Best Greene County Grants for Nonprofits in Ohio

The California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant aims to support public middle and high school sports programs facing funding challenges due to budget cuts. Established by California Casualty, this grant provides financial assistance for purchasing equipment and covering travel costs for competitions. Eligible applicants must be active employees of public schools and members of affiliated education associations. Awards cannot be used for individual student recognition or fundraising projects.

The Kars4Kids Small Grant Program aims to support educational initiatives globally, impacting the lives of children. This program welcomes applications from IRS-recognized nonprofit organizations focused on youth development, mentorship, and education. Grants typically range from $500 to $2,000, depending on mission alignment and available funds. Kars4Kids, a national Jewish nonprofit, is dedicated to nurturing productive community members through educational and mentoring opportunities.

The Joyce Foundation's Democracy Grants aim to enhance participation and representation in the electoral process across the Great Lakes region. With a focus on combating voter suppression, gerrymandering, and disinformation, the Foundation supports policy changes that protect voting rights and ensure fair representation. Through public engagement and litigation, it seeks to empower communities of color and young voters, fostering a more equitable democracy for all residents.

The Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform Grant by The Joyce Foundation aims to create safer communities in the Great Lakes region. It focuses on reducing gun violence, addressing racial disparities in the justice system, and promoting violence intervention strategies. The foundation invites innovative proposals that support these goals, emphasizing research, policy advocacy, and community engagement to effectively address the challenges of gun violence and promote racial equity.

The RTK Scholars Program, funded by RTK Environmental Group, provides a $1,500 scholarship to support students pursuing careers in science, particularly in environmental studies, biology, and engineering. This initiative aims to cultivate the next generation of experts in environmental testing and technology. Eligible applicants must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be enrolled in an accredited institution. The application deadline is May 31 each year, promoting academic excellence and dedication to environmental sciences.

RedRover Relief Safe Housing Grants provide vital support for domestic violence survivors by enabling them to keep their pets safe during challenging times. With grants up to $60,000, nonprofit organizations can create or enhance programs that offer shelter for pets, foster care, and veterinary services. This initiative fosters collaboration between domestic violence and animal organizations, ensuring comprehensive community support. By addressing the unique needs of families, these grants promote safety and well-being for both humans and their beloved pets.

The Aurand Harris Grants & Fellowships support children’s theatre by funding projects that foster artistic growth and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Eligible applicants include 501c3 nonprofit theatres and individual artists. The grants cover various expenses, such as fees for artists and equipment costs, while prioritizing projects that align with the values of the Children's Theatre Foundation of America. Notably, funding will not cover general operating support or projects already in progress.

The Recordings at Risk Grant, administered by CLIR, supports the preservation of rare audio and audiovisual media of scholarly value through digital reformatting. With funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the program aims to award $6.75 million across twelve competitions, offering grants between $10,000 and $50,000. It encourages U.S. nonprofit institutions to preserve vulnerable media, helping them to develop strategies for effective digital reformatting and promoting best preservation practices.

The Aim High Grant Program, funded by the New York Life Foundation, offers 15 two-year grants of $100,000 each to support out-of-school time programs that assist middle school students in their transition to high school. This initiative addresses chronic absenteeism and promotes educational attainment in low-income communities, enhancing the cognitive, social, and emotional development of youth. By fostering skills necessary for academic success, the program aims to create brighter futures for participants.

The Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation offers grants through its Education Committee to support programs enhancing educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged students. These grants focus on initiatives like tutoring, college preparation, and internship programs. To qualify, organizations must be tax-exempt under 501(c)(3). Preference is given to projects that provide ongoing support to students post-graduation, particularly in specific geographic areas such as San Diego County and the New York Metropolitan Area.

The Emergent Fund Grant, established in 2016, supports BIPOC-led social justice movements through rapid response funding. It addresses urgent community needs by providing low-barrier grants to organizations facing crises such as family separation and systemic oppression. The fund prioritizes initiatives that foster Black liberation, multiracial solidarity, and empower communities to build transformative power. By investing in innovative strategies, the Emergent Fund aims to challenge oppressive structures and advance social justice, ensuring that impacted communities are at the forefront of their own advocacy.

