The Ohio State University Foundation

Legal name: Ohio State University Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
311145986
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Official website data refreshed
Sep 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024, Form 990-N 2014
Location
Columbus, OH, United States
Phone
614-292-2281
Rating
88
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Single Organization Support

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$378,949,364
Expenses
$355,007,186
Assets
$2,154,660,357
Liabilities
$72,268,459

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

50 people listed

People named in this filing

  • Alec Wightman (Board of Directors)
  • Anne E Klamar (Board of Directors)
  • Ayann Howard (Ex Officio Director)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

The Ohio State University Foundation advances Ohio State’s mission by pursuing and securing private support to benefit Ohio State students, faculty, programs, and/or facilities. The Advance Ohio Higher Education Act (SB 1) went into effect on June 27, 2025, though a number of provisions in the bill have delayed effective dates. Ohio State is working to implement SB 1 in a way that is consistent with our mission to conduct research, support creative expression, prepare students for their careers, and make a positive difference in our state. Learn more about SB 1 implementation Additional Links and Resources. New medical treatments and scientific discoveries help Ohioans live longer, healthier, happier and more productive lives. This research would not be possible without support from our government partners. Learn more Explore campus.

What it reported doing in 2024

Distributions to The Ohio State University.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 87% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. No material rating questions were generated from the available inputs.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 79
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 77
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 86.7%; rating input score 87
  • Program expense ratio: 90.7%; rating input score 91
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 6.3%; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 6.07; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 98; 98th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 6% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 8.7% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 5 programs and campaigns described on the official site · 1 operating location identified
  • Where the money goes: 86.7% of revenue deployed · 90.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 49 of 49 board members independent · 7 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $322.1M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 50 people listed
  • Consistency: 23 of 23 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 16 filing years from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.