Siemer Family Foundation

The Siemer Family Foundation is guided by Barbara Siemer as chairperson; Mrs. Siemer’s career experience as a high school English teacher, and her many community volunteer experiences benefiting children, inform the Foundation’s grantmaking interests.

The Siemer Family Foundation supports programs that benefit the central Ohio community by:

• Improving educational opportunities for school age children, including those during the school day and those outside of traditional school hours, relating to specific academic areas, or enhancing overall academic achievement;
• Providing young children access to opportunities that prepare them for school, especially those including a parental involvement component;
• Improving education and literacy throughout the community; or
• Improving the economic or housing status and physical well-being and safety of underprivileged families with the intention of creating greater stability for all family members, especially children.

The Siemer Family Foundation’s annual grant application deadline for 2025 is anticipated to be July 1, with decisions announced by November 30.

Please note that only those applications that are closely aligned with the Foundation’s grantmaking focus, as outlined above, will be considered.

For those unfamiliar with The Columbus Foundation’s application process, you are encouraged to attend one of the Grant Opportunity Open House events that are held throughout the year. These events provide an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to meet the staff managing grant processes for Supporting Foundations and The Columbus Foundation. View Deadlines for specific dates. 

• City Year, Columbus: $15,000 to support the Whole School Whole Child program in seven Columbus schools.
• Dominican Learning Center: $10,000 to support GED instruction and preparation.
• Gladden Community House: $10,000 to support the preschool program serving Franklinton and the near west side communities.
• I KNOW I CAN: $25,000 to support AmeriCorps Ohio College Guides for middle school college and career advising. 
• Urban Concern: $15,000 to support an afterschool program serving students in the south Linden neighborhood.

All grantees must submit an online Final Report. Final reports are generally due 30 days following the project grant period; the report deadline is noted in the grant agreement. If a grantee applies for a new grant from the Siemer Family Foundation before a previous grant’s final report deadline, they will be expected either to submit an interim report if the previous grant has not been expended in full, or to submit their final report early.

If you have questions about how your organization’s program might fit with the grantmaking interests of the Siemer Family Foundation, contact a Supporting Foundations team member. Be sure to include a brief summary of the program.

For technical assistance, contact a Supporting Foundations team member.