Search Through Grants for Capital Funding in Ohio in the U.S.

We care about the communities in which we live and work. Amcor Cares (formerly the Bemis Company Foundation) was founded as our principal tool in the United States to serve our Amcor Flexibles communities. From volunteer work to monetary donations and community support, Amcor Cares donates several million per year to charitable organizations.

Community Support Grants

Encourage

• Fighting Hunger & Homelessness
• Supporting Disaster Relief

Empower

• Expanding STEM Education
• Building Life Skills
• Improving Health & Wellness

Elevate

• Promoting Arts & Culture
• Funding Amcor Scholarships

Types of support:

• Non-profit Organization Programs
• Non-profit Organization Operating Support
• Capital Campaigns
• STEM Programs

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a unique federal-state partnership providing social and economic support for a 13-state region stretching along the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi, including western North Carolina.

Established by the United States Congress in 1965, when Appalachia was considered "a region apart" from the rest of the nation, ARC has worked to bring Appalachia's 26 million people into America's economic mainstream.

Area Development Program

ARC’s Area Development program relies on a flexible “bottom up” approach to economic development, empowering Appalachian communities to work with their state governments to design impactful investment opportunities supporting our mission and investment priorities.

Within the scope of our Strategic Plan, ARC’s Area Development program makes investments in two general areas: critical infrastructure and business and workforce development. Critical infrastructure investments mainly include water and wastewater systems, transportation networks, broadband, and other projects anchoring regional economic development. Business and workforce investments primarily focus on entrepreneurship, worker training and education, food systems, leadership, and other human capital development.

ARC Strategic Plan

A comprehensive strategic planning process involving federal, state, and local officials and citizens resulted in, Appalachia Envisioned: A New Era of Opportunity – ARC Strategic Plan 2022-2026, which focuses investments under these five general goals:

• Building Appalachian Businesses:
  • Strengthen and diversify the region’s economy through inclusive economic development strategies and investments in entrepreneurship and business development
• Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem
  • Expand and strengthen community systems (education, healthcare, housing, childcare, and others) that help Appalachians obtain a job, stay on the job, and advance along a financially sustaining career pathway.
• Building Appalachia’s Infrastructure
  • Ensure that the residents and businesses of Appalachia have access to reliable, affordable, resilient, and energy efficient utilities and infrastructure in order to successfully live and work in the region.
• Building Regional Culture and Tourism:
  • Strengthen Appalachia’s community and economic development potential by preserving and investing in the region’s local, cultural heritage, and natural assets.
• Building Community Leaders and Capacity:
  • Invest in the capacity of local leaders, organizations, and communities to address local challenges by providing technical assistance and support to access resources, engage partners, identify strategies and tactics, and conduct effective planning and project execution.

The Jeffris Family Foundation invites applications for grants from the Jeffris Heartland Fund, to support the development of important historic preservation projects in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.The decision to pursue a grant from the Jeffris Heartland Fund must be made in consultation with a Director of the Foundation to discuss your project and request a Jeffris Heartland Fund application form.Directors can also assist grant-seekers with the application process, provide related technical assistance to guide wise and constructive use of the grant funding, and administer grants once awarded. Applications, once invited, are accepted at any time.  Award notices are issued within approximately 30 days of receipt of the application.Grants will be made in the range of $5,000 to $50,000 to cover 50% the cost of an Historic Structure Report, and must be matched dollar-for-dollar with cash from sources unrelated to the Jeffris Family.

Historic Significance of the Site

• Priority will be given to sites of documented national and then state historic significance. Sites with local significance only will not be eligible for funding.
• Priority will be given to sites associated with prominent figures of national, regional, or statewide importance, or with events of national, regional, or statewide significance.
• Priority will be given to sites with significant architectural merit, including association with designers of national, regional, or statewide importance.
• Priority will be given to sites with strong elements of the decorative arts.
• Priority will be given to projects involving historic resources that are extremely rare and/or unique.
• Priority will be given to projects with a high degree of historic integrity, and to work relating to the restoration of original elements. While work to accommodate contemporary usage is acceptable, all work on the property must conform to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Proposed Project and Plan

• Priority will be given to applicants that can best demonstrate that a Historic Structure Report or other detailed planning study for which funding is being requested is critical to the accurate and appropriate restoration of the property.
• Priority will be given to applicants that can best demonstrate their intended use will be financially viable and operationally sustainable over time.
• Priority will be given to applicants that can assure that the project will fully comply with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties through review and oversight by a local historic preservation commission, state historic preservation office, or preservation consultants thoroughly familiar and experienced with those standards.

 Organizational Excellence

• Priority will be given to applicants who can demonstrate a pattern of programming and services connected to the site and their stated mission (e.g. educational programs, events, hospitality).
• Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate a broad base of membership and community support.
• Priority will be given to applicants with demonstrated success in past capital fundraising efforts.

