The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, with flags on its roof

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 30-6043262

J Earl Belch Charitable Trust

A private foundation in Columbus Grove, OH. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 12 grants and $1.1 million paid in grants.

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Nicholas Gilgenbaugh
10866 St RT 12 W
Columbus Grove, OH 45830
(419) 235-1950
[email protected]
Form and materials
Letter
Deadlines
No
Restrictions
Primarily in and for the benefit of the columbus grove, putnam county ohio area.

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2025

    $1,084,233

    Grants listed
    12
    Assets, end of year
    $1,075,637
  • Tax year 2024

    $176,040

    Grants listed
    9
    Assets, end of year
    $1,200,633
  • Tax year 2023

    $57,005

    Grants listed
    9
    Assets, end of year
    $597,971
  • Tax year 2022

    $106,818

    Grants listed
    13
    Assets, end of year
    $635,445
  • Tax year 2021

    $79,237

    Grants listed
    7
    Assets, end of year
    $723,032
  • Tax year 2020

    $52,033

    Grants listed
    10
    Assets, end of year
    $786,761
  • Tax year 2019

    $110,000

    Grants listed
    14
    Assets, end of year
    $824,030
  • Tax year 2018

    $27,000

    Grants listed
    12
    Assets, end of year
    $626,833

Grants paid in 2025

12 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Columbus Grove Local SchoolsColumbus Grove, OH

    For athletic complex upgrades

    $650,008
  2. Lifewise AcademyColumbus Grove, OH

    For new facility

    $300,000
  3. Columbus Grove Local SchoolsColumbus Grove, OH

    Scholarships for putnam co oh students

    $80,000
  4. The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH

    Scholarship for putnam county oh student

    $15,000
  5. Bowling Green State UniversityBowling Green, OH

    Scholarship for putnam co oh student

    $10,000
  6. Columbus Grove Local SchoolsColumbus Grove, OH

    To support their programs and activities.

    $8,478
  7. Animal Protection League of Mercer CountyCelina, OH

    To support their programs and activities.

    $5,000
  8. Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach, AL

    Scholarship for putnam co oh student

    $5,000
  9. Lifewise AcademyColumbus Grove, OH

    To support the christian education of putnam county oh students

    $5,000
  10. Sons of American LegionColumbus Grove, OH

    To support their programs and activities.

    $3,000
  11. Rhodes State CollegeLima, OH

    Scholarship for putnam co oh student

    $2,098
  12. Bluffton UniversityBluffton, OH

    Scholarship for putnam co oh student

    $649

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Jobs and employment1 grant $10,00064% of the total
  2. Animals1 grant $5,00032% of the total
  3. Education1 grant $6494% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Ohio11 grants $1,079,233
  2. Alabama1 grant $5,000

Officers, directors and trustees

3 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Nicholas GilgenbaughCO-TRUSTEE Hours 2Pay $500
  • Thomas GerdemanCO-TRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $500
  • Thomas BirkemeyerCO-TRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $500

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (jobs and employment), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Needmor Fund for Social JusticePerrysburg, OH 32 grants Preselected only $1,105,700 giving
  2. Connor FoundationHunting Valley, OH 9 grants Accepts applications $1,157,400 giving
  3. Nella Durinda Levenhagen FoundationCleveland, OH 20 grants Preselected only $810,000 giving
  4. Deaconess FoundationCleveland, OH 41 grants Preselected only $1,950,500 giving
  5. Ida S Charlton Charity FD UADallas, TX 8 grants Preselected only $1,080,000 giving