Best Ohio Grants for Nonprofits

Ohio nonprofits can explore a broad selection of funding opportunities. With over 200+ different grants available, organizations can tap into a total of $30,115,518 in funding. The median grant amount in Ohio is $29,750, but organizations looking for more funding can explore 87 grants that exceed $25,000. In Ohio, 35 provide funding for general operations, while 200+ support specific programs and initiatives.

Nonprofits in Ohio can apply for funds from different types of funders, including government agencies, private foundations, associations, and more. Here’s an outline of where to look for grant funding:

• Private funders: Ohio nonprofits will find the most funding opportunities from private funders. Private foundations offer a range of grant opportunities for areas like art and culture, historic preservation, and veterinary services.
• State and Local Governments: Ohio state and local governments often focus on improving the environment. They offer grants for trail creation and maintenance, recreational activities, and environmental education.
• Corporate Funders: Corporate funders in Ohio generally look to fund STEM education, youth development, and family service initiatives.

Whether you go after government grants or foundation grants depends on your grant readiness. Keep in mind that government grants often have large awards but equally large compliance requirements.

Ohio nonprofits can apply for grants steadily over the course of the entire year; however, there are certain peak periods. Q1 is the best time to submit applications, as 27.5% of grant deadlines occur during this time. Q3 and Q2 follow behind, accounting for 24.7% and 24.1% of grant deadlines, respectively. In contrast, Q4 is the slowest period, with only 23.7% of grants accepting applications. Keeping this data in mind could be crucial for securing funding rather than missing out on opportunities.

Nonprofits in Ohio have seen a big leap in funding over the last few years. Total funding increased by 21% from $6.4 billion in 2021 to $7.7 billion in 2022. This is according to the most recent IRS funding data. Among all grants awarded in Ohio, the most common focus areas were single-organization support, professional societies and organizations, and alliance/advocacy groups. Concurrently, the counties that received the most funding were Hamilton County, Cuyahoga County, and Franklin County.