Best Grants for Preschools in Ohio

The Kathleen J. Schmidt Memorial Scholarship, established in 2004 by The Dayton Foundation, provides financial assistance to high school seniors from specific schools in Beavercreek, Ohio, who intend to pursue a teaching degree at a four-year Ohio college or university. This scholarship honors the legacy of Kathleen Schmidt, a dedicated language arts teacher. With a commitment to supporting education, the fund aims to empower future educators and contribute to the community's educational landscape.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust offers grants aimed at enhancing the lives of animals in the Ohio/Great Lakes region. It prioritizes projects that foster animal adoption, behavior training, and humane education. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) certified and demonstrate a commitment to animal welfare. The Trust seeks innovative, collaborative initiatives that significantly improve the well-being of animals, particularly in underserved communities, ensuring a high quality of life for both individual animals and larger populations.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust Grants focus on enhancing the quality of life for companion animals and native wildlife. This private foundation supports innovative projects that go beyond basic care, ensuring the well-being of homeless and abused animals. Eligible organizations must have a 501(c)(3) status and be located in specific states, including Ohio and parts of Indiana and Michigan. The Trust emphasizes humane treatment and sustainable funding for animal welfare initiatives.

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 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.

Submission of the continuation application constitutes acknowledgment and acceptance of ODH Grants Administration Policies and Procedures (OGAPP) Manual rules, policy and procedure updates posted on the GMIS Bulletin Board, and any other program-specific requirements as outlined in the competitive Solicitation. The competitive solicitation for this grant program can be found here. 

website atPolicy and Procedures: The Continuation Funding Application consists of three parts:

• Program Updates (if applicable),
• Program Budget and Budget Narrative, and
• Other Required Attachments.

Number of Grants and Funds Available: Genetics Services grants are comprised of funds generated from a portion of the state newborn screening fee. Only the previously awarded applicants during the State Fiscal Year 2025 competitive application may apply for continuation funding for this initiative. These are: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Dayton Children’s Hospital; Toledo Hospital; The Research Institute of Nationwide Children’s Hospital; MetroHealth System; University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center; Cleveland Clinic Foundation; and Children’s Hospital Medical Center – Akron. The total grant funding for the SFY2027 budget period (07/01/2026 – 06/30/2027) is anticipated to be approximately $2,320.043.

No grant award will be issued for less than $30,000. Theminimumamountis exclusive of any requiredmatching amounts and represents only ODH funds granted. Applications submitted for less than the minimum amount will not be considered for review.

Project Lead The Way is offering a rolling grant opportunity for schools to implement the PLTW Engineering program for the 2025-2026 academic year and beyond. Eligible institutions include public, private, and charter schools located in the US. Grant recipients will receive funding to cover participation fees and training costs. Total funding amounts to $16,000, distributed over three years. Schools are encouraged to create pathways for students in engineering through this initiative.

The REALTOR® Care Day Grant, offered by the Columbus REALTORS® Foundation, supports local realty associations with up to $500 in matching funds for service projects. Since its inception in 2005, this initiative has mobilized hundreds of volunteers, contributing over $676,000 towards community improvements in central Ohio. With a mission to enhance the real estate landscape and advocate for affordable housing, the foundation plays a vital role in fostering healthy communities through dedicated service and collaboration.

Emerine Memorial Scholarship Fund

The scholarship honors the memory of Janet and Erin Emerine, lovers of learning. Janet dedicated her life to teaching people of all ages. Erin dedicated her life to improving the community around her through volunteerism. They valued education as a tool to succeed in life, and they would have wanted others to have the opportunity offered by a scholarship.

Award Amount:

• $1,000

The Columbus REALTORS® Foundation, established in 1991, provides essential emergency financial assistance to members of the Columbus Association of REALTORS® and their families facing extreme circumstances. With a commitment to improving the housing environment in central Ohio, the Foundation has invested over $600,000 in the community. This benevolence fund aims to support those in urgent need where other resources fall short, reinforcing its role as a key partner in affordable housing initiatives.

The AdvoCare Foundation, established in 1993, aims to promote health and wellness for children through its grant program. Focused on year-round initiatives, the foundation supports local communities where AdvoCare distributors operate. Grants typically last one year with an average funding of $25,000, although multi-year support may be available. The foundation prioritizes programs that foster positive health changes and encourages collaborative efforts with previous grantees.

The Columbus Realtors Foundation supports real estate-related initiatives in central Ohio through its community grants. With over $600,000 invested since 2008, the foundation aids organizations that address homelessness, repair homes for low-income families, and promote affordable housing. Established in 1991, it aims to enhance the real estate environment while empowering local nonprofits and government entities to foster healthy communities.

