Opening Doors
Daniel and Susan Pfau established their independent family foundation in 1994 in Cincinnati to support community programs that provide for the education, health, cultural experience, and social welfare of children, adolescents, and young adults (to age 30) with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities and those facing significant economic barriers to success.
“We recognize that there is a large population of people who are not as fortunate as we’ve been,” Dan says. “Some are not as fortunate in the circumstances they’ve been born into, others not as fortunate in terms of their health and capabilities.”
“It seems that children with disabilities and those facing economic barriers are not getting their fair share of public support,” Susan adds. The couple focuses on organizations that help those young people reach their highest potential.
The Pfaus started their foundation with a second goal in mind—to bring their extended family together and influence the values of future generations. Twice a year, members of the Pfau and Brill families (Nancy Brill is Susan’s sister) meet and make decisions involving grant making. Several family members travel from out of town. The Pfaus’ grandnieces and grandnephews read proposals, attend visits to nonprofit agencies, and sit in on board meetings.
The Pfaus use the Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s Grantmaking Services for Private Foundations to help them achieve their charitable goals.
“The resources we have are only ours temporarily,” Dan says. “Through the foundation, we hope to distribute them over the generations to improve lives now and into the future.”
The Board
Ann Pfau, Chair
Daniel Pfau, Chair Emeritus
Susan Pfau
Steven Brill
David Brill
Mary LeRoy
Mark Pfau
Robert Brill
K. Logan Brill
Friends of the Board
David Hochfelder
Linda Brill
Gordon Brill
E. Challen Brill Lentz
Belinda Woodiel-Brill
Nancy Brill
Ronald Brill
Adler Lentz
Grant Blevins
View the 2023 Awardee Gallery