Ohio Recreation Grants

The Youngstown Foundation offers various grant programs designed to be innovative, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the local community in Youngstown and vicinity (Mahoning and Trumbull Counties). The foundation's mission is deeply rooted in supporting effective 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that do not discriminate. Each year, approximately 500 grants, ranging from $1,000 to $300,000, are awarded across several program areas including Health, Environment, Education and Youth, Community Development, Arts and Culture, Social/Family Services, Women, and Seniors. This broad scope reflects the foundation's commitment to addressing diverse community needs and aligning its resources with key areas for local impact. The target beneficiaries of The Youngstown Foundation's grants are the people of Youngstown and vicinity, specifically residents of Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. The foundation aims for significant impact by supporting projects and organizations that strengthen the community's ability to respond effectively to needs, promote collaboration, and reduce duplication of services. Expected outcomes include improved health, environmental quality, educational opportunities, youth development, community infrastructure, arts and culture, social and family well-being, and support for women and seniors. The Crisis Assistance Program, for example, specifically targets agencies needing emergency funding to ensure continuity of essential, direct services to clients, with a clear outcome of maintaining critical community support during times of crisis. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are evident in its preference for innovative proposals that originate from local organizations, target local populations, demonstrate strong volunteer leadership, and build on community strengths. The foundation seeks to apply its resources optimally and confirms an agency's sustainability/strategic plan, with no expectation of annual funding, thereby fostering long-term impact and self-sufficiency. Its theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in local, well-led, and collaborative initiatives, it can create a resilient community that effectively addresses its own needs. The types of grants offered further illustrate these priorities. Program Grants support specific, time-bound projects with explicit objectives and predetermined costs, focusing on measurable results within defined program areas. Operational Grants support an organization's overall activities and overhead, allowing grantees discretion to use funds where most needed, particularly for organizations consistently serving Mahoning and/or Trumbull county residents, thus ensuring ongoing vital services. Capital Investment Grants are specifically for improving physical spaces within the designated counties, contributing to the community's infrastructure. The Crisis Assistance Program and Support Fund Grants, including the Williamson Fund, highlight the foundation's responsiveness to immediate needs and its strategy to amplify individual contributions to small and midsize charities.

This program provides funding to nonprofit and community organizations in Oberlin to deliver essential services that enhance residents' well-being and promote equity in the community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to designated Ohio communities for projects that celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States through storytelling and educational initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit and government organizations in Licking County, Ohio, to address critical issues related to behavioral health, children and families, and poverty.

The United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland (UBFGC) has announced the "Community Thrive" grant, a special funding opportunity designed to combat mental health issues and gun violence in the community. This initiative aligns with UBFGC's mission to identify and partner with organizations that are making a positive impact on the devastating effects of these issues, demonstrating a commitment to community well-being and social justice. The grant supports programs, resources, and support services that aim to improve mental health and/or reduce the incidence of gun violence, reflecting a strategic priority to foster a healthier and safer Cuyahoga County. The grant targets organizations serving Cuyahoga County that provide programming to support mental health or gun violence prevention/intervention work. The beneficiaries include youth and adults affected by depression, those at risk of suicide, individuals struggling with school violence/absenteeism, anger management, and social media addiction. In terms of gun violence, the grant aims to support families affected by gun violence, promote gun safety, and address gun culture and laws. The expected impact is a reduction in mental health crises and gun violence incidents, leading to improved community well-being and safety. The "Community Thrive" grant prioritizes projects that impact mental health wellness, including addressing depression, suicide prevention, school violence, anger management, and social media addiction. For gun violence prevention, the grant seeks innovative approaches such as education and awareness campaigns, and community-based interventions that tackle root causes. Specific areas of interest include preventing shootings in schools, universities, religious institutions, and retail locations, as well as supporting affected families. The grant also considers proposals addressing gun culture, gun safety, and gun laws. Applicants must be established organizations with a proven track record of at least three years, demonstrating their impact through data. They must serve Cuyahoga County and provide a minimum of one letter of support. A key criterion is that funding must be utilized for 80% programming and 20% operations and/or marketing. The organization must be a 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal agent, and a one-page strategic plan summary outlining the use of funds is required. The grant does not support one-time events, sponsorships, or fundraising campaigns, emphasizing a focus on sustained programming with a minimum execution period of one year, commencing January 1, 2024. These criteria reflect UBFGC's theory of change, which emphasizes evidence-based, long-term, and community-focused interventions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. states, territories, and eligible Indian tribes for implementing approved plans to prevent and manage invasive aquatic species.

