Our Story
We Amplify the Power of Your Giving
As your leading community foundation, we believe the greatest changes happen when people come together – in partnership, collaboration and generosity. Our role is to align the right players and then coordinate their efforts and contributions to make the biggest impact. Together, we all rise.
Champions of Philanthropy
Activate your Generosity
Take advantage of GCF’s flexible charitable solutions to help you make more possible with your giving. When you partner with us, you can expect personalized service and amplified impact.
HOW WE HELPStories of Generosity
Your generosity fuels our work. Learn how GCF helps thousands of individuals and families design their giving strategies, deliver impact and create legacies.
Learn MoreYour Philanthropic Partner
If you’re a professional advisor, you can partner with GCF to enhance the service and overall value you provide – helping your clients reach their charitable goals while maximizing tax savings.
Read MoreCommunity Leadership Framework
Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s Community Leadership framework is our community change strategy. This is the area where GCF serves as a community leader by acting as a catalyzing force and leveraging all resources and partnerships to address our region’s most critical challenges. We recognize that too many of our neighbors face barriers that limit their ability to obtain a quality education, earn a self-sufficient wage, access affordable homes, and more.
As a community foundation, we are committed to building a region where everyone can thrive and fulfill their full potential. Closing gaps in accessing resources and opportunities is the overarching goal and focus of our community leadership work.
Now is the time to come together and build a more vibrant and opportunity-rich region for all.
2023 Annual Report
Last year, Greater Cincinnati Foundation connected generous donors with trusted nonprofits resulting in $149 million in grantmaking that supported 3,710 organizations. We served not only as a funder, but as a partner and connector, bringing together people who have a shared goal: to create a stronger, more vibrant community.
Playing the long game: Encouraging your clients to plan ahead in...
Whether your client is tax planning, updating wills and trusts or structuring retirement portfolios, the mix of money, family and mortality is a potent combination that almost always creates an emotionally charged planning environment. A strong grasp of the client’s big picture allows you to truly recognize opportunities for charitable…
Read MoreWant happy clients? Talk about charitable giving.
Is it true that the happiest clients seem to be those who’ve incorporated charitable giving into their estate and financial plans? It’s hard to dispute that philanthropy offers both emotional and rational upsides to your clients. Advisors who can lean into these benefits are viewed by their clients as effective,…
Read MoreMeet Ellen G. van der Horst – Community Leader and GCF...
Ellen G. van der Horst is the governing board chair of Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF), a philanthropist and a lifelong community servant. After graduating from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Ellen moved to Cincinnati to accept a job at P&G, followed by remarkable leadership roles…
Read MoreHow a Bold Vision from ArtWorks is Transforming the Walnut Hills...
In a once-abandoned corner of the historic Walnut Hills Business District, a new first-of-its-kind mural by world-renowned artist Charles Gaines stands proudly against the backdrop of downtown Cincinnati. At the base of the mural – which highlights indigenous cottonwood trees – is a public greenspace, featuring ample space for seating,…
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