Best Clinton County Grants for Nonprofits in Ohio

Howard T. Short and Burdette Augsburger Scholarship Fund of the Legacy Fund

The fund was established to benefit gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students pursuing post-secondary education at a central Ohio college or university or Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio.

Award Amount:

• Minimum $500

The Robert E. Lucas Memorial Fund, managed by the Clinton County Foundation, provides support to nonprofit organizations serving children and youth in Clinton County. Established in honor of Dr. Robert Lucas, a community leader and educator, the fund seeks innovative projects that foster collaboration among organizations. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and tax-exempt groups based in the area, with a focus on new approaches to enhance community initiatives.

The PNC Foundation's Grow Up Great Grant is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for children from birth to age 5. With a commitment of $500 million, this program focuses on improving school readiness through support in vocabulary development, social-emotional learning, and the arts. By partnering with community-based nonprofits, PNC aims to foster stronger, smarter, and healthier communities, ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.

The PLTW Gateway program, in partnership with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by supporting schools in eligible counties to implement PLTW Gateway units. With a total grant of $20,000, schools are encouraged to offer at least one unit per academic year, fostering real-world skills and engagement in STEM fields. This initiative seeks to increase access and participation in high-quality STEM learning experiences, ultimately preparing students for future careers.

The PLTW Gateway program, in collaboration with Burns & McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by expanding access to Project Lead The Way initiatives in eligible communities. By providing grants for program expansion, the initiative encourages schools to implement new PLTW units and train teachers, empowering students with essential skills for future careers. This partnership seeks to inspire a new generation of learners through hands-on, real-world challenges, thereby fostering greater participation in STEM fields across various regions.

Burns and McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned firm, partners with Project Lead The Way (PLTW) to enhance access to STEM education. By expanding PLTW Computer Science programs in local schools, they aim to engage students in real-world challenges and equip them with essential skills. Eligible schools must be located in specific counties and serve a majority of students from low-income backgrounds. This initiative supports the growth of STEM education, fostering a brighter future for communities through enhanced learning opportunities.

The PLTW Computer Science program, supported by Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education in various communities by funding schools to implement PLTW courses. This partnership promotes student engagement with real-world challenges, preparing them for future careers in technology. With a total grant of $20,000, schools must offer multiple PLTW courses over two years, ensuring access to quality education for underserved populations.

Public and charter schools starting new PLTW Engineering programs in eligible U.S. counties can apply for Project Lead The Way’s grants, awarding US $40,000 over two years for participation fees, required technology, equipment, supplies, and PLTW Core Training. Clinton County, Ohio schools serving at least 40% free/reduced-price lunch students may be eligible if they meet the location requirements.

The PLTW Engineering Program Expansion by Burns and McDonnell aims to enhance STEM education in eligible communities. This initiative supports schools in expanding their existing PLTW Engineering programs, providing students with hands-on experiences and essential skills. The program focuses on empowering students through new courses and teacher training, ensuring access for underrepresented populations. By fostering excitement around STEM, Burns and McDonnell is committed to shaping the future workforce and enhancing educational opportunities in critical areas.

Nonprofit and charity organizations in Clinton County, Ohio can seek funding to support education, community services, and environmental initiatives. Grants from Makulinski Family Foundation help local and international charities grow long-lasting community investments, with the foundation considering all proposals and offering matching support based on beneficiary needs, including projects connected with Rotary.

About Us

Interact for Health works so that people in our region are healthy and thriving, regardless of who they are or where they live. We advance health justice by tackling the root causes of unfair systems, amplifying community power and partnering with trust.

Responsive Fund

The goal of the Responsive Fund RFP is to address immediate, emerging, or unanticipated needs within the community, recognizing that opportunities to build resilience require dedicated funding.

2) In-Kind Support for Sustainability Consultations and Capacity Building

Participants in this program will receive 1:1 consulting services tailored to an organization’s identified needs. Interact for Health will work with local consultants and community partners based on needs shared by grantee organizations.

Examples of needs include the following:

• Scenario planning  
• Legal support 
• Sustainability and development planning and implementation
• Diversified funding strategies and implementation
• Exploring collaboration, partnerships/alliances, shared services, and/or mergers
• Strategic planning and revisions 

Sustainability Consultations will include up to 30 hours of 1:1 support and will begin in late 2026. 

About Us

Interact for Health works so that people in our region are healthy and thriving, regardless of who they are or where they live. We advance health justice by tackling the root causes of unfair systems, amplifying community power and partnering with trust.

