Our Story
Founded in 1959, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation began as a family vision to strengthen public education in Ohio. More than 65 years later, we continue to honor that vision—supporting outstanding teachers and expanding opportunities for students across the state.
From the beginning, our focus has been clear: recognize excellence in Ohio’s public schools and ensure teachers and students receive the support they deserve.
Our Founders
The Foundation was established by Martha Holden Jennings and her second cousin, Arthur S. Holden, Jr., who shared a belief that K–12 public education—often overshadowed by higher education—deserved dedicated recognition and investment.
Martha Holden Jennings
A Cleveland native, Martha Holden Jennings (1873–1962) was deeply committed to improving elementary and secondary public education in Ohio. After living for many years in Europe while her husband helped build what would become IBM’s international operations, she returned to Cleveland in 1930.
With no children of her own, Mrs. Jennings sought a meaningful way to invest her resources in the future of young people. She believed that supporting teachers would elevate both student achievement and the teaching profession itself. Through her estate, she established the Foundation to carry that commitment forward.
Arthur S. Holden, Jr.
Arthur Holden (1906–2007), an engineer and longtime business and civic leader, guided the Foundation for nearly five decades. Known for his humble philosophy—captured in his question, “Did we do a little good today?”—he ensured the Foundation stayed true to its mission while broadening its impact across Ohio.
A Family Legacy
Formed through Martha and Arthur’s shared values and family commitment to community, the Foundation addressed a gap they saw in philanthropy: public school teachers and students received far less support than colleges and universities. Inspired by national conversations about education in the late 1950s, they focused on where they believed resources would matter most—Ohio’s public schools.
Since Martha’s passing in 1962 and through Arthur’s long leadership, that commitment has remained unchanged. Today, the Foundation continues to celebrate excellent educators and invest in the success of Ohio’s students.
The Foundation Today
The Foundation was started with $11 million and since its beginning, through careful stewardship of the assets, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation has made grants of over $170,000,000 to date. Today, it continues to provide over $3 million each year to support PK-12 education throughout Ohio using three complementary strategies: grantmaking, thought partnering, and honoring and elevating the teaching profession.
The Foundation remains driven by people who are passionate about helping Ohio’s educators and students thrive in their schools. Each year, we are inspired by the many educators who lead in their fields and create meaningful opportunities for students to grow, develop, and reach their full potential in a rapidly changing world.
We are also thrilled to be able to partner with many organizations around the state and the country who are thought leaders in education, and whose research and work serves as great inspiration to our Ohio educators.