Community Foundation Awards $706K in Grants

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and its supporting foundations have awarded $706,684 in grants to 50 nonprofit organizations in the first round of funding for 2024.

Through the CFMV General Grant, fundholders awarded $311,700. The William Swanston Charitable Fund, which supports projects aimed at children in the Valley, awarded $87,500. The Western Reserve Health Foundation awarded $153,784 to projects supporting health equity in Mahoning County, while its Trumbull County counterpart, the Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation, awarded $153,700. 

“Along with the entire CFMV team, I’m excited to have such a strong start to the year,” said Casey Krell, CFMV president. “These projects all do important work that make our community a better place for all. We are honored to continue supporting our local nonprofits again this year.”

Here are the first-quarter grant awards:

Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley

• ACTION, $5,000 for operating support.
• Behind Closed Doors Ministries, $2,500 for operating support.
• Bess Purpose Inc., $7,500 to support women escaping domestic violence.
• Columbiana County Pride, $5,000 to support the 2024 Columbiana County Pride Festival.
• Direction Home of Eastern Ohio, $10,000 for the Caring for Caregivers program.
• Easter Seal Society of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties, $7,500 for its autism diagnosis clinic.
• Economic Action Group, $10,000 for operating support.
• Eversight, $2,500 for surgeries, vision research and surgeon education.
• Evolve Innovation Center, $7,500 for operating support.
• Finer Things Academy, $10,000 for the social skills program at Rayen Early College High School.
• Flying High Inc., $2,500 for the Access Healthy Food Mahoning Valley Program.
• God’s Warehouse, $10,000 for operating support.
• Grace AME Church Nursing Guild, $5,000 for Health Fair on the Square.
• Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley, $5,000 for a playhouse project.
• Inspiring Minds Youngstown, $15,000 for youth programs.
• Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio, $5,000 for K-12 programs.
• Lit Youngstown, $10,000 for operating support.
• Loop Youngstown, $8,600 for outreach and planning.
• Mahoning County Soil and Water Conservation District, $5,000 for the surface water management and backyard conservation program.
• Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past, $10,000 for capacity building work.
• Make-a-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, $2,500 for wish granting in the Mahoning Valley.
• The McGuffey Centre, $5,000 for the Keep It Lively program.
• Mind Body Soul Asset Development Center, $10,000 for the Community Trauma Resilience project.
• MyPath Mahoning Valley, $10,000 for the Mahoning Valley Career and College Connections program.
• National Inventors Hall of Fame, $8,100 for the Camp Invention summer program.
• Nikki’s House, $10,000 for operating support.
• Oak Hill Collaborative, $10,000 for operating support.
• OCCHA, $10,000 for operating support.
• Poland Township, $5,000 for an ADA-accessible trail.
• Protestant Family Service, $10,000 for the Pathway to Stability program.
• Sahara II Community Recovery Center, $5,000 for operating support.
• Thrive Mahoning Valley, $10,000 for operating support.
• Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates, $5,000 for the School-to-Careers program at Liberty High School.
• Trust for Public Land, $5,000 for conservation of Vienna Woods.
• Warren Grown, $2,000 for the From Sapling to Sovereign youth program.
• We Become, $5,000 for the Vibrant Valley data health equity project.
• Youngstown Action Center, $5,000 for operating support.
• Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, $10,000 for the Vouch for You program.
• Youngstown Business Incubator, $7,500 for building redesigns and renovations.
• Youngstown CityScape, $10,000 for operating support.
• Youngstown Playhouse, $10,000 for operating support.
• YSU Campus Recreation, $5,000 for a community recreation graduate assistant.
• YWCA of Alliance, $8,000 for Sebring Family Services.

William Swanston Charitable Fund

• ACTION, $10,000 for operating support.
• Direction Home, $10,000 for the Caring for Caregivers program.
• Easter Seal Society, $10,000 for the autism diagnosis clinic.
• Finer Things Academy, $5,000 for the One Church One Child program.
• The McGuffey Centre, $10,000 for the Keep It Lively program.
• Tri-County Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates, $10,000 for the School-to-Careers program at Liberty High School.
• Trumbull County Youth Organization, $7,500 for upgrades and rehabilitation of Interfaith Park of Warren.
• Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, $10,000 for scholarships at the Jewish Community Center early learning center.
• Youngstown Business Incubator, $10,000 for the youth entrepreneurship programs.
• Youngstown Lifeguard Academy, $5,000 for scuba training.

Western Reserve Health Foundation

• ACTION, $15,000 for operating support.
• Easter Seal Society, $10,000 for the autism diagnosis clinic.
• Kidney Foundation of Ohio, $5,000 for the direct assistance program.
• The McGuffey Centre, $20,000 for youth sports programs.
• Protestant Family Service, $20,000 for the Pathway to Stability program.
• We Become, $40,000 for the Vibrant Valley data health equity project.
• Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, $10,000 for the Helping Hand Fund.
• YSU Campus Recreation, $23,874 for a community recreation graduate assistant.
• YWCA Mahoning Valley, $10,000 for housing with supportive services.

Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation

• ACTION, $15,000 for operating support.
• Easter Seal Society, $10,000 for the autism diagnosis clinic.
• Kidney Foundation of Ohio, $5,000 for the direct assistance program.
• Mind Body Soul, $10,000 for the Community Trauma Resilience project.
• Nikki’s House, $40,000 for recovery housing.
• The Salvation Army, $10,000 for the mental health drop-in center.
• Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, $30,000 for equipment for the Warren TreeCorps.
• Trust for Public Land, $10,000 for conservation of Vienna Woods.
• YSU Campus Recreation, $23,700 for a community recreation graduate assistant.

Three more grant awards, totaling $3,500, will be made April 16 at the Microfunding Event hosted by the foundation’s Fund for Women & Girls. As a community-led fund, supporters decide how grants are awarded. At the Microfunding Event, they will hear proposals from this year’s three finalists: The McGuffey Centre, My Melanin Speaks and Promise Community Hub.

CFMV and its supporting foundations have three other grant opportunities this year, with deadlines on April 15, July 15 and Oct. 15. Organizations can see grant opportunities and start their applications HERE.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.