O'Neill Brothers Grants

The Foundation's Board of Trustees meets semi-annually to consider grant requests. Therefore, the review process can take up to six months. However, the Foundation is able to consider requests for immediate/emergency funds, based on the discretion of the Foundation's Trustees. We fund approximately $300,000 in grants each year. The average grant is between $5,000 and $10,000.

Types of Support Granted

We will provide unrestricted general operating support requests from established organizations which are financially stable and have strong leadership. We provide support for specific programs that are effective, innovative and do not duplicate other programs or services. We also will consider a small number of requests for capital support from organizations that meet all other funding criteria.

Unrestricted Community Grants

Unrestricted community grants are made possible through the generosity and vision of donors who want to empower the Foundation board to meet the needs of today and in the future.

Grants from the Hamilton Community Foundation (HCF) are made possible by generous donors who have contributed to the unrestricted funds of the Hamilton Community Foundation since 1951. Public recognition of the grant, and thereby all donors to the Foundation, is very important to encourage future contributions to this permanent community resource. 

Capital Grants

In addition to program/project requests at the June meeting, the Foundation will consider capital grants for building construction, renovation and specialized equipment. Decisions are based on Foundation priorities, degree of community need, potential impact, and a determination of whether the Foundation can make a significant difference in the proposed project. Please note: The deadline for submitting your Capital Grant Request is May 1st. Capital grants are reviewed only at the June board meeting.

Overview

The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation (CCFFF) is dedicated to improving people’s lives through criminal justice, AYA cancer support, reproductive health, environmental action, and the arts, The foundation and its trustees have provided millions of dollars in funding for Northeast Ohio nonprofit organizations since 2001.

More Than $5,000 Grant

Requests of more than $5,000 are to apply to our larger grant process, which follows the typical LOI/Application grant process. There are two grant cycles for this larger grant process.

Northern Ohio Golf Charities Foundation Grant

What does NOGCF support?

NOGCF will award grants that advance education, health and human services, civic organizations, and arts and culture.

Where does NOGCF focus support?

NOGCF provides support to organizations in Northeast Ohio.

Funding

Grant requests may not exceed $10,000.

Grants are awarded in the following fields:Arts and CultureThe Nord Family Foundation supports a variety of organizations through its Arts and Culture program area, in fields of theater and performing arts, visual arts, and music. Amidst this variety of art forms, there is an underlying theme and priority for programs that engage children and youth, particularly those who may otherwise have limited access and exposure to the arts. We also provide significant operating support to arts organizations housed within the New Union Center for the Arts, a community venue that is owned and operated by the Foundation.Civic Affairs The Nord Family Foundation’s work in the Civic Affairs program area has an emphasis on the strengthening of communities and the economic empowerment of individuals. Much of our grantmaking supports community and economic development, commercial and neighborhood revitalization, workforce training, volunteerism/citizen engagement, and leadership development. The Civic Affairs program area also includes the Foundation’s capital grantmaking, comprising roughly 10% of our overall annual investments.EducationOver its history, the foundation has maintained a diverse portfolio of grants to public schools, charter schools and faith-based schools. The Nord Family Foundation seeks programs that are innovative and have the potential to be replicated in other regions we serve.  The foundation holds a particular place of honor for teachers and seeks to support opportunities for those with energy and love of their vocation. We work closely with school leaders and teachers to learn from them what they think constitute quality teaching and learning for young people. We discuss the outcomes at board meetings to see how our learning can be shared with others in the education community.  As Aristotle said... "Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well."  It is our intention to continue to explore new opportunities in this program area.Health and Social ServicesIn the Health and Social Services program area, The Nord Family Foundation funds organizations and programs that address a wide range of human needs and aspirations, serving people of all ages. Consistent with the Foundation’s mission, there is a core value of service to the under-resourced, ensuring access to basic services that support the overall well-being of children, youth, families and communities. Within this broad spectrum there is an emphasis on funding for basic needs such as food and shelter, as well as prenatal care and education, child welfare, youth services, access to primary health care and dental care.

Mission

The women of Impact 100 dramatically improve lives in our Greater Cincinnati community by collectively funding transformational grants that make a lasting impact.

Focus Areas

• Culture
  • Cultivate, develop, educate and improve the cultural climate.
• Education
  • Further the ability to educate and improve education.
• Environment Preservation, & Recreation
  • Preserve, enhance, revitalize or restore facilities and surroundings.
• Family
  • Strengthen and enhance the lives of children and families.
• Health & Wellness
  • Positively impact the mental or physical health and wellness of people.

History & Mission

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on preventing cruelty to animals and promoting the humane treatment of animals, particularly companion animals such as dogs and cats, and other species of animals commonly kept as household pets.  The Foundation also supports efforts to protect the well-being of urban-suburban wildlife, captive exotic wildlife, farmed animals, working animals, and non-human animals generally.  It extends in perpetuity the generosity toward animals in need shown by Kenneth Allen Scott during his lifetime, assisting those who care for them today.

Giving Strategy

The Foundation has two deadlines each year for proposals for Ohio/Great Lake Region Grants, depending on project topic. You may apply for one round or the other, and request funding for only one project in your proposal.