The Hope For Our Future Scholarships, offered by the Adena Health Foundation, support students pursuing careers in healthcare-related fields. Eligible applicants include those studying medicine, nursing, or allied health professions, particularly from the Chillicothe and Ross County areas. With a focus on inclusivity, scholarships are available to individuals with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This initiative aims to enhance career opportunities in a sector poised for growth, benefiting both students and the community.

The Drexel Fund Founders Program is a one-year paid fellowship that helps outstanding leaders already on the path to launching a school continue to plan and open an innovative and effective private school in one of The Drexel Fund’s target states: Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The tenth cohort of the Founders Program is designed for entrepreneurs who will begin the fellowship in Summer 2027 and be ready to launch a new private school in Fall 2028.Through the fellowship, school founders will develop their school’s education model and finalize the nuts and bolts of their school launch, including board and budget development, market analysis, facility location, student recruitment and staff hiring. Founders will create a plan that will make it possible for their school to achieve top-tier results for children while maintaining a sustainable financial model.

The Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA), managed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, provides vital financial assistance for enhancing community water systems. For Program Year 2026, the agency invites project nominations, offering low-interest loans and potential principal forgiveness funds. This initiative aims to support necessary improvements in both community and non-profit non-community public water systems, ensuring access to safe drinking water for all Ohio residents.

Women's Residential ASAM Pilot Grant

DBH is seeking information in providing funding opportunities to non-profit organizations serving ASAM level of cares 3.5 and 3.7, interested in providing more information to DBH regarding the Women’s Residential ASAM Pilot Grant, to access funding for developing ASAM 4th edition co-occurring enhanced (COE) services and biomedically (BIO) enhanced services at the 3.5 and 3.7 levels of care. The target population for these funds are pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders.  Funds must be used for any expenses used to establish these services including, hiring appropriately credentialled staff for COE and BIO enhanced services, purchasing medical equipment necessary for BIO enhanced services, and providing housing for women and their children.

The Valerie Hickman Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Muskingum County Community Foundation, supports Muskingum County high school graduates pursuing a Pre-BSN or BSN program at Ohio University Zanesville. This scholarship aims to enhance students' educational experiences by covering essential expenses like tuition and books. Preference is given to Zanesville High School graduates, honoring Valerie Hickman's legacy of kindness and community support.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program aims to enhance the state's vital water resources by funding projects that restore and protect high-quality streams and wetlands. Despite progress, challenges like habitat degradation and siltation threaten water quality. The program offers a maximum funding of $15 million to support initiatives that address these ecological concerns and promote biodiversity, ensuring the health of Ohio's waterways for future generations.

Rob-See-Co is an independent seed company with regional expertise, providing customers access to leading genetics and traits through the Rob-See-Co and Innotech® seed brands. Rob-See-Co also sells Masters Choice specialty silage and forage products, as well as Streamline Ag seed-driven crop inputs. Rob-See-Co works alongside its customers, building strong relationships and helping them plant the right seed for their long-term success, while keeping the process friendly, straightforward, and simple. 

Rob-See-Co Library Grant

In recognition of National Library Day, Rob-See-Co, an independent seed company located in Elkhorn, Neb. is proud to announce the continuation of its Rural Library Grant program.

Originally launched in 2023 to commemorate the company’s 10th anniversary and honor Agnes Robinson’s dedication to the rural library in Waterloo, NE, the program continues to hold special meaning. Agnes, great-grandmother of Jim Robinson, CEO of Rob-See-Co, was a passionate advocate for rural libraries. Today, the program extends support to libraries across rural communities within the company’s footprint. 

The focus areas for grant distributions from the Rob-See-Co Rural Library Grant program will assist local libraries with expanding book collections, core educational programs for adults or children, and computer or software upgrades. Examples of this would be new books, expansion of school visits or field trips, digitizing research materials, support for funding traveling exhibits and speakers.

Rob-See-Co will award ten grants to selected rural libraries across CO, IA, KS, MD, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, OK, PA, SD, TX and WI. Funds may be used for core educational, preservation and interpretive purposes, including collection development, facility improvements, traveling exhibits, guest speakers, staff training, programming, and publications. 

The Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, awarded by Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, supports first and second-year medical students conducting research over 2 to 12 months. With a total funding of $7,000, students can receive reimbursement for travel expenses up to $1,000 for presenting their findings at national conferences. Eligibility requires enrollment in schools with active AΩA chapters, while those taking a year off for research or holding a PhD are ineligible.

