Farmer Family Foundation
The Farmer Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation based in Mason, OH. The foundation contributes to local community organizations, hospitals and medical centers and foundations, private Christian K-12 schools, public and private universities, in addition to right-wing groups heavily affiliated with the Koch brothers, such as Americans For Prosperity and DonorsTrust.
The foundation is run by Richard T. Farmer, CEO of Cintas Corporation, the nation's largest uniform rental outfit, with more than 5 million people wearing Cintas uniforms. In 2005, Farmer contributed $30,000,000 to Miami University of Ohio, for a new business school in his name to be completed in 2009. [1] With Farmer retiring as CEO in 2003, his son Scott now runs Cintas in addition to his role as a trustee for the foundation. Farmer's wife, Joyce, is also a trustee.
During the 2000 election of George W. Bush, Farmer was the 15th largest fundraiser, having raised at least $100,000, and has been a continual financial supporter of the Republican Party through his contributions of over $3.1 million since before 2004. [2] Farmer once said to the Cincinnati Enquirer "that he gives to 'help Republicans defend themselves' from labor union attacks." [3] He also said in 2004 that he supports the Republican candidates because "they believe in 'less government, more individual freedom, more individual responsibility." [4]. Farmer has had run-ins with the Environmental Protection Agency, and labor unions because his corporation's business practices with environmental and labor regulations. [5]
In 2011, the organization reported $15,165,204 in total revenue, $7,727,841 in total expenses, and $184,070,631 in total assets (fair market value). [6]
Contents
Ties to DonorsTrust and Koch Brothers
The Farmer Family Foundation contributed $1,910,000 between 2010 and 2011 to DonorsTrust, and approved a future payment of $1,250,000 for the organization in 2011.
DonorsTrust is a conservative non-profit organization designed to give donors the opportunity to split a sum of funds between separate accounts. However, these funds are designed to hide the actual donors under the name of DonorsTrust. The largest contributors to DonorsTrust include the Knowledge and Progress Fund, a Charles Koch-run organization, and other conservative family foundations, such as the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, Donald & Paula Smith Family Foundation, and more.
In addition to DonorsTrust, the foundation also contributed $910,000 in 2011 to Americans For Prosperity, a Koch brothers-run foundation to support conservative think tanks and organizations, such as the State Policy Network. The foundation also gave $20,000 between 2010 and 2011 to the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, a right-wing think tank involved in the State Policy Network.
Other Funding Recipients
2011
The largest contributions from the Farmer Family Foundation in 2011 include:[6]
- Miami University of Ohio, a public university located in Oxford, OH, received $2,179,000 with a future payment of $10,540,092 approved.
- DonorsTrust received $1,410,000 with a future payment of $1,250,000 approved.
- Americans For Prosperity received $910,000.
- Craig and Frances Lindner Center of Hope received $345,833.
- Ocean Reef Medical Center Foundation, located in Boca Raton, FL, received $333,333 with a future payment of $333,333 approved.
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, located in New York, NY, received $333,333 with a future payment of $333,333 approved.
- University of Texas Foundation received $333,333 with a future payment of $333,000 approved.
- United Way of Greater Cincinnati received $246,357 with a future payment of $714,286 approved.
- Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, OH, received $77,5000 with a future payment of $405,000 approved.
2010
The largest contributions from the Farmer Family Foundation in 2010 include:[7]
- Miami University of Ohio received $2,794,612 with a future payment of $12,715,092 approved.
- Greater Cincinnati Foundation received $1,155,000.
- DonorsTrust received $500,000.
- Craig and Frances Lindner Center of Hope received $334,333 with a future payment of $333,333 approved.
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center received $333,333 with a future payment of $666,667 approved.
- Ocean Reef Medical Center Foundation received $333,333 with a future payment of $666,667 approved.
- University of Texas Foundation received $333,333 with a future payment of $666,667 approved.
- United Way of Greater Cincinnati received $170,357.
- Xavier University received $67,500 with a future payment of $857,143 approved.
2009
The largest contributions from the Farmer Family Foundation in 2009 include:[8]
- Greater Cincinnati Foundation received $2,430,000.
- Miami University of Ohio received $2,274,482 with a future payment of $15,509,704 approved.
- University of Texas was approved to receive a future payment of $1,000,000.
- Craig and Frances Lindner Center of Hope received $333,333 with a future payment of $666,667 approved.
- United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, located in Cincinnati, OH, received $313,000.
- University Hospital, located in Cincinnati, OH, received $300,000.
- Employment Policies Institute Foundation, located in Washington, D.C., received $200,000.
- Xavier University received $87,500 with a future payment of $540,000 approved.
Key Personnel
Trustees
The Farmer Family Foundation's trustees, as of its 2011 tax filing consists of:[6]
- Richard T. Farmer, President, chair, trustee
- Joyce E. Farmer, trustee
- Brynee F. Coletti, trustee
- Robert E. Coletti, trustee
- Scott D. Farmer, trustee
- Mary J. Farmer, trustee
- Amy F. Joseph, trustee
- George R. Joseph, trustee
- Richard L. Roeding, Jr., treasurer
- Regina L. Estenfelder, assistant secretary
- Mary Beth Martin, Executive Director
Contact Information
Farmer Family Foundation
6847 Cintas Boulevard Suite 120
Mason, OH 45040
(513) 459-1085[6]
Articles and Resources
External References
References
- ↑ [1], Meet Dick and Joyce Farmer
- ↑ James V. Grimaldi and Thomas B. Edsall, [2], Fundraiser Denies Link Between Money, Access,
- ↑ Texans for Public Justice, [3], Bush Donor Profile for Richard T. Farmer,
- ↑ James V. Grimaldi and Thomas B. Edsall, [4], Fundraiser Denies Link Between Money, Access,
- ↑ James V. Grimaldi and Thomas B. Edsall, [5], Fundraiser Denies Link Between Money, Access,
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 , [6], organizational IRS tax filing, 2011, Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "2011 Form 990" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "2011 Form 990" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ , [7], organizational IRS tax filing, 2010,
- ↑ , [8], organizational IRS tax filing, 2009,