Ohio and Other Great Lakes Grants

The Foundation devotes most of its resources to grants for organizations in Ohio and portions of the other seven states in the Great Lakes watershed (including IL, IN, MI, WI, Western PA, Upstate NY, and Northeastern MN), reflecting the origin of Mr. Scott’s assets. We seek innovative, cost-effective projects that demonstrate our region’s commitment to improving the well-being of animals, especially those in underserved areas or belonging to disadvantaged social groups. We prefer initiatives that are metropolitan, multi-county, statewide or regional or involve collaborations among multiple agencies. Requests from small organizations with localized impact are less likely to be funded. Successful applicants will pursue a high quality of life for individual animals and improve the situation of significant numbers of animals.

Program Areas

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust’s priority is helping organizations go beyond basic care to support initiatives that will provide an enhanced quality of life for homeless and abused companion animals today and in the future.

Funding applications should address one of the following program areas:

Animal Adoption, Behavior Training, and Fostering

• projects to increase successful adoptions or other non-capital means of expanding shelter capacity.

Continuing Education & Training

• opportunities for staff and volunteers to improve delivery of care and retain employees.

Humane & Wildlife Education

• school and community programs that address respecting animals, humane care, health issues and human/wildlife conflicts. 

Woodruff Foundation Grant

The Woodruff Foundation welcomes grant requests from tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, whose work addresses behavioral health through the following focus areas:

• treatment
• education and prevention
• coordination of resources in the community
• research
• advocacy

Grants will generally be awarded on a one-year basis. The Woodruff Foundation’s general policy is to make only one grant per year directly to an organization. The Foundation does, however, encourage collaboration and partnership among its grantees. The Foundation will consider joint requests from partner agencies, even if one of the partner agencies has already received a grant individually or plans to submit a separate request.

Definitions

Treatment –Interventions to address mild, moderate, and severe mental illness and addiction. Includes medication management, therapy, counseling, case management, vocational supports, housing, peer support, and recreation.

Education – Efforts to train new behavioral health workers and provide professional development to those working in the field. Also, efforts to instill knowledge about mental health and mental illness and drug and alcohol use and abuse in the general public or in specific at-risk groups.

Prevention – Programs to prevent risky behaviors, to enhance strengths, or to develop competencies that can help to impede further development of mental illness and/or addiction.

Coordination of Resources – The process through which providers or systems are brought into partnership in order to improve access and/or quality of care.

Research – Systematic investigation of questions related to any aspect of mental health, mental illness, or addiction.

Collaboration – Work conducted jointly by two or more organizations or stakeholders. Examples of collaboration might include joint program development, shared staffing, programs to establish shared purchasing, one organization training another to deliver certain interventions, mergers, or consolidations.

Advocacy – Initiatives designed to impact the development of policies that promote and/or increase access to behavioral health care for residents of Cuyahoga County. This can include general advocacy work, research intended to educate policy makers or for a specific advocacy project. The Foundation cannot grant funds specifically for lobbying. The Woodruff Foundation is willing to consider proposals from organizations without a presence in Cuyahoga County for this priority ONLY, provided the applicant can clearly demonstrate how the proposed project would impact the residents of Cuyahoga County. Advocacy initiatives aimed at increasing and strengthening the behavioral health workforce are of particular interest. Partnership with a local organization or Woodruff Foundation grantee is strongly encouraged.

The mission of the Montpelier Area Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of our area, now and for generations to come, by building community endowment, addressing needs through grant making, serving as a leader, catalyst and a resource for charitable giving. Foundation grants are made for public charitable purposes that enrich the quality of life of citizens of Montpelier and the Williams County, Ohio area. 

Generally, grants are made:

• to help launch new projects which represent a unique and unduplicated opportunity for the community,
• to support established organizations for special purposes,
• to generate matching funds. 

The Daniel and Susan Pfau Foundation

The Pfau Foundation was established in 1994 in Cincinnati by Daniel A. Pfau and Susan Laufer Pfau.

Mrs. Pfau, a community volunteer, and Mr. Pfau, a local businessman, have been actively involved in programs serving disabled and disadvantaged youth, and in organizations promoting the Greater Cincinnati area. The Foundation complements the Pfaus’ personal charitable efforts and will continue their support into the future.

Purpose of the Pfau Foundation

The Pfau Foundation’s primary focus is on the education, health, cultural experience and social welfare of children, adolescents, young adults (to age 30) with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities and their families. A secondary focus is on children, adolescents, young adults (to age 30) who face significant economic barriers to success and their families. There is a particular interest in programs that help clients realize their full potential. The Foundation also advocates and supports large regional arts and cultural organizations. Small and mid-size organizations that use the arts as a vehicle for achieving impact with successful shared outcomes will be considered. (These outcomes must be aligned with the first two priorities of the Foundation.) The fourth area of interest is recreation areas.

Hershey Foundation Grant

The Hershey Foundation is drawn to unique, innovative and impactful projects for children in Northeast Ohio. 