Responsive Fund

The goal of the Responsive Fund RFP is to address immediate, emerging, or unanticipated needs within the community, recognizing that opportunities to build resilience require dedicated funding.

Grant Funding for Critical Services – Sustaining Civic Infrastructure: Total investment up to $1.5 million  

This funding supports the continuity of critical community infrastructure and services by addressing the time-sensitive operational and programmatic needs. Proposals for funding should focus on critical gaps or unmet needs with deep ties to community relationships. Organizations should demonstrate readiness to deploy resources quickly if funding is provided. This RFP will prioritize funding organizations essential to advancing health justice and youth well-being among our priority populations. Grants are available at three levels: $50,000, $75,000, or $100,000 for general operating or programmatic support.

Clinton County Foundation

The Clinton County Foundation is a community foundation providing charitable investing and local grants that enable people and nonprofits to make a lasting and positive impact in our community.

As local citizens committed to stewarding and investing charitable gifts, we thrive on supporting the people, projects, and places that make our piece of Ohio unique and attractive to families and businesses.

Our Areas of Focus

We provide support where it’s needed most. The Clinton County Foundation encourages a focus on three areas that deliver the greatest impact for charitable giving.

• Education: We support educational needs throughout the learning journey, from pre-school to high school to trade school to college for our entire community.
• Health & Wellness: Supporting the health and wellness of our neighbors is important because good health is a significant component of any community’s effectiveness and ability to serve its citizens.
• Economic Development: The Clinton County Foundation believes that economic development is a key factor in building a financially strong and overall healthy community and therefore supports funds in this area.

Lees Creek UCC Arts Fund Grants

In 2025, the Lees Creek United Church of Christ closed its doors, sold its assets, and established funds at the Clinton County Foundation to support scholarships, libraries, arts, and guidance departments. This grant cycle targets projects that will benefit students of East Clinton (Ohio) Local Schools through arts, field trips, music, and related programs and activities. Funding requests of $500 to $1000 will be considered for one time events that support learning objectives for any grade level.

What Do We Fund?

HealthFirst funds projects that serve or benefit Clinton County. Projects and program proposals should address one or more of the following areas:

Education: improving individual and community wellness and health awareness through direct outreach and creative communication about nutrition, emergent health issues, disease prevention or management, and similar topics.

Innovation in Community Health: improving care delivery methods and services, including novel outreach methods for at-risk communities.

Promotion of Community Health: improving the good health of community members, including medication assistance, health and wellness screenings, and wellness initiatives (including exercise and vaccination initiatives).

What Do We Look for in a Grant Application?

High Priority Projects

• Proposals that are new, unique, pilot, or address unmet needs in Clinton County
• Projects designed to improve equity with a focus on supporting underserved communities
• Projects designed to take a systemic approach to improving outcomes for underserved communities
• Projects that include alliances, partnerships, and collaboration between providers and organizations that broaden, deepen, and diversify participation in the provision of services

​Lower Priority Projects

• Projects for remodeling, renovation, maintenance, repairs, and site improvement for existing facilities
• Projects that support or meet the basic educational, health, and safety functions of government agencies and/or schools

The CCCF: Legacy Fund provides vital financial support to enhance the health, welfare, and safety of the Clinton County community. Established in 2019 with a $10 million endowment, it aims to empower local nonprofit organizations and government entities. By focusing on health, wellness, education, and youth initiatives, the fund fosters transformative projects that uplift the community. Its strategic approach ensures that grants are tailored to meet the needs of Clinton County residents, paving the way for lasting impact.

Focused on rural chronic disease prevention and care, this program invites hospitals, health centers, clinics, and health systems in Clinton County, Ohio and other non-urban counties to strengthen blood glucose and hypertension management. Grants from Ohio Department of Health and Human Services offer up to US $200,000 for innovative, preventive, and clinical rural health initiatives.

The SpartanNash Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations focused on Hunger, Heroes, and Hope. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations located within a 30-mile radius of SpartanNash facilities. The Foundation ensures that every dollar raised directly benefits partner organizations, with a commitment to community impact. Grants are not available for ineligible entities, including those outside the radius or not aligned with the Foundation's mission. Since its inception in 2015, the Foundation has positively influenced local communities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving Greater Cincinnati residents in health, education, or arts can apply for Millstone Fund grants of US $10,000 - US $50,000 for capacity building, capital, general operating, projects, or innovation seed funding. With a mission to build a more equitable, vibrant community, Millstone Fund provides Clinton County, Ohio nonprofits with flexible support to expand or improve impactful services.

