth Foundation received $1,250,000 in 2023 and again in 2024 for research and advancements in the field of medicine, while Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation received $500,000 in 2024 for the same purpose. The foundation also supports pediatric and community-oriented health work. In 2025, it gave $500,000 to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, and it granted $150,000 to The Columbus Zoo in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for research and advancements in community supportive services. Education and training show up as another strand. The Ohio State University Foundation received $50,000 in 2023 to enhance continuing education, and the same category appears in smaller awards to school and athletic booster organizations. Arts and local enrichment are present as well: Mcconnell Arts Center received $25,000 in 2023 for enhance continuing education and $25,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for community supportive services.
The Mcconnell Educational Foundation’s grant sizes are clustered in a relatively narrow band, with a p25 of $4,500, a median of $7,000, and a p75 of $9,500. That said, the foundation also makes much larger institutional awards, including repeated grants at $1,250,000 and $500,000. The pattern is more concentrated than diffuse: several recipients appear across multiple years, which suggests recurring support rather than isolated gifts. The grantmaking structure visible in the record is local and institutional, with awards routed to organizations rather than individuals. The list also shows a mix of operating-style support and program-specific purposes tied to research, education, and community services.
$2.2M
$34.5M
$1.8M
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, large-dollar giving with repeated multi-year support to a handful of local institutional grantees; few total grants (7) but high average grant size, prioritizing depth and sustained impact over broad distribution.
Notable grantees: OhioHealth Foundation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation
Grantmaking is entirely concentrated in Ohio, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The strongest cluster is in Columbus, where OhioHealth Foundation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation, Birdies for Buddies, Mcconnell Arts Center, Dublin High School Hockey Association, and St Charles Prepatory School all appear. Other Ohio recipient locations include Powell, Upper Arlington, Lewis Center, Gahanna, and Delaware. The geographic footprint is local rather than regional or national.
It funds hospitals, health foundations, and other local institutions. Recent grants went to OhioHealth Foundation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation, The Columbus Zoo, The Ohio State University Foundation, and several school and athletic booster organizations.
Typical grant size is small relative to the largest awards: p25 is $4,500, median is $7,000, and p75 is $9,500. The record also includes much larger institutional gifts, including $1,250,000, $500,000, and $350,000 awards.
No. The recipient country distribution shows 85 grants, all in the US, and the state-level giving is entirely concentrated in Ohio, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state.
Its recent grants center on research and advancements in the field of medicine, along with enhance continuing education and community supportive services. Those categories appear in grants to hospitals, a university foundation, arts-related support, and local youth athletics organizations.
Yes. OhioHealth Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and The Columbus Zoo appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STAR HOUSE | COLUMBUS, OH | $600,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES |
| OHIOHEALTH FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $500,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE |
| THE COLUMBUS ZOO | POWELL, OH | $300,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES |
| COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $250,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE |
| NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $200,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE |
| BIRDIES FOR BUDDIES | COLUMBUS, OH | $116,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE |
| BESA COMMUNITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES |
| MCCONNELL ARTS CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES |
| DUBLIN HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $9,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| DUBLIN JEROME ICE HOCKEY BOOSTERS | DUBLIN, OH | $9,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| ST CHARLES PREPATORY SCHOOL | COLUMBUS, OH | $9,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| WKHS ICE BOOSTERS | WORTHINGTON, OH | $7,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| OLENTANGY BRAVES HOCKEY | LEWIS CENTER, OH | $7,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| OLENTANGY BERLIN ATHLETIC BOOSTERS | DELAWARE, OH | $7,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| UPPER ARLINGTON ICE HOCKEY | UPPER ARLINGTON, OH | $7,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| GAHANNA LINCOLN HOCKEY | GAHANNA, OH | $7,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| THOMAS WORTHINGTON HOCKEY BOOSTERS | WORTHINGTON, OH | $7,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| LIBERTY ATHLETIC BOOSTERS-ICE | GAHANNA, OH | $7,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| WESTERVILLE WARCATS HOCKEY | WESTERVILLE, OH | $6,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| NORTHEAST STORM HOCKEY CLUB | COLUMBUS, OH | $6,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| HILLIARD HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY | HILLIARD, OH | $6,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| NEWARK GENERALS | NEWARK, OH | $6,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| PROWLERS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | PICKERINGTON, OH | $6,000 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| ORANGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT | PEPPER PIKE, OH | $4,500 | 2026 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES |
| BISHOP WATTERSON HOCKEY | COLUMBUS, OH | $4,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| NEW ALBANY HOCKEY CLUB | NEW ALBANY, OH | $4,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| COLUMBUS ICE HOCKEY CLUB | COLUMBUS, OH | $4,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| ATHENS YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | ATHENS, OH | $3,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| OLENTANGY ORANGE ATHLETIC BOOSTERS | LEWIS CENTER, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| COLUMBUS ACADEMY | GAHANNA, OH | $2,500 | 2026 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $500,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE |
| OHIOHEALTH FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $500,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE |
| COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $350,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE |
| THE COLUMBUS ZOO | POWELL, OH | $150,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES |
| BIRDIES FOR BUDDIES | COLUMBUS, OH | $105,500 | 2025 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE |
| MCCONNELL ARTS CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES |
| DUBLIN HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $9,500 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| OLENTANGY ORANGE ATHLETIC BOOSTERS | LEWIS CENTER, OH | $9,500 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| ST CHARLES PREPATORY SCHOOL | COLUMBUS, OH | $9,500 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| OLENTANGY BRAVES HOCKEY | LEWIS CENTER, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| DUBLIN JEROME ICE HOCKEY BOOSTERS | DUBLIN, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| UPPER ARLINGTON ICE HOCKEY | UPPER ARLINGTON, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| LIBERTY ATHLETIC BOOSTERS-ICE | GAHANNA, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| GAHANNA LINCOLN HOCKEY | GAHANNA, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| OLENTANGY BERLIN ATHLETIC BOOSTERS | DELAWARE, OH | $7,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| WESTERVILLE WARCATS HOCKEY | WESTERVILLE, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| HILLIARD HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY | HILLIARD, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| NORTHEAST STORM HOCKEY CLUB | COLUMBUS, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| NEWARK GENERALS | NEWARK, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
| PROWLERS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | PICKERINGTON, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION |
OHIOHEALTH FOUNDATION
$500,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
THE COLUMBUS ZOO
$300,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS FOUNDATION
$250,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$200,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
MCCONNELL ARTS CENTER
$25,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
DUBLIN HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$9,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
DUBLIN JEROME ICE HOCKEY BOOSTERS
$9,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
ST CHARLES PREPATORY SCHOOL
$9,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
WKHS ICE BOOSTERS
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
OLENTANGY BRAVES HOCKEY
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
OLENTANGY BERLIN ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
UPPER ARLINGTON ICE HOCKEY
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
GAHANNA LINCOLN HOCKEY
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
THOMAS WORTHINGTON HOCKEY BOOSTERS
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
LIBERTY ATHLETIC BOOSTERS-ICE
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
WESTERVILLE WARCATS HOCKEY
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
NORTHEAST STORM HOCKEY CLUB
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
HILLIARD HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
NEWARK GENERALS
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
PROWLERS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
ORANGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
$4,500RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
BISHOP WATTERSON HOCKEY
$4,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
NEW ALBANY HOCKEY CLUB
$4,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
COLUMBUS ICE HOCKEY CLUB
$4,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
ATHENS YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$3,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
OLENTANGY ORANGE ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
$2,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$500,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
OHIOHEALTH FOUNDATION
$500,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS FOUNDATION
$350,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICINE
THE COLUMBUS ZOO
$150,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
MCCONNELL ARTS CENTER
$25,000RESEARCH AND ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
DUBLIN HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$9,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
OLENTANGY ORANGE ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
$9,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
ST CHARLES PREPATORY SCHOOL
$9,500ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
OLENTANGY BRAVES HOCKEY
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
DUBLIN JEROME ICE HOCKEY BOOSTERS
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
UPPER ARLINGTON ICE HOCKEY
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
LIBERTY ATHLETIC BOOSTERS-ICE
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
GAHANNA LINCOLN HOCKEY
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
OLENTANGY BERLIN ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
$7,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
WESTERVILLE WARCATS HOCKEY
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
HILLIARD HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
NORTHEAST STORM HOCKEY CLUB
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
NEWARK GENERALS
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION
PROWLERS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$6,000ENHANCE CONTINUING EDUCATION