New Initiative

As of November 1, 2021, The Hershey Foundation has a new strategic initiative to empower educators and community leaders to dismantle patterns of racism and injustice in our schools and neighborhoods in NE Ohio. We envision a world where all young people learn and thrive in racially equitable, liberating, and empowering educational spaces.

Funding is provided for:

• equipment that directly impacts the children
• capital campaigns
• endowment campaigns

The Hershey Foundation reserves the right to initiate and fund projects and organizations that are of particular interest to family members.

Funding

Our typical grant range is $5,000-$25,000.

The Responsive Grants Program is a competitive grants program in which applicants can apply for project, capacity building, equipment or technology, small capital projects, or general operating support in support of the organization’s mission.

Priority Areas

Healthy Eating, Active Living

We support projects and strategies that prevent or manage chronic health conditions by promoting healthy eating and active living through one or more of the following:

• Education about the health benefits of a healthy weight, good nutrition, and physical activity
• Efforts that encourage and support behavior change
• Environmental changes that make healthy choices the easy choices
• Increased access and distribution of healthy foods
• Promotion and provision of opportunities for increased physical activity
• Coalition and cross-sector collaboration that promotes healthy eating and active living through policy or programmatic change

Thriving Neighborhoods

We support projects and strategies that address improving neighborhood conditions where people live, learn, work, and play so that everyone has the ability to achieve their full health potential by:

• Improving the accessibility, affordability, and quality of health and health care
• Improving access to reliable transportation options so people can reach needed health and social services
• Improving access to stable and safe housing to foster a healthy living environment
• Supporting efforts to increase connections to community resources and to one another to foster an environment of social connectedness and belonging
• Improving access to high-quality early childhood programs including in-home programs designed to improve maternal and child health, parenting skills, and child development as well as programs supporting the health and well-being of the preK-12 student population
• Supporting coalition and cross-sector collaboration that improves neighborhood conditions and advances policy or programmatic change

Mental Health and Addiction

We support projects and strategies that address mental health and/or addiction. Related to mental health, we are interested in the area of health promotion and prevention. Related to addiction, we are interested in the areas of prevention, early intervention, and recovery support. We are especially interested in evidence-based programs focused on:

• Prevention activities such as education and stigma reduction of mental health and substance use disorders; trauma-informed care practices and supportive environments in schools, churches, workplaces, and other community settings; and provision of mental health services in schools and school-based health clinics
• Early intervention activities such as identifying and reducing individual risk factors for substance use, improving connections to needed services across various systems, and harm reduction efforts to reduce the number of deaths and the spread of disease
• Building the behavioral health workforce, including peer support specialists/peer recovery supporters, supporting high school and college pipeline programming, and encouraging careers in behavioral health
• Supporting people in recovery with positive supports such as housing, connections to employment, and transportation
• Coalition and cross-sector collaboration that advances policy or programmatic change

Overview

The Toledo Rotary Foundation was established to support the educational and charitable efforts of the Rotary Club of Toledo. Foundation funding is made possible through the generous contributions of members of the Rotary Club of Toledo and its friends.

Types of Grants

The Toledo Rotary Foundation funds two types of grants: traditional and transformational.

Traditional Grants

Traditional grants are the most common grants funded, and typically each year the Toledo Rotary Foundation funds approximately 20 traditional grants. Traditional grants are limited to $10,000 per grant, except for grants in support of “camperships” which are limited to $750 per grant. 

About the Community Health Foundation

Community Hospital Health Services Foundation (CHF) d.b.a as Community Health Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that is a 50% corporate owner of Community Mercy Health Partners (CMHP).

We began in 1986 as the parent company of The Community Hospital of Springfield and Clark County, and we are the surviving entity of the merger of CHF and Community Hospital Independent Endowment Fund in 2009.

We fill a unique role in the regional healthcare delivery system.

Purpose

The mission of Community Health Foundation (CHF) is to preserve reproductive services, to promote health and wellness, and to advocate for quality healthcare through grant making and education in Clark and Champaign Counties, Ohio. Grants to area non-profit organizations help fulfill this mission. Responsive grants are awarded annually for programs that support health and wellbeing in the region.

Types of Funding

• Program grants support new programs, continuing programs, or expansion of successful ongoing programs.
• Project grants are for short-term activities, usually lasting less than one year.
• Operating support contributes to an organization’s day-to-day, ongoing expenses such as salaries, utilities, office supplies, etc.
• Capital support is related to building improvements, infrastructure (i.e., wiring, roofing), fixtures or equipment for a specific program or project.

Health Priorities

Children’s Health

• Early life is a critical time to ensure healthy development, address health risks and prevent future problems.

 Chronic Disease Prevention & Management

• Many existing programs promote health and wellness, providing support for all people to receive the full range of health services.
• The outcome of such programs will ultimately lead to reduced cancer incidence; improved oral health; reduced rates of heart disease; reduced rates of diabetes; reduction in lower respiratory disease; and reduction in rates of addiction.

