Covenant Foundation

The Covenant Foundation operates as a private, non-operating family foundation established in 1987 by James R. and Cecelia A. Leininger. Its core strategic approach centers on supporting organizations that further Christian missions with a meaningful evangelical component. The foundation maintains an intentionally lean operational model with zero full-time employees and is directed by a small board of four members: Timothy E Johnson, Janet L Johnson, Timothy C Gehner, and Scott Wyckoff. Unlike many foundations of its asset size ($109.7 million), the Covenant Foundation does not maintain a public website, accept online applications, or publish formal RFPs. Prospective grantees must contact the foundation directly by phone (513-661-3100) or mail at 3777 West Fork Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45247. This suggests a relationship-driven grantmaking strategy where funding decisions are made based on the board's direct knowledge of and connections to recipient organizations rather than competitive application cycles.

The Covenant Foundation's grantmaking reveals a highly concentrated funding pattern. Despite holding approximately $109.7 million in total assets, the foundation's annual charitable disbursements have varied significantly year to year. In its most recent reporting period (2024), total expenses were $10.2 million with charitable disbursements of $10.1 million. The foundation's giving breaks down by sector as follows: Religion receives the largest share at 54% of all grants, Social & Human Services receives 20%, and Education receives 7%. Geographically, approximately 40% of grants remain in Ohio, with additional funding reaching Illinois, Colorado, New York, and Arizona. Grant sizes vary widely, from $50,000 (Batavia Covenant Church) to $990,000 (College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation), indicating the foundation is willing to make both modest and substantial investments depending on the organization and project. Revenue comes primarily from investment income and dividends ($3.47 million in 2024, or 61.3%), supplemented by gains from asset sales ($1.52 million, 26.9%) and contributions ($666,877, 11.8%).

Compared to peer foundations in the Cincinnati area, the Covenant Foundation stands out for its extremely lean operations (zero staff), lack of public-facing infrastructure, and concentrated focus on Christian evangelical missions. Its giving-to-asset ratio of approximately 4% meets the IRS minimum distribution requirement for private foundations but is lower than some peers that distribute more aggressively.

Based on the most recent IRS filings (fiscal year 2024), the Covenant Foundation reported total revenues of $5.65 million, a 62.5% increase from the prior year. Total expenses reached $10.2 million, up 46.8% from the previous period. However, total assets decreased slightly by 3.97% to $109.7 million, suggesting the foundation drew down assets to fund increased grantmaking activity. Notable recent grants include a substantial $990,000 award to College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation for community development work in Cincinnati, $384,500 to Young Life for youth ministry programs, $60,000 to Back2back Ministries (an international orphan care organization), and $50,000 to Batavia Covenant Church. The foundation's asset base has grown dramatically over its history, from $17.6 million in 2011 to the current $109.7 million, largely driven by a major $44.1 million contribution received between 2012 and 2013. The foundation has not claimed its profile on Charity Navigator and does not file electronically, limiting public visibility into its most current activities.

Applicants seeking funding from the Covenant Foundation should be aware of several important considerations. First, there is no online application portal or formal RFP process; all inquiries must be directed to the foundation by phone at 513-661-3100 or by mail to 3777 West Fork Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45247. Second, the foundation strongly favors organizations with a clear Christian missions and evangelical component, as this is its stated primary focus area (54% of grants go to religious organizations). Organizations should clearly articulate how their work advances Christian ministry or evangelical outreach. Third, while the foundation is based in Cincinnati and 40% of grants stay in Ohio, it does fund organizations nationally, so out-of-state applicants should not be discouraged but should explain their connection to the foundation's mission. Fourth, grant sizes range from $50,000 to nearly $1 million, indicating the foundation is capable of making transformative gifts for well-aligned organizations. Fifth, community development and youth ministry organizations appear to be particularly well-positioned, given the large grants to College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation and Young Life. Building a personal relationship with the foundation's directors is likely essential given the relationship-driven, low-transparency model of this foundation.