Endowment / Foundation

Updated:

Farmer Family Foundation

Richard T. Farmer established the Farmer Family Foundation in 1990 after building Cintas Corporation. The foundation operates as the primary philanthropic...

Farmer Family Foundation

Richard T. Farmer established the Farmer Family Foundation in 1990 after building Cintas Corporation. The foundation operates as the primary philanthropic vehicle for the family, with Scott D. Farmer, Robert E. Coletti, and Brynne F. Coletti serving as trustees. Wealth traces directly to the Cintas founder, who died in 2021. Grant activity centers on education, healthcare, and community development in Cincinnati and surrounding regions. The foundation maintains a long equity position in Cintas and holds interests in private companies including Trew, Verdant Commercial Capital, and Tosca Services through Orchard Holdings Group. Geographic reach includes the United States with emphasis on Ohio and Florida properties. It has also funded initiatives such as the Price Hill Homesteading Program and donated a sculpture park at Miami University. Assets total $937 million. The foundation maintains no disclosed professional investment staff count. It owns a Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft jointly with Cintas and has sponsored events including the 2022 Farmer School of Business Sculpture Dedication. Legal counsel includes Keating Muething & Klekamp and Dinsmore & Shohl. Governance remains within the founding family through designated trustees who also hold Cintas leadership roles. This creates a direct link between the operating company that generated the wealth and the foundation's capital allocation decisions, distinct from structures that separate investment management entirely from the source enterprise.

General information

Firm type

Endowment / Foundation

Year founded

1990

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Cincinnati

Principals

Scott D. Farmer

Trustee

Robert E. Coletti

Co-Chairman and Trustee

Brynne F. Coletti

Co-Chairman and Trustee

Sector focus

PhilanthropyEducationHealthcare

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Farmer Family Foundation?

Scott D. Farmer, Robert E. Coletti, and Brynne F. Coletti serve as trustees. Decisions integrate family oversight with external advisors including Summer Hill Capital Partners.

Where does the underlying wealth come from?

Wealth originated with Richard T. Farmer, founder of Cintas Corporation. The foundation holds an approximate 10 percent stake in Cintas valued at $2.2 billion in historical filings.

Does Farmer Family Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Filings show investments in private partnership funds alongside direct ownership of operating businesses through Orchard Holdings Group.

What investment stages does Farmer Family Foundation typically target?

Activity focuses on established operating companies and real assets rather than early-stage venture.

How is Farmer Family Foundation related to Cintas Corporation?

Cintas generated the family wealth. The foundation retains significant equity in Cintas and co-owns aircraft assets with the company.

Does Farmer Family Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?

The foundation itself serves as the main grantmaking entity. It has made notable donations including $60 million to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and $40 million to Miami University.

What is Farmer Family Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?

No public details exist on co-investment activity with external managers beyond disclosed partnership fund holdings.

Profile maintained by 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.

Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?

Altss delivers:

Principals with verified direct contactsAllocation history by asset classOSINT-derived deal signals
Book a demo

Prefer a guided tour?

We’ll walk you through:

Interactive funding timelinesCustom mandate & allocation filters
Book a demo

More Cincinnati Endowment / Foundation profiles