Maternal/Infant Health

• Inclusive and comprehensive approaches help people prepare for healthy births and parenting.
• The community benefits from such programs that contribute to longterm outcomes such as:
  • fewer preterm births;
  • more patients receiving prenatal care;
  • reduced rates of sexually transmitted infections; and
  • reduced rates of teen pregnancies.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

• When people in our community struggle with mental health and substance use disorders, the overall wellbeing of the area suffers.
• Programs that provide services in these areas will ultimately result in reduced rates of suicide; and reduction in overall overdoses.

Sexual Health

• Reduce rates of sexually transmitted infections and reduce rates of teen pregnancies. Reproductive health education programs must be evidence-based and comprehensive.

Health Equity

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation defines health equity as giving everyone a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Health Equity encompasses factors that, when addressed, decrease disparities.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI)

Community Health Foundation’s DEI statement reads (in part):

Community Health Foundation embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. We seek to understand each other and to work collaboratively to improve the health and wellness of everyone in our community. CHF draws on the skills, talents and perspectives of a broad and diverse range of people in a collaborative manner to improve the health and wellness of the entire community. The diversity of viewpoints which comes from different life experiences and cultural backgrounds strengthens decisionmaking and supports the organization’s and the community’s success.

An awareness of how systemic inequities have affected our society and those we serve creates opportunities to deepen CHF’s impact, relevance and advancement of its mission. CHF works toward creating a healthy community where everyone is valued, regardless of race, age, gender, religion, income, sexual orientation or abilities. Health inequities and social injustices are acknowledged and resources are provided to decrease disparities and to improve health outcomes for all people in our community.

CHF works to build a culture of trust, civility and respect and to create a safe place for individual perspectives, identity and life experiences to be shared. An inclusive board culture welcomes and celebrates differences and ensures all board members are equally engaged and invested, sharing power and responsibility for Community Health Foundation’s mission and the board’s work.

Cross-Cutting Factors

Cross-cutting factors impact all priority areas and move our community closer to health equity. Cross-cutting factors include the following:

• Social Determinants of Health include access to affordable, safe and healthy housing; highquality education; and improved economic structures such as income equality, employment opportunities and reduced poverty.
• Access to Care helps people get needed health services through transportation that is reliable and available to all; and sufficient health resources including dental care, mental health and primary care.
• Health Behaviors and Prevention includes promotion of physical activity; availability and knowledge of healthy food; reduction in tobacco use; and reducing health risks through prevention of injuries and addressing unsafe environments.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive.

Our Mission

To conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

Connectivity, Climate, Communities Fund

To make the highest possible impact on the climate and biodiversity crises, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is committed to advancing solutions and supporting partners throughout the Appalachians to connect and conserve vital wildlife habitat, build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and generate new job and recreation opportunities for communities.

Approximately one-third of the U.S. population lives in or within 100 miles of the Appalachians, including an estimated 36 million people that rely on the region for sources of drinking water. The landscape contains the world's largest remaining expanses of temperate broadleaf mixed forest and provides habitat to a wide diversity of plants of animals, many of which are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered. Conserving this landscape is critical for nature and for the people that live and work there.

However as climate change drives ecosystem instability, plants and animals are shifting their ranges northward, and people are having to find ways to adapt to complex and intertwined challenges. TNC and many others have been working to conserve vital Appalachian habitats for decades. Now we must ramp up our efforts and coordinate with partners across the Appalachians for maximum impact.

To succeed in these efforts, TNC’s Connectivity, Climate, Communities Fund offers two grant programs for conservation and community organizations, municipalities, Federally Recognized Tribal Nations, and local and state agencies in the Appalachians who are working to protect and conserve this region:

• The Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program
• The New York Climate Resilience Grant Program

Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program

The Resilient and Connected Appalachians Grant Program provides grants of up to $100,000 for fee and easement acquisition projects throughout the Appalachians.

Equitable Conservation and Community Benefits

Conservation organizations are increasingly acknowledging the importance of incorporating social equity in their missions, partnerships, and projects and evolving how they work to have better outcomes for people and nature.

TNC defines community benefits as the positive outcomes that directly result from or are included within conservation projects as experienced by local communities and people. This is particularly important for historically marginalized communities, communities with limited access to nature, communities experiencing heightened impacts of climate change due to systemic underinvestment and poor infrastructure, and Indigenous communities. 

RCA program funding will support projects that demonstrate meaningful community engagement, work with those historically excluded from conservation, and lead to a fairer distribution of benefits for people and communities.

Some examples of community benefits include improved and greater access to nature, protection of drinking water sources, recreational and resource-based economic opportunities, flood mitigation, engagement in cross-cultural initiatives, or protection of lands that will meet community-defined conservation needs. We encourage projects with meaningful community benefits that are integrated with the land protection goals.

