CINCINNATI, Ohio (July 21, 2026) — Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) and Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation (CSF) have entered into a strategic partnership designed to strengthen scholarship opportunities across the region, delivering greater impact to students, donors and the community.
Both organizations have long demonstrated a commitment to investing in the region and fostering trusted relationships with donors. After years of working closely together to manage and deliver scholarships of all shapes and sizes, GCF and CSF are bringing these shared services under one roof as CSF becomes a supporting organization of GCF.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their passions and build a bright future for themselves,” said Matthew Randazzo, president and CEO at GCF. “This partnership will enhance access to scholarship dollars for students by streamlining back-office efforts and freeing up more resources for direct student support.”
“By taking a unified approach to scholarship philanthropy in our region, we’re building on the unique strengths of both organizations to deliver transformative outcomes and ensure CSF’s legacy continues,” said Jack Miner, board chair, CSF.
As part of this next chapter, CSF also welcomes new leadership. Adison E. Nelson, currently Senior Director of Community Investments at GCF, will become CSF’s next president & CEO. She succeeds Randy J. Ulses, who held the role on an interim basis for the last year.
Nelson brings nearly two decades of experience advancing community impact and organizational performance across Greater Cincinnati. At GCF, she led high impact grantmaking and partnership strategies, connecting resources to community priorities. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Nelson has built strong cross-sector partnerships to deliver measurable results for the region.
Her career also includes leading a $13.25 million community investment strategy at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and founding key diversity and inclusion initiatives at the University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business, strengthening pathways for student success. As Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Lindner, Nelson led efforts to attract, retain and graduate historically underrepresented students, expanding scholarship access and deepening partnerships with corporate and community stakeholders.
“Adison’s experience in community impact and her passion for expanding opportunity make her the right leader to carry CSF’s mission forward,” said Randazzo. “Her leadership will further strengthen this partnership and ensure students and donors alike benefit from a more connected and effective scholarship ecosystem.”
“CSF has a long history of opening doors for students. Now together with GCF, we have the opportunity to strengthen scholarship access, deepen relationships with donors, and deliver even greater impact for the community,” said Nelson.
As we head into the new school year, 548 students are preparing for class thanks to a newly awarded or renewed scholarship from CSF. In total, the organization awarded nearly $1.8 million in scholarship dollars for 2026-27.
GCF and CSF are united in their goal to build a strong pipeline for scholarship funding, making scholarships more accessible for students from all backgrounds while engaging and stewarding donors whose generosity makes this work possible. The infrastructure created through this collaboration ensures a future where more students can access the education they need to succeed.
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About Greater Cincinnati Foundation: Greater Cincinnati Foundation is the region’s leading community foundation, serving an eight-county region in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Through trusted partnerships and thoughtful stewardship of community assets, GCF builds a more vibrant, opportunity-rich, and equitable region for everyone – now, and for generations to come.
About Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation: The Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation is dedicated to connecting students with scholarship opportunities to achieve their educational dreams. With a focus on students and a history of providing access, CSF strives to evolve with the changing landscape of higher education through effective partnerships and comprehensive support.