The NatureWorks grant program, managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, supports the development or acquisition of public outdoor recreation areas. Eligible entities include Ohio's political subdivisions, such as municipalities, townships, counties, and park districts. The program offers up to 75% funding for eligible projects, requiring a minimum of 25% match from non-state and non-federal sources. Applications are due by June 1, 2024, emphasizing ADA compliance, long-term maintenance, and public accessibility.

This funding opportunity represents the FY25 Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force Annual Grant, administered by the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA). The grant is specifically designated for the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS) to ensure the continuity and effective administration of the statewide Vehicle Theft Task Force. This financial commitment is central to the AATA's core mission, which is implicitly to combat, reduce, and prevent motor vehicle theft across Arizona by providing annual, dedicated support to the state’s primary coordinating law enforcement effort in this area. The target beneficiaries of this funding are the citizens and vehicle owners of Arizona, who benefit from reduced crime rates and the recovery of stolen property. The ultimate impact goal is a measurable reduction in the incidence of vehicle theft statewide, alongside the disruption of organized theft rings and the successful investigation and prosecution of related criminal activity. The primary priority and focus of this annual funding is the sustained operational capacity of the Vehicle Theft Task Force, ensuring resources are available for administrative overhead, specialized investigations, and cross-jurisdictional collaboration necessary to fulfill its mandate. While specific metrics are not detailed, the expected outcomes are tied to the mandatory reporting requirements. Agencies receiving this grant funding are required to submit monthly or quarterly financial and performance reports through the Ecivis Grant Management System. Measurable results are expected to include key performance indicators such as the number of successful vehicle theft investigations, the total dollar value of recovered property, the number of arrests made by the Task Force, and overall data demonstrating a decline in statewide vehicle theft rates over the funding period. The AATA's strategic priority and underlying theory of change are centered on leveraging stable, annual funding to support a singular, coordinated statewide law enforcement body. The theory posits that the most effective way to address a complex, organized crime issue like vehicle theft is to dedicate resources to the AZ DPS for the administration of a specialized task force, thereby concentrating expertise and authority. The grant applications must receive approval from the AATA Board of Directors on June 21, 2024, after which contracts requiring signature by an authorized grantee representative and the AATA Director will be issued prior to the disbursement of funds.

The City of Columbus is offering the New American Civic Integration Seed Fund, a new initiative under its New American Program. This grant program aims to increase funding access for organizations serving New Americans, fostering community building, youth engagement, and strengthening their capacity to effectively serve new arrivals. The program aligns with the city's mission to support and assist the unique and emerging needs of the growing immigrant and refugee community in Columbus, providing supportive services that meet their cultural and linguistic requirements. Funding is provided through the City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods' New American Program. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are New Americans, immigrants, and refugees residing in the city of Columbus. The program's impact goals include creating access to funding, fostering community building, promoting youth engagement, and strengthening organizations to better serve newly arrived residents. It also seeks to support and assist with the unique and emerging needs of this community and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate supportive services. The grant prioritizes new and existing projects or programs, as well as services that support integration, civic participation, and the pursuit of the citizenship process. Special interest is given to newer organizations focusing on communities not fully represented and in urgent need of community programming. Key focuses include capacity building, civic integration, youth and civic engagement, and emergency situations. Expected outcomes include enhanced capacity of New American serving organizations, increased civic participation among new arrivals, and improved integration into the Columbus community. Measurable results could include the number of organizations supported, the number of New Americans served, the types of programs implemented, and progress in civic engagement and citizenship processes. Applicants can request up to $10,000.00. The City of Columbus's strategic priorities for this fund revolve around fostering an inclusive environment for its diverse population. The theory of change suggests that by providing targeted financial support to organizations that directly serve New Americans, the city can facilitate greater integration, self-sufficiency, and overall well-being for this demographic. This, in turn, contributes to a more vibrant and equitable community for all Columbus residents. Eligibility criteria stipulate that applying organizations must have 501(c)(3) status, serve New Americans, immigrants, and refugees, and primarily serve city of Columbus residents.

