The Frances and Craig Lindner Foundation

CINCINNATI, OH EIN: 31-1420130

The Frances and Craig Lindner Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1994 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on the arts, education, and health-related causes, with particular emphasis on cancer research and mental health treatment.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$9.5M

+13.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$741K

-78.1% YoY

Grant Count

14

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$53K

-78.1% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary giving interests include:

  • Arts – Supporting cultural and performing arts organizations
  • Education – Funding educational institutions and programs
  • Cancer Research and Treatment – Supporting cancer institutes and research centers
  • Mental Health – Contributing to mental health treatment facilities and programs

Grantmaking

The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. The foundation indicates it makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations.

Grant Range

$23,000

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's giving extends to organizations in Ohio, Tennessee, and Massachusetts, with significant focus on Cincinnati-area institutions.

Grant Distribution by State

9states
+1 more states

Cities

BostonCincinnatiColumbusCovingtonHonoluluKey LargoLenexaMasonMilfordNantucketNashvilleNeedhamOxfordPalmetto BayWashingtonWestport

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (as of most recent filings):

  • Total assets: $8.4 million to $9.5 million (varies by reporting source and year)
  • Total giving (2023): $3,388,500
  • Total revenues (2023): $3,135,690
  • Total expenses (2023): $3,485,381
  • Giving rate: Approximately 40.6% of assets

Staffing: The foundation operates with limited staffing, relying on board members with minimal paid staff.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$3M$6M$9M$12M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$9,472,792$8,351,184$6,702,954
Revenue$2,992,445$3,135,690$8,472,071
Expenses$870,826$3,485,381$6,983,614
Qualifying Distributions$774,997$3,407,484$6,910,869
Net Investment Income$2,417,211$2,141,779$3,434,281
Distributable Amount$1,951,641$1,782,714$1,808,012

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$3M$5M$7M14 grants202021 grants202119 grants202214 grants202314 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

HORIZON COMMUNITY CHURCH$275KJOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FO…$250KUNITED WAY OF GREATER CI…$50KARTSWAVE$25KCHRIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION$25KENSWORTH SCHOOL$25KPAN-MASSACHUSETTS CHALLE…$25KCHILDREN'S HOME OF CINCI…$20KLIFE LEARNING CENTER INC$20KTAFT MUSEUM OF ART$10K

Grant Size Distribution

82 grants across all recorded years

42<$50K11$50–100K14$100–250K9$250–500K3$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • S. Craig Lindner – President, Treasurer, and Trustee (3 hours per week, no compensation)
  • Frances Lindner – Vice President, Secretary, and Trustee (3 hours per week, no compensation)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
S CRAIG LINDNERPRESIDENT,TREASURER & TRUS3
FRANCES LINDNERVP, SECRETARY, TRUSTEE3

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The Lindner family has made significant philanthropic commitments in recent years:

Lindner family gifts $10M to improve heart research at Christ Hospital -

The foundation contributed to the Lindner Center of Hope, which received commitments totaling $75 million from community leaders including Frances and S. Craig Lindner for mental health treatment facilities and services

The Frances and Craig Lindner Foundation - Grantmakers.io

Major gifts to the University of Cincinnati Foundation supporting cancer research and treatment programs, including the Blood Cancer Healing Center and Cancer Center Chaplain Program

Lindner family gifts $10M to improve heart research at Christ Hospital -

Support for cultural institutions including Ford's Theatre

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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