Clinton County Foundation

The Clinton County Foundation is a community foundation providing charitable investing and local grants that enable people and nonprofits to make a lasting and positive impact in our community.

As local citizens committed to stewarding and investing charitable gifts, we thrive on supporting the people, projects, and places that make our piece of Ohio unique and attractive to families and businesses.

Our Areas of Focus

We provide support where it’s needed most. The Clinton County Foundation encourages a focus on three areas that deliver the greatest impact for charitable giving.

• Education: We support educational needs throughout the learning journey, from pre-school to high school to trade school to college for our entire community.
• Health & Wellness: Supporting the health and wellness of our neighbors is important because good health is a significant component of any community’s effectiveness and ability to serve its citizens.
• Economic Development: The Clinton County Foundation believes that economic development is a key factor in building a financially strong and overall healthy community and therefore supports funds in this area.

Community Grant Fund

The Community Grant Fund is an internal fund of the Clinton County Foundation, designed to fund new ideas, projects, and collaborations. Funds may support projects, programs, and supplies, but are not designed for salaries or capital projects. Targeted requests will fall in the $500 to $5000 range and specifically benefit citizens of Clinton County, Ohio, by nonprofit organizations located within Clinton County, Ohio.

Community grants may fall into three categories - arts and beautification, youth programming, and underserved projects.

The fund is not designed to be a primary funding source, but rather a way to leverage resources; to expand services,; and to assist, encourage, and promote the well-being of inhabitants of Clinton County.

Eligible Ohio townships in Clinton County, Ohio can receive up to US $50,000 in signs, posts, and hardware to improve roadway safety and reduce crashes. Focused on community and public safety infrastructure, the Ohio Department of Transportation prioritizes townships with severe crash histories and those that have never received this safety sign grant.

Eligible small cities in Clinton County, Ohio with populations between 5,000 and 24,999 can apply for Ohio Department of Transportation’s Small City Program, with awards up to US $2,000,000 for road, safety, and signal projects on the Federal-aid system. Funding supports construction and inspection for pavement rehabilitation, roundabouts, widening, signals, and related improvements.

The Jack J. Smith Jr. Trust Grant supports impactful projects in the Greater Cincinnati Area, prioritizing year-round programming and direct services that address community needs. The grant favors initiatives that demonstrate measurable outcomes, sustainability, and collaboration with other organizations. Eligible applicants must have a minimum of three years of operation and show documented results from previous projects. However, the Trust does not support general operating costs or new pilot programs.

The AES Ohio Foundation, a leading corporate foundation in the Dayton region, offers Community Impact Grants aimed at improving quality of life and fostering sustainability. With a focus on poverty reduction, workforce development, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, the foundation supports initiatives that address basic community needs. Organizations seeking funding must align with these priorities while demonstrating measurable outcomes and a commitment to equity. The application deadline for 2024 is October 15, 2024.

The PNC Foundation aims to enhance the lives of individuals in local communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Their focus includes promoting educational opportunities, particularly for early childhood education, and supporting economic development initiatives. Grants are available for organizations that benefit low- to moderate-income families and enhance community growth. The foundation prioritizes programs that foster sustainability and diversity, ensuring a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

The Polaris Foundation Grant focuses on long-term community investment, emphasizing areas such as environment, community development, youth safety, and education in STEM and trades. The foundation prioritizes funding requests from 501(c)(3) organizations located in specific communities where Polaris operates. Organizations are encouraged to promote responsible land use and create vibrant environments for residents, while adhering to eligibility requirements and avoiding politically affiliated or discriminatory programs.

The Piedmont Natural Gas Company Grant Program, part of the Duke Energy Foundation, supports community vitality through grants of $20,000 or less. Focus areas include vibrant economies, climate resiliency, and promoting opportunity and inclusion. Eligible organizations must have tax-exempt status and serve communities without discrimination. The foundation prioritizes measurable community impact and does not fund certain entities, including for-profits and religious organizations. Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis.

Nonprofit and community organizations in Clinton County, Ohio can seek support for programs in economic mobility, social mobility, technology, and well-being. Grants from altafiber help Clinton County, Ohio groups advance community development, wellness, digital literacy, and social-emotional learning through sponsorships and donations that reflect the company’s local “give where you live” commitment.