The OAC: Sustainability Grants provide essential operational support for large and mid-sized nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Ohio. The program aims to enhance the state's cultural ecosystem by ensuring high-quality artistic experiences are accessible to all. Grants are awarded based on a formula considering panel evaluations and organizational income, with a requirement for a 1:1 cash match. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a commitment to arts programming and meet specific financial criteria to qualify.

The Ohio Arts Council's Capacity Building Grants support organizations in enhancing their internal capabilities through external expertise. The program funds projects focused on improving business practices, staff development, and organizational skills. Eligible applicants include arts organizations, educational institutions, and other entities providing arts programming. A 1:1 cash match is required, and grants can cover fees for consultants, training, and registration costs for professional development events. This initiative aims to strengthen Ohio's arts community.

The Kids Run the Nation Grant Fund, managed by the RRCA, offers financial support to running clubs, schools, and nonprofits that promote inclusive youth running programs. Since 2007, the fund has awarded over $385,000 to 495+ programs, helping more than 198,500 children embrace running. Grants between $500 and $1,000 are available for structured, gender-inclusive programs that meet specific criteria, encouraging healthy lifestyles and regular participation in running activities.

The OAC Project Support: ArtSTART program, managed by the Ohio Arts Council, offers flexible funding up to $5,000 for nonprofit organizations in Ohio. This initiative supports short-term projects that enhance community arts programming, including performances, exhibitions, and educational activities. Eligible applicants include arts organizations and educational institutions committed to arts initiatives. Notably, funds cannot be used for fundraising or hospitality expenses, ensuring that financial support directly benefits artistic endeavors.

The Ohio Arts Council's ArtsNEXT program offers competitive funding for innovative and experimental projects aimed at enhancing the arts in Ohio. With awards typically up to $25,000, this grant supports bold ideas that push artistic boundaries, improve accessibility, and encourage diversity in arts experiences. Projects may include collaborations, new programming strategies, or technology advancements that foster community engagement. Organizations must demonstrate a commitment to artistic evolution and meet specific eligibility criteria to apply.

The OAC Arts Learning: Arts Partnership program, funded by the Ohio Arts Council, supports innovative arts education projects that cater to the unique needs of learners and their communities. By fostering collaboration among partners, this initiative emphasizes comprehensive arts study and leverages arts learning outcomes to enhance educational practices. This grant encourages creativity and community engagement through the arts, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and represented in educational settings.

The OAC Arts Learning: TeachArtsOhio Grant Program supports customizable artist residencies for PK-12 students in Ohio, enhancing arts education through collaboration with professional teaching artists. These residencies can range from brief introductions to comprehensive year-long programs, fostering creativity and cultural understanding. Grants typically cover teaching artist fees, which are set at $350 per residency day. The program aims to enrich students' learning experiences while maintaining schools' commitment to professional arts instruction.

The Big Yellow School Bus program, offered by the Ohio Arts Council, supports school field trips to arts and cultural activities by covering transportation costs. It is designed for public, private, charter, and parochial schools, as well as home-schooled student groups. With grants of up to $500 available, this initiative fosters early arts exposure, enhancing students' educational experiences and creating vital connections with Ohio's creative sector. Applications must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to the event.

OAC Individual Artists: Traditional Arts Apprenticeship

The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program provides support for master artists to work with apprentices to build understanding and proficiency in folk and traditional art forms. By pairing exemplary practitioners of traditional art forms with dedicated apprentices, this program allows for concentrated study and cultural exchange. 

Traditional Arts Apprenticeship awards support the teaching and sharing of important cultural traditions, and enrich the lives of people throughout the state.

Grant Awards

Mentor artists may request up to $4,000 to work with one, and, if appropriate, two apprentices. At least 50 percent of the request must be used for mentor artist honoraria. No match is required. Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grantees generally receive a portion of their request relative to their application score.  

How The Program Works

Traditional arts are part of the cultural heritage of a group of people whose members share a common ethnic heritage, language, religion, occupation, or geographic region. Mentor artists and apprentices apply together to this program. Mentor artists should have achieved a high level of skill in a particular traditional art form, be regarded as experts by their peers, and have learned and developed their skills within a traditional context. Apprentices should demonstrate strong motivation to learn the nuances of the tradition, and a commitment to carry the tradition on in the future.