The OEPA Source Reduction Grant provides funding to governments, non-profits, and educational institutions for purchasing equipment that promotes reuse, such as water bottle refilling stations and dishwashers. With a maximum grant request of $10,000, the program aims to reduce single-use plastic products. However, costs related to installation and maintenance are not covered. This initiative encourages sustainable practices in communities by supporting investments in environmentally friendly equipment.

Women's Hub and Spoke Grant

DBH is seeking information in providing funding opportunities to non-profit organizations serving pregnant and postpartum women, interested in providing more information to DBH regarding the Women’s Hub and Spoke Grant, to access funding to strengthen and expand integrated, evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) and maternal behavioral health services. The program seeks to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by addressing SUD and co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions through comprehensive screening, treatment, recovery supports, and workforce development. This opportunity may provide up to $500,000 for facilities that are already appropriately licensed and certified by the DBH in Ohio communities. Funds must be used for any expenses in developing a hub-and-spoke maternal care model in areas with little maternal healthcare integration. Expenses may include, hiring appropriately credentialed staff to fulfill hub and spoke requirements, early identification of women through evidence-based screening tools, timely enrollment, care coordination, and MAT/MOUD workforce expansion to train and mentor healthcare professionals with prescribing authority for buprenorphine and naltrexone products. All grant recipients are expected to participate in a Six Sigma systems improvement process that will bring alignment among stakeholders around creating a safer, more coordinated, and more compassionate care journey for perinatal women.

The Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board (OHRAB) seeks to enrich the culture and protect the rights of Ohioans by fostering activities that identify, preserve and provide access to the State’s documentary heritage. It accomplishes these goals by advocating for issues that enhance the collection, preservation and public use of historical records, encouraging organizations to seek funding for appropriate projects, and providing guidance to those organizations. To further its mission OHRAB has created a grant program to help Ohio historical records repositories obtain funds for smaller projects that may not qualify for funding under larger grant making agencies.

The ODA Foundation Access to Oral Care Grants support nonprofit organizations improving dental care access in Ohio. With over $400,000 awarded, the foundation prioritizes projects demonstrating community need, sustainable outcomes, and capacity to serve underserved populations. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, endorsed by an ODA member dentist, and committed to continuing their projects post-grant. This initiative aims to enhance oral health through targeted, impactful programs.

About Us

The mission of the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (Ohio DD Council) is to create change that improves independence, productivity and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities and their families in community life. The Ohio DD Council operates under the authority of the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) and is a part of the Ohio DD Network. The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities assists and supports the Ohio DD Council as the federally mandated designated state agency.

All In Play: Empowering Inclusive Sports in K-12 Schools

This grant will support the development and expansion of inclusive K–12 athletic programs that increase access to meaningful participation for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including those with significant support needs. The goal is to build school and community capacity, not to deliver direct services.

Grantees will implement a train‑the‑trainer model that equips school staff, coaches, and university partners with practical strategies for inclusive sports program design, adaptive coaching, and peer‑to‑peer engagement. Projects must include approaches that prepare trainers to support students across the full spectrum of abilities and to train student peers in disability awareness, communication, and inclusive teamwork.

Funded activities may include developing training materials, delivering trainer sessions, providing technical assistance to schools, building partnerships with university PT/OT programs, and collecting best practices. Projects should emphasize sustainability, replication, and long‑term systems change.

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to:

• Build capacity within schools to design and sustain inclusive athletic programs.
• Train educators, coaches, and university partners to support students with all levels of disability.
• Incorporate structured peer‑engagement models (e.g., buddy systems, mentorship).
• Provide technical assistance that helps schools implement inclusive practices effectively.
• Evaluate training effectiveness and share outcomes.

This grant aligns with ODDC priorities by promoting community inclusion, strengthening local capacity, supporting cross‑disability participation, and fostering collaborative partnerships that lead to lasting systemic change.

The Council Connect grant from the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council aims to enhance public awareness of developmental disabilities. It will create resources and outreach initiatives to educate communities, especially underserved populations. The selected grantee will coordinate communication efforts to share stories, promote resources, and engage with community organizations. This initiative aligns with the Council's mission to improve independence and inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities, ultimately fostering a more informed and connected community.

The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) supports Ohio nonprofits through grants awarded twice a year to address critical legal needs. With over $16 million allocated since 1992, these grants foster the development of legal resources, websites, and community initiatives. OSBF focuses on project-based funding, enabling organizations to create impactful programs that serve the public and enhance access to justice across Ohio.