This funding opportunity supports K-12 schools in developing inclusive athletic programs that enable meaningful participation for students with developmental disabilities, fostering social inclusion and community engagement.

This grant provides funding for youth-led programs in Ohio to develop and implement effective suicide prevention activities that address mental health challenges among middle and high school students.

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is offering a Youth-led Grant Program, providing $250 to $2,500 for projects developed and implemented by youth in partnership with a nonprofit, school, or public organization, focusing on areas such as arts, education, community development, environmental stewardship, and health services in selected counties of Ohio.

This grant provides funding to local nonprofits and governmental organizations in Wayne and Holmes Counties to address critical community needs in areas such as health, basic needs, workforce development, and youth development.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Lorain to develop community services in areas such as health, mental health, youth and senior support, homelessness, and food accessibility.

This grant provides financial support for Cuyahoga County-based artists to fund public projects, events, or specific needs related to their creative practices.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit and public sector programs in specific Ohio counties that promote successful children, healthy families, self-sufficient residents, and strong communities.

The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) offers the Environmental Sustainability Grant Program to support and enhance the environmental sustainability of the Greater Cincinnati region. This aligns with GCF's mission to increase accessibility and quality of greenspaces, conservation, horticulture, and nature education, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity for historically marginalized groups. The program aims to address environmental disparities and promote equitable access to nature's benefits. The primary beneficiaries of this program are organizations whose efforts are based in the Greater Cincinnati region, specifically within the counties of Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont in Ohio; Boone, Kenton, and Campbell in Kentucky; and Dearborn in Indiana. The program targets historically marginalized groups by prioritizing requests that connect them to the benefits of nature, including fresh food access and nature education, particularly for children and youth. The overarching impact goal is to foster a more environmentally sustainable and equitable region. The program prioritizes proposals that develop solutions with a racial equity lens, recognizing that environmental issues often disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Key focus areas include beautifying, creating, conserving, and restoring greenspaces, with a preference for those benefiting historically marginalized groups. Additionally, the program seeks to connect these groups to nature's benefits through various initiatives, such as increased fresh food access and nature education programming. Collaboration between well-aligned organizations is highly favored, as is an asset-based approach to the work. Expected outcomes include expanded or strengthened existing programs, successful capital improvements, the launch of new initiatives, and enhanced organizational capacity among grantee organizations. Proposals are expected to articulate clear and measurable outcomes, demonstrating how their efforts will contribute to the program's goals. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the general intent to increase accessibility and quality of greenspaces and nature education, the emphasis on "clear and measurable outcomes" suggests a commitment to tracking the tangible impact of funded projects. The foundation's strategic priorities are evident in its preference for organizations demonstrating partnerships, community alignment, insights from past results, and an asset-based approach, all contributing to a theory of change that values collaborative, data-informed, and community-centric environmental solutions with a strong equity focus.

This grant provides funding to eligible organizations that support community programs focused on health, basic needs, workforce development, and youth development for low-income families in Wayne and Holmes Counties, Ohio.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to non-profits, neighborhood associations, and community-focused organizations in Akron for projects that engage residents and improve local neighborhoods.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and government entities that serve the community needs of Carroll County, Ohio, focusing on diverse local initiatives that enhance community welfare.