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Bethesda Foundation
The Bethesda Foundation was created in 1974 to support the work of Bethesda Hospitals. President and CEO Andy Swallow also leads the Good Samaritan Foundation,...
Bethesda Foundation
The Bethesda Foundation was created in 1974 to support the work of Bethesda Hospitals. President and CEO Andy Swallow also leads the Good Samaritan Foundation, placing both entities under a shared executive. The foundation operates as the fundraising and grantmaking arm for Bethesda Inc., which co-sponsors TriHealth alongside CommonSpirit Health (formerly Catholic Health Initiatives). The foundation's deployment model blends direct charitable grants with an investment portfolio. Its grants historically support three named beneficiaries: Bethesda Hospitals, Hospice of Cincinnati, and the Fernside Center for Grieving Children. A significant donor relationship with Harold and Eugenia Thomas produced a $10 million commitment for the TriHealth Heart Hospital (per Altss research). On the asset side, the foundation holds publicly traded securities and a portfolio of commercial real estate in Cincinnati, including the Bethesda Properties Medical Office Portfolio, the foundation's own headquarters at 10500 Montgomery Road, and a property at 619 Oak Street. Altss estimates total assets at roughly $128 million. Swallow's dual-role leadership across two foundations within the TriHealth orbit concentrates governance. The foundation participates in the regional philanthropic network Philanthropy Ohio and maintains ties with the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Cincinnati chapter. No separate family office or externally managed investment vehicle has been identified. The foundation's structural differentiator is its zero-overhead donation model. Bethesda Inc. absorbs all administrative expenses, ensuring every contributed dollar funds designated clinical and grief-support programs. This shifts the foundation's posture from endowment management toward pure capital deployment for TriHealth priorities, making its governance inseparable from the parent organization's healthcare mission.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1974
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Cincinnati
Corporate office
10500 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242
Principals
Andy Swallow
President and CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Bethesda Foundation?
President and CEO Andy Swallow oversees the foundation and its investment portfolio, which includes publicly traded securities and Cincinnati commercial real estate. Swallow also leads the Good Samaritan Foundation, placing both entities under one executive. The foundation's governance is ultimately tied to its parent, Bethesda Inc., co-sponsor of TriHealth.
Does the Bethesda Foundation accept outside co-investors or grant partners?
The foundation is not structured as an investment fund with limited partners — it raises philanthropic donations and deploys them as grants. Major donor relationships exist, such as Harold and Eugenia Thomas's $10 million commitment to the TriHealth Heart Hospital (per Altss research). It does not publicly solicit co-investors in its real estate or securities portfolios.
What is the relationship between the Bethesda Foundation and TriHealth?
The Bethesda Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Bethesda Inc., which co-sponsors Cincinnati-based TriHealth alongside CommonSpirit Health (formerly Catholic Health Initiatives). The foundation's grantmaking directly supports TriHealth-affiliated entities: Bethesda Hospitals, Hospice of Cincinnati, and the Fernside Center for Grieving Children.
How is the Bethesda Foundation funded if 100% of donations go to programs?
Bethesda Inc., the foundation's parent and TriHealth co-sponsor, covers all operating and administrative costs. This structure makes the foundation a self-funded organization, allowing every dollar donated to flow directly to its designated clinical, hospice, and grief-support programs.
What real estate does the Bethesda Foundation own?
The foundation's commercial real estate holdings include the Bethesda Properties Medical Office Portfolio, its headquarters at 10500 Montgomery Road in Cincinnati, and a property at 619 Oak Street. These are held alongside a portfolio of publicly traded securities.
Does the Bethesda Foundation operate a separate family office or venture arm?
No. The foundation functions as a traditional philanthropic grantmaker and endowment. No separate family office, venture capital vehicle, or externally marketed fund has been identified. Its investment activity supports the foundation's charitable obligations to TriHealth entities.
How is the foundation's leadership connected to other Cincinnati healthcare philanthropy?
Andy Swallow serves simultaneously as President and CEO of both the Bethesda Foundation and the Good Samaritan Foundation, a dual role that concentrates philanthropic leadership within the TriHealth system. Both organizations share an executive and operate from the Cincinnati headquarters.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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