Project Evaluation

Projects will be evaluated  according to their capacity to deliver land protection outcomes aligned with the program goals, including:

• Location:
  • the project is located within TNC’s Appalachians Program boundary and is in or near a mapped focal area.  Projects outside of focal areas will also be considered.
• Resilience:
  • the percentage of the total project area that is part of the Resilient and Connected Network.
• Connectivity:
  • adjacency to protected lands or other attributes that will lead to landscape connectivity over time (e.g., the project is a necessary acquisition for advancing a local or regional plan that aims to protect a critical conservation corridor).
• Collaboration:
  • evidence of engagement with other organizations, community groups, or local governments (including, but not limited to, shared funding).
• Community:
  • project elements that directly engage and or benefit people, especially vulnerable or marginalized communities.
• Timeline:
  • the project will close within 12 months from the start of the grant agreement term.
• Feasibility:
  • likelihood that the project will close and the costs seem reasonable.

Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation Grant

General Information

The Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation is an independent private Foundation philanthropic organization originally established in 2004 by Elsa M. Heisel Sule, a native of Northern Kentucky and businesswoman in the television industry.

The Foundation’s governing body meets three times during the year to review applications for grants during April, July and October. The Foundation staff maintains offices in Greater Cincinnati, a central point in the tri-state area it serves, of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. 

Operations and Purpose

Grant Applications must be filed for each calendar year in which an organization desires a Grant of funds. Grants are usually awarded for one year unless specifically noted in writing as a multiyear grant or renewable. 

Program Priorities and Objective

The Trustee of the Foundation was originally instructed by Elsa Sule to make grants in the Greater Cincinnati and tri-state area with a focus on Education, Community, and the Arts with the following areas of interests:

• Education Success and Scholarships
• Health, Wellness and Scientific Research
• Children’s Welfare and Competitive Sports
• Fine and Performing Arts and Cultural Vibrancy
• Civic Public Affairs
• Animal Welfare and Preservation
• Environmental and Community Stewardship

Our Mission

The Scherman Foundation invests in the economic, political, and cultural transformation necessary for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to reclaim and build power.

Our Strategic Framework

We believe that investing in cultural, political, and economic transformation together advances justice to realize our vision. We support organizations working at the intersections of these transformation areas inside our strategic framework. This framework is the foundation of our more specific and evolving program priorities.

• Economic Transformation
  • Our focus on economic transformation acknowledges that the root causes of economic inequity are linked to white supremacy and racial injustice and that the economic well being of BIPOC individuals and communities is critical for liberation.
  • We support organizations that focus on:
    • Strategies and models that provide BIPOC communities with greater access to capital, assets, and opportunities
    • Economic stability and security for BIPOC individuals and families
    • Advocating for more equitable economic systems through policy reform, institutional changes, and increased transparency
• Political Transformation
  • We believe that those who have been excluded must lead the way in dismantling current political structures and creating new, inclusive, and reflective democratic processes.
  • We support organizations that focus on:
    • Work and priorities that are driven by BIPOC communities
    • Forging multi-racial coalitions working toward racial justice
    • Reforming political structures and processes to make the political system more accessible and accountable to BIPOC communities
    • Increasing the participation of BIPOC communities in democratic processes and decision-making at all levels
• Cultural Transformation
  • Recognizing the crucial role of culture in advancing justice, we support organizations that harness storytelling, expression, and artistic activism to drive systemic change.
  • Our focus is on collaborative narrative change strategies, innovative storytelling frameworks, and equitable media accessibility.
  • We support organizations that focus on:
    • Public Narrative Change: Combating misinformation and harmful stereotypes through investments in journalism, local news outlets, and nonfiction narratives
    • Artistic Expression: Supporting the creativity and work of BIPOC artists and communities without imposing agendas or conditions and transforming the field to do the same
    • Artivism: Using art as a tool for organizing grassroots movements and collective action, including funding on-the-ground storytelling and public art projects

General Criteria

We consider the following general criteria in our grantmaking process.

• Organizations that are accountable to or directed by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities.
  • While we prioritize BIPOC leadership, our main focus is on organizations where BIPOC communities have clear influence and decision-making power over the organization's strategy, direction, programmatic work, and finances.
• Organizations that are intersectional in their work and practices.
  • Intersectionality recognizes that individuals hold multiple identities, shaping their experiences with power. 
  • We look for organizations that demonstrate a deep understanding of intersectionality in their mission, programs, and practices; center the voices and experiences of those most affected by multiple forms of oppression; and address the interconnectedness of racial justice with economic status, gender, LGBTQ+, and/or disability justice as well.
• Organizations that work with others to build movements toward racial justice.
  • Movement-building is the long-term process of organizing and empowering individuals and organizations to collectively work towards systemic change and a shared vision.
  • We look for organizations and coalitions that reflect key characteristics of movement building including an authentic mass base; grassroots leadership; a shared ideology or narrative; broad coalition-building; and strategy to create and sustain structural change beyond specific organizations or campaigns.
  • The Foundation supports organizations focused on organizing and advocacy, while our Arts funding includes a wider range of approaches.

Democracy Program

The Democracy program is driven by the belief that a vibrant democracy requires consistent and meaningful political and civic participation by the vast majority of the population, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities that have long been excluded from power. To this end, we must protect and expand access to the right to vote, build strong inclusive civic engagement infrastructure and practices, strengthen democratic institutions, and reform democratic processes and systems to make them fairer, more accessible, and more accountable to a broader constituency, including BIPOC communities. A core tenet of our grantmaking will be to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities in their efforts to reclaim and build political power. 

