Tipp Foundation Grant Keeps Community Investments Rolling

The Tipp City Foundation is kicking off 2026 with a major role in both local storytelling and long-term community investment, including a new grant that underwrites a full year of the Downtown Lowdown podcast. On the show’s New Year’s episode, Foundation leaders Richard Bender and Jim Ranft detailed how an $11 million-and-growing endowment quietly fuels parks, youth programs, safety services, downtown improvements and more across Tipp City and Bethel Township.

Local Leaders With Deep Roots

Guest Jim Ranft, an optometrist at Tipp Eye Center who moved to town in 1989, has served on the Foundation board since 2003 after being recruited by long-time board member Jackie Wahl, whom he calls a “legend” for her roughly 40 years of service. Fellow guest Richard Bender, a former banker and United Way director, moved to Tipp in 1982 to manage a First National Bank office and joined the Foundation board about five years ago, bringing significant nonprofit and fundraising experience.

Both men said Tipp’s size, strong schools, and sense of community convinced them to stay and invest their time locally, turning what began as career moves into permanent roots. Their volunteer roles now extend beyond quarterly meetings into committee work, donor outreach, and hands-on tasks such as reviewing grants and writing thank-you notes.

Youth Philanthropy And Big-Picture Projects

Ranft highlighted the Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy partnership with the Tipp City Chamber as a favorite recent effort, which gives rising high school seniors $5,000 and real grant applications to review so they can practice evaluating needs and making funding decisions. Students see the same proposals the adult distribution committee gets, debate priorities, and learn to weigh impact and budgets rather than simply “checking a box” for college résumés.

Bender pointed to larger capital projects as another point of pride, including a $50,000 grant for the city’s new pickleball courts and earlier support for the disc golf course at City Park. He said those investments draw a wide variety of visitors into town, who then spend money at local restaurants and shops, turning recreation amenities into economic drivers for downtown.

Supporting Free Events And A Vibrant Downtown

The Foundation also helped Tipp-a-Palooza eliminate admission fees, transforming the popular summer event into what Bender described as a “family reunion” that brought home former residents and boosted business for downtown merchants. Organizers intentionally skipped food trucks so festivalgoers would eat and drink at local establishments, a choice Weaver praised as a deliberate way to keep revenue on Main Street.

Another long-running partnership is the facade improvement program, where the Downtown Tipp City Partnership acts as a 501(c)(3) conduit so private building owners can access grants to fix and upgrade storefronts. In 2025, thanks in part to Foundation support plus proceeds from Vintage in the Village, the facade fund’s annual awards doubled, visibly improving multiple downtown buildings.

How The Foundation Works

Founded in 1943, the Tipp City Foundation functions as a community endowment that spends only investment earnings—about 4 percent of its balance each year—while preserving principal so gifts “live in Tipp City forever.” Bender said the organization has grown from about 10 funds in 1999 to roughly 67–70 today, with total assets approaching $11 million and a mix of traditional trust accounts and more flexible corporate funds.^[1]

Unlike United Way, where annual campaigns start at zero every January, Foundation money comes from estate plans, donor-advised funds, and smaller recurring gifts that are permanently invested and then distributed through quarterly grant cycles. Standard deadlines fall on February, May, August, and November 15, after which applications go through electronic review, due diligence, and a sometimes vigorous but ultimately consensus-driven committee discussion.

Donor-Advised Funds And Bethel Township Growth

An increasing share of grants now flows through donor-advised funds, in which families or individuals review requests and recommend awards that align with their specific interests, such as sending Broadway Elementary students to Camp Kern. Ranft said this model has both diversified decision-making and freed up general Foundation dollars for other priorities.

The Foundation’s reach also extends beyond city limits into Bethel Township, where residents have created dedicated endowments like the Bethel Community Fund, an arts fund, and a science education fund for Bethel schools. Bender said the long-term hope is that Bethel’s funds grow into their own full-fledged foundation, mirroring Tipp’s experience and ensuring locally guided philanthropy for both communities.

Everyday Gifts, Estate Plans And “Forever Money”

While some funds originate from large estates—such as the late Fire Chief Kessler’s bequest, which now provides about $20,000 annually for fire and EMS needs in Tipp and Bethel—Ranft emphasized that many donations are $50 or $100 checks from ordinary residents. He said he wishes more people understood earlier in life that modest annual gifts can be directed to specific funds, like the long-standing tree fund, and compounded over time through the endowment model.

Both guests urged anyone doing estate planning to involve the Foundation early so wills and beneficiary designations clearly reflect the organization’s current name and structure, avoiding confusion when gifts mature years later. They also encouraged donors to take their time crafting fund language that is focused enough to honor their passion but flexible enough to remain useful 50 years from now if circumstances change.

A Working Board With A Long View

Bender described the Tipp City Foundation board as a “working board,” where every member serves on at least one committee and contributes behind the scenes in areas like marketing, donor relations, or financial analysis. Volunteers such as board member Heather meet with prospective donors, while others build spreadsheets, analyze grants, and maintain contact through annual reports, Constant Contact newsletters, and multiple layers of thank-you messages.

Even with the workload, both men said the role is deeply rewarding because they see the impact—from busy pickleball courts and disc golf games in the park to scholarship-like leadership programs and a thriving historic downtown supported by facade grants. As Weaver noted, the Foundation’s quarterly reports read like a running history of how residents choose to invest in their community—and, thanks to endowed giving, those investments are designed to last for generations.