Applicants are eligible for only one award per year. Applications are accepted for apprenticeships in all forms of traditional arts, including traditional music and instrument making, sacred and secular crafts, occupational

traditions, folk and ethnic dance, and traditional arts associated with annual celebrations. The applying mentor must demonstrate that they are an active member of the culture or occupational group whose tradition they are sharing, and that the tradition is being shared within a culture or community of practitioners, not learned through an academic setting. The mentor and the apprentice work together in an intensive, yearlong, learning experience. Apprentices learn directly by observing, imitating, and refining their artistic work based on the guidance of the mentor artist. Skills are typically learned directly through observation and imitation, rather than through classes, books, or other means of instruction. The sharing of the cultural importance and history of the tradition is a key component to a successful apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship work plan should allow for in-depth learning that encompasses the context of the culture, the development of a mentoring relationship, and the acquisition of both techniques and artistry. The mentor artist is responsible for monitoring the apprentice’s progress as outlined in the application work plan. The apprenticeship must include a minimum of 50 hours of direct, one-on-one instruction, provided via in-person and/or virtual sessions (typically bi-weekly or monthly), conducted over the course of a year. During the yearlong apprenticeship period, a site visit may be made by OAC staff or a folklorist to document the teaching/learning process. Photographs of the session may be taken, and recorded interviews may be conducted. In addition, the mentor artist and apprentice are expected to give a joint community presentation near the end of the apprenticeship period (e.g., performing at a public event, offering a class, holding an open studio session, or exhibiting at a local library or gallery), which must occur in Ohio.

After accepting a grant award in ARTIE, grantees will automatically receive a partial payment of 50% of their total grant award. Final payment of the grant will be processed once a final report is received and approved. OAC staff may request additional information regarding grant activities prior to approving the final payment. 

The Artist's Resource Trust (A.R.T.) Fund supports mid-career visual artists in New England, providing unrestricted fellowships to those who demonstrate financial need. Established in 1996, it aims to enhance artists' creative abilities through grants for supplies, rent, and travel. Eligible artists must reside in the region for at least two years and have a minimum of ten years of active practice. A.R.T. is building an endowment to ensure its support continues indefinitely.

The Home Depot Foundation's Veteran Housing Grants Program aims to enhance the lives of U.S. veterans by funding the construction or rehabilitation of supportive housing. Grants, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, are awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with experience in veteran housing. Since 2011, the Foundation has committed over $550 million to veteran causes and seeks to invest an additional $750 million by 2030, focusing on projects in major cities across the U.S.

The Mobilize Power Fund Grant, offered by the Third Wave Fund, supports youth-led gender justice activism. This rapid response fund targets organizations led by young women of color and LGBTQ+ youth, providing up to $10,000 for urgent needs. It prioritizes groups addressing recent incidents that threaten their work, fostering community power and leadership. Organizations with budgets under $500,000 can apply, aiming for impactful, time-sensitive initiatives that promote social change.

The Roy A. Hunt Foundation's Environment Initiative Grants aim to support projects that enhance ecological health and sustainability. With an annual budget of approximately $3.4 million, the foundation prioritizes initiatives that promote responsible environmental practices, clean energy, and waste reduction. Grants between $25,000 and $75,000 are available for projects at various levels, focusing on innovative solutions that foster community partnerships and address root causes of environmental challenges.

The Mifflin Memorial Fund Grant supports nonprofit organizations in human services and education, particularly those serving low-income and minority populations. This private fund also contributes to environmental and conservation initiatives, and occasionally cultural organizations for specific projects. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt nonprofits, ensuring that grants are directed towards impactful community services and educational opportunities.

The Salad Bars to Schools Grant, initiated by the Chef Ann Foundation, aims to provide salad bar equipment to U.S. schools, enhancing children's access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Launched in 2010, this initiative tackles childhood obesity by ensuring nutritious options in school meals. Eligible applicants receive technical support and free enrollments in educational courses to maximize the impact of their salad bars. By promoting healthy eating habits, the program strives to improve children's overall health and well-being.

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) provides grants focused on HIV/AIDS care, advocacy, and education. Grants are awarded annually based on a review process, emphasizing projects that align with Ms. Taylor’s vision. Eligible organizations must have at least three years of experience in HIV/AIDS programs and can apply only once per year. ETAF prioritizes funding for direct care and prevention initiatives, while restricting support for multi-year proposals and non-HIV specific projects.