State-level work is a key lever for building that power, and the Foundation will provide support to locally-based BIPOC and multi-racial groups that are rooted in their communities, are trusted sources of information, encourage year-round civic engagement in local, municipal, state, and federal elections, and build the power of BIPOC communities to achieve a reflective and responsive multi-racial democracy at the state level. Building state-level power and statewide civic engagement infrastructure will allow BIPOC communities to achieve more racially just democratic, economic, climate, cultural, and reproductive policies, create a pipeline for BIPOC leadership, and make state and federal institutions more accountable. 

Thanks to the generosity of individuals, families, and businesses, our Foundation administers several opportunities for nonprofits in our region to apply for financial support. Each opportunity is unique. This is because the donors who established the funds have thoughtfully constructed areas of focus and parameters for support to fulfill their own visions for improving the quality of life in our community.

Community Action Grants

Twice a year the Foundation's competitive grant process matches community needs with grants available from the Foundation's Unrestricted and Field of Interest Funds.

Generally, the largest grant that will be considered is 20,000. Requests for more than $20,000 may be considered for projects that are highly collaborative or have regional broad-scale impact; you must contact the Foundation prior to submitting a request in excess of $20,000.

What are the PACF’s Funding Priorities?

Community Action Grants are made in the fields of:

• Arts and Culture,
• Education,
• Health and Human Services,
• Recreation,
• Youth and Family Services, and
• Community and Economic Development.

The Foundation focuses on:

• Capital and Equipment Projects,
• Program Development,
• Capacity Building, and
• Operating Support.

Eligibility criteria differ based on the type of support requested, so please review the following descriptions carefully.

Capital and Equipment

Support the renovation or construction of facilities, purchase of major equipment, major repairs to facilities.

Program Development

Support the development of new services or programs designed to respond to unmet community needs and the expansion of existing programs to serve new audiences.

Capacity Building

Support projects that provide an organization with technical assistance and/or training to be able to more effectively meet their mission and/or provide services.

Operating Support

Support projects designed to: Increase financial stability (Type 1); Help a strong organization increase its capacity (Type 2). The Foundation expects to award only a limited number of operating support grants each grant cycle.

Funding Priorities

Priority is given to projects that serve communities where the PACF and its affiliates are the only community foundation in operation. Priority counties for Foundation support are: Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood Counties in West Virginia.

Priority is given to projects that:

• have significant impact on the people and communities served by the applicant organization;
• reach new audiences, expand existing programs or services, or respond to emerging needs;
• strengthen the organization’s capacity to deliver its services and meet community needs;
• are well-planned and can reasonably be achieved;
• have a matching grant opportunity or seek a matching grant to leverage more funding;
• have limited access to other sources of support; 

Goals

The mission of the Brentwood Foundation is to provide leadership in the field of Osteopathic Medicine through its support of activities that promote and improve patient care through professional education, research and public awareness.

This support is directed at Osteopathic Medical Education, Clinical Research and Community Initiantives that impact health and wellness in Northeast Ohio. 

Goals established by the Foundation to achieve its mission include: 

• Support Graduate Medical Education at South Pointe Hospital through the Brentwood Center of Excellence. 
• Support Clinical Research in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and Conventional Medicine that drive cutting edge developments and innovation to improve clinical outcomes.
• Participate in Community Initiatives in Northeast Ohio through collaborations with local Foundations.

The Bicknell Fund was formed for the purpose of promoting the well-being of mankind, and to that end to engage in such forms of charitable, benevolent, educational, scientific and research work as from time to time shall seem expedient to its trustees.

Grant History and Areas of Interest

Warren Bicknell, Jr., the eldest son of Warren and Anne Guthrie Bicknell, was born in September 1902 and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He married Kate Hanna Bicknell in 1931 and raised their family both in Cleveland and Thomasville, Georgia.

For a number of years, Mr. and Mrs. Bicknell had been regularly supporting several charitable and educational organizations. In the Fall of 1949, they established the Bicknell Fund to formalize and continue the philanthropic tradition of their families.

Mr. Bicknell passed away in 1975 and Mrs. Bicknell passed away in 1993. Over the years, other funding interests have been added reflecting the priorities of the Trustees.

Please note that a given grant may not be easily classified with these generic Support and Category types. However, we hope this information is useful.

Support Type

In recent years, grant types have been approximately:

• 2/3 for Annual Operating,
• 1/4 for Program Support and
• the rest for Special Projects (i.e., Capital).

Most Annual Operating is for schools/organizations with an established relationship with the Bicknell Fund.

Category Type

The Bicknell Fund distributes roughly:

• 65% of their grants to Health and Human Services,
• 20% to Secondary, Vocational and Special Education,
• 10% to Arts/Humanities, and
• the rest to Public Affairs and Social Services.

