Community Foundation Awards $616K in Grants

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and its supporting foundations awarded $616,331 in grants to 58 nonprofit organizations through its third-quarter grant cycle.

Through the CFMV General Grant, $258,985 was awarded, and its two affiliated health foundations – the Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation and Western Reserve Health Foundation – awarded $65,700 and $130,000, respectively. The William Swanston Charitable Fund, which supports youth-focused projects, awarded $75,000. And the International Institute Funds awarded $29,500 to projects that support immigrants and cultural celebrations.

In addition to its regular quarterly grants, the Community Foundation also facilitated the distribution of $57,146 through the Warren Sixth Ward Neighborhood Impact Fund, established by Councilwoman Honeya Price to disburse American Rescue Plan funds allocated to her ward. A second round of funding for projects in the 6th Ward will be available in 2025.

“After working with Warren Mayor Doug Franklin and City Council to invest ARPA funds in the community earlier this year, we were excited to do more of this community-led work with Councilwoman Price,” said Casey Krell, president of the Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation believes that the people closest to the issues should play a role in addressing them. We want to thank Councilwoman Price and the other community leaders who spent time reviewing the applications that came in. This grant opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

Here are the third-quarter grant awards:

Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley

• Akiva Academy: $5,000 for its Well-Round Education program.
• Autism Society of Mahoning Valley: $7,500 for the Social Connections program.
• Boulevard Park Block Watch: $5,000 for phase three of work at Clarencedale Pocket Park.
• Dorothy Day House of Hospitality: $5,000 for the Food for the Soul program.
• The English Center of Youngstown: $10,000 for operating support.
• Friends of the Mahoning River: $5,000 for staff support.
• Hopewell Theatre: $7,500 for sound system and electrical updates.
• Hyer Merit Association: $5,000 for its education and entrepreneurship programs for students.
• Limitless Ambition: $10,000 for young women’s empowerment programs in Trumbull County.
• Mahoning Valley Historical Society: $7,485 for its Suitcase education programs.
• Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past: $15,000 for Ohio Nonviolence Week.
• Mill Creek MetroParks Foundation: $25,000 for the Fellows Riverside Gardens Children’s Garden.
• Millcreek Children’s Center: $10,000 for operating support.
• NAACP Youngstown: $5,000 for community advocacy work.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship: $5,000 for the Aspiring Entrepreneurs program.
• Northeast Homeowners and Concerned Citizens Association: $7,500 for young adult and family programs.
• Ohio Environmental Council: $5,000 for regional operating support.
• Opera Western Reserve: $6,000 to support the 2024-2025 season.
• Our Community Kitchen: $5,000 for pantry supplies and equipment repair.
• Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio: $20,000 for operating support for the Youngstown Health Center.
• Potential Development School for Students with Autism: $7,500 for the addition of a sensory room for elementary and middle school students.
• Protestant Family Service: $5,000 for its utility assistance program.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio: $10,000 for Helping Hands-Mahoning Valley.
• The Salvation Army: $7,500 for the Trumbull County drop-in mental health center.
• Stambaugh Chorus: $3,000 for operating support.
• Thrive 10:10: $7,500 for operating support.
• Trumbull Mobile Meals: $10,000 to purchase a generator.
• Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership: $10,000 for the Tangled Titles and Corrective Deed Action program.
• United Returning Citizens: $10,000 for operating support.
• Warren Philharmonic Orchestra: $7,500 for operating support.
• Woodland Park United Methodist Church: $5,000 for the Helping Hands Non-Food Pantry.
• Youngstown Area Jewish Federation: $5,000 to expand the Early Learning Center.

Warren Sixth Ward Neighborhood Impact Fund

• Community Church of God in Christ: $5,000 for building repairs.
• Community Connection: $5,000 for education programs.
• Free in Deed Prison Ministry: $4,646 for an urban youth farming project.
• Love Your Community: $5,000 for youth programs.
• New Freedom Missionary Baptist Church: $5,000 for improving handicap accessibility.
• Paradise Gardens Development: $5,000 to acquire new lots for the community garden.
• Parker Farm: $2,500 to build a sensory garden.
• Second Baptist Church: $5,000 for the installation of a veteran’s memorial.
• St. John’s Ministries Church of God in Christ: $5,000 for building improvements.
• Sunshine-Warren Homes: $5,000 for a home repair program for first-time homebuyers.
• Warren City Health District: $5,000 to address food insecurity.
• Warren Little Raiders: $5,000 for capital improvements.

International Institute Funds

• The English Center of Youngstown: $13,000 for operating support.
• Mahoning Valley Historical Society: $1,000 for Hispanic heritage programs.
• OCCHA: $500 for the Three Kings Day celebration.
• Spanish Club of Ursuline High School: $1,000 for Fiesta de las Americas.
• Thrive Mahoning Valley: $4,000 for Department of Justice accreditation to provide legal services for immigrants.
• Ursuline Sisters Mission: $5,000 for its immigrant outreach program.
• Youngstown State University International Student Welcome Committee: $5,000 for the international student welcome and festival dinners.

Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation

• The English Center of Youngstown: $15,000 for operating support.
• The HERD Foundation: $25,000 for the installation of an accessible playground at Mathews School District’s Baker Elementary.
• Trumbull County Youth Organization: $5,700 for playground renovations at Warren Interfaith Park.
• Youngstown Area Jewish Federation: $20,000 for a bus to support its adult day services program.

Western Reserve Health Foundation

• Boulevard Park Block Watch: $10,000 for phase three of the Clarencedale Pocket Park.
• The Carter House: $17,000 for its community transitional housing program.
• The English Center of Youngstown: $10,000 for operating support.
• Our Community Kitchen: $5,000 for its fall food drive.
• Quintessence Three JJJS: $10,000 for operating support.
• Sight For All: $16,000 to support its AmeriCorps service project.
• United Returning Citizens: $20,000 for operating support.
• Ursuline Sisters Mission: $25,000 for its assisted living program.
• YMCA of Youngstown: $7,000 for memberships for mental health agencies.
• YWCA of Alliance: $10,000 for Sebring Meals on Wheels Plus.

William Swanston Charitable Fund

• Boulevard Bark Block Watch: $10,000 for phase three of the Clarencedale Pocket Park.
• Heart Reach Neighborhood Ministries: $20,000 for the Super Kids program.
• Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past: $5,000 for operating support.
• Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship: $10,000 for the Aspiring Entrepreneurs program.
• United Way of Trumbull County: $10,000 for United 4 Kids.
• Ursuline Sisters Mission: $10,000 for its children’s education program.
• YMCA of Youngstown: $5,000 for Davis Family YMCA preschool financial assistance.
• YWCA of Alliance: $5,000 for Sebring Family Services.

The Community Foundation and its supporting foundations have one deadline remaining this year, on Oct. 15. Deadlines for 2025 will be Jan. 15, April 15, July 15 and Oct. 15. For information on grant opportunities and to start an application, click HERE.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.