Community Foundation Highlights Grants, New Funds in 2021 Annual Report

YOUNGSTOWN/WARREN, Ohio ­– Last year proved to be another test for the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and the nonprofit organizations it served, but the foundation ended 2021 stronger than ever before thanks to the addition of new funds, new software, new staff and a new racial equity assessment of its work.

All these steps forward, as well as details on the grantmaking by the Community Foundation’s fundholders and supporting organizations, are available in the newly released 2021 Annual Report. The full report can be found online at cfmv.org/annual-report and a four-page version will be available in the April issue of The Business Journal.

“Last year was a challenging and exciting one for the Community Foundation,” says Foundation President Shari Harrell. “2021 laid the groundwork for many of our long-term goals and we ended the year better equipped to work toward our mission of creating a more inclusive and equitable Mahoning Valley.”

Across its four grant cycles in 2021, the Community Foundation awarded $2.2 million in grants to nonprofits in the Mahoning Valley, supporting efforts across the board. Among those highlighted in the Annual Report are Kent State University’s prison education pilot program at Trumbull Correctional Institution, Action’s mobile market project and support of The English Center of Youngstown’s courses teaching English and skills to immigrants of the Valley.

Meanwhile, the Western Reserve Health Foundation awarded $702,204 to 24 projects, the Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation awarded $386,332 to 15 projects and the William Swanston Charitable Fund awarded $296,000 to 16 projects.

Other 2021 highlights featured in the Annual Report include the launch of a new software system that makes applying for scholarships and grants simpler, information on our 10 new funds and an update on our racial equity journey, which saw the completion of our Racial Equity Assessment and the beginning stages of the creation of a new strategic plan.

“Our work with Third Space Action Lab and Work In Progress will help guide the Community Foundation toward more equitable practices, grantmaking and fund creation, which will help make the Valley a better place for all people in the region,” Harrell says. “We look forward to getting the final version of Work In Progress’ strategic plan in the coming months and putting it into motion.”

Also in the Annual Report is information on the month-long Giving Tuesday campaign that started on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and ran through the end of the year. In that program, the Arnett Family Fund matched all donations to agency funds at the Community Foundation – up to $5,000 per fund – which resulted in more than $76,000 in donations with the Arnett Fund contributing more than $47,000.

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley strives to be a leader and advocate for strategic philanthropy by partnering with donors to anchor a permanent and growing endowment and making investments in the Mahoning Valley that improve the quality of life for all residents. The Community Foundation is the only local foundation with certification from the Community Foundation National Standards Board.