Grant Guidelines

Priorities

In general, one-half to two-thirds of our grants are made for Health and Human Services to help the homeless and disadvantaged in the Cleveland area. Roughly one-quarter of our grants are for Education.

Andersons Fund Supporting Organization

The Andersons Fund Supporting Organization (the Fund) has been created to enrich the quality of life for individuals and families in our region. The Fund serves northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan with a particular emphasis on the greater Toledo area. Grants support organizations with programs in the areas of education, social services, physical & mental health, neighborhood & urban affairs, natural resources and the arts.

The Donald C. and Laura M. Harrison Family Foundation

The Foundation was established in 2006 by Donald and Laura Harrison and their children in Cincinnati, Ohio. Laura Harrison was an active community volunteer involved in a broad group of activities. Dr. Harrison is a cardiologist, administrator, and business entrepreneur.

They have creatively funded programs and facilities at their respective colleges and have participated in supporting a number of local charitable organizations with educational missions for the underprivileged.

Mission & Purpose of the Harrison Foundation

The Foundation seeks to improve opportunities and outcomes primarily for underprivileged students by funding educational scholarships, programs and research with a particular emphasis on seeding and supporting new programs.

The Foundation's primary initiative is to help launch innovative educational programs for primary, secondary and adult education. The Foundation also emphasizes funding programs for underprivileged children, youth, adults and families. The ultimate goal is to empower citizens affected by the grant to shape their own future in the community.

Grants may be awarded for consecutive years, but a new proposal is generally required for the subsequent year. Initially grant sizes will be in a range of $5,000 to $15,000 per year.

Hayswood Foundation Grant

We work to fulfill this mission by providing grants to local non-profit organizations, to assist them in offering programs and services involving mental and physical health, and education. This mission is further fulfilled by administering scholarship programs that help local students realize their dreams of a quality higher education, and become productive members of their future communities.These grants are made for 1-year terms, and may or may not be subject to matching provisions.  

Grant Program

The Foundation's current grant program has been in existence since 1985. It serves non-profit organizations located or operating in the northeastern Kentucky counties of Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, and Robertson, and the southeastern Ohio counties of Adams and Brown. Projects submitted for funding consideration must promote mental or physical health, or education. Since its inception, the grant program has awarded approximately $7.75 million for projects both large and small.

Greater Toledo Community Foundation, is a public charitable organization created by citizens of our community to enrich the quality of life for individuals and families in our service area. The Foundation serves northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan with a particular emphasis on the greater Toledo area. The mission of The Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio is to live the Gospel in joyful servanthood among the people and as messengers of peace to commit themselves to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the poor and marginalized and respect the gift of all creation. Greater Toledo Community Foundation and the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation have partnered to support programming through the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation Donor Advised Fund (“Sisters of St. Francis Fund”).

Focus Areas

Consistent with their mission statement, grants from the Sisters of St. Francis Fund support a variety of organizations and programs which are working in one or more of the following areas:

• aiding in the fight against human trafficking and/or offering support to its victims;
• offering support to immigrants and refugees; and
• Advancing social justice and equal access to opportunity through other programs and strategies;
• Supporting efforts that advance, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ call to care for planet earth, our common home, by addressing climate change, pollution, or promoting sustainable lifestyles, offering ecological education and spirituality or community engagement and participatory actions.

• Human Trafficking –
  • funding will be awarded to support survivor-informed activities including, but not limited to, comprehensive service delivery; economic opportunity and asset-building programs; physical and mental health supports; education initiatives and/or other kinds of anti-trafficking efforts that reach for systemic solutions and promote the respect and dignity of all. 
• Immigrants & Refugees
  • funding will be awarded in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, citizenship and naturalization efforts; economic opportunity and asset-building programs; physical and mental health supports; diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; civic participation activities; education and workforce development initiatives; workers’ rights and civil legal aid activities and/or other kinds of efforts that promote the well-being of immigrants and refugees. 
• Social Justice & Equal Opportunity
  • funding will be awarded in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, activities that promote equal access to housing, employment, education and health care; equitable and sustainable neighborhood development; civil and/or environmental justice work; and/or other approaches that promise to uplift the ability of marginalized or underserved communities to define their own futures and access opportunity. 
• Laudato Si’—
  • funding will be awarded in areas that address Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home.
  • These include the following areas
    • Cry of the Earth (climate change, pollution, forests, wetlands, species);
    • Sustainable Lifestyles (personal and community purchasing and lifestyle choices); Ecological Education (how nature functions and is connected, promotion of sustainability);
    • Ecological Spirituality (spiritual connection between humans and God’s creation) and
    • Community Engagement and Participatory Action (collaborative engagement between and among agencies with the Sisters of St. Francis).

The Sisters of St. Francis Fund envisions communities in which all members have equal opportunity to thrive. Grants are provided primarily for programming but, in limited cases, may support general operations or capital projects. The Sisters of St. Francis Fund anticipates making multiple awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. Grants are typically awarded for a one-year project period. Funds are limited and will be awarded on a competitive basis.