COLUMBUS — Ohio’s food pantries, community theaters and other local nonprofit groups are preparing for an expected decline in corporate donations as the economy slows and big businesses look to limit gifts.

Aside from The Columbus Foundation, which has assets of close to $1 billion, central Ohio has few large private foundations, so they must rely heavily on corporate generosity, said George Espy, president of the Ohio Grantmakers Forum.

“I’m concerned that in Columbus, and across the state, corporate foundations are going to take a hit because of the economy, and I can’t believe they’re not going to have to adjust their grant-making,” he said. “They can only give away the money that they have.”

In 2006, central Ohio’s 20 largest corporate foundations handed out $69.4 million to hundreds of charitable groups and public projects, according to the Ohio Grantmakers Forum. No figures were available for 2007.

Across the country, 29 percent of corporate foundations anticipate giving less this year than in 2007, according to The Foundation Center of New York, which compiles information on philanthropy.

“I think the general mood is one of great concern over what’s going to happen,” said Jennifer Campbell Williams, executive director of the 600-member Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations. “There’s a nervous energy right now, a fear that things will get tighter.”

National City Corp., the troubled Cleveland-based bank that was heavily exposed to the nation’s troubled mortgage and housing woes, has a long history of support for local arts groups, including the Ohio Theatre and the Columbus Museum of Art.

But the bank suffered huge losses last summer and has since watched its stock drop 80 percent. Last month, it accepted a $7 billion capital infusion from equity investors.

Because of the bank’s problems, all expenses are under review, spokeswoman Kristen Baird Adams said.

“National City, like other companies, is looking very closely at our cost structure and may in fact be more selective in terms of who and how much we give,” she said.

For years, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. has been central Ohio’s top charitable donor. Last year, the Columbus-based company distributed $13.7 million locally and $23 million overall.

This year, Nationwide is planning to donate more than in 2007, said Chad Jester, president of the Nationwide Foundation, the company’s charitable arm. But the economy could prevent others from following suit.

“It’s going to be a tough year across the board,” Jester said. “I’m not sure anybody’s immune to it.”

Huntington Bancshares Inc., also based in Columbus, reported a fourth-quarter loss in 2007 and lower earnings in this year’s first quarter, and managers have been asked to look at staffing levels.

The company isn’t planning to reduce its philanthropic budget for 2008, but it won’t raise it, either, spokeswoman Jeri Grier said.
“We are mindful of economic events,” she said. 
 

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