The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley invested $6.6 million in 2025 and improved its capability of responding quickly to urgent funding requests.
These actions strengthened the Youngstown-based foundation’s role as a partner for nonprofits, donors and community leaders, according to Rachael Chacon, senior director of operations and communications.
The region’s nonprofit organizations faced rising costs, staffing pressures and policy uncertainty last year, Chacon says. Through targeted grantmaking and hands-on support, CFMV helped them respond to immediate challenges.
As financial strain and funding disruptions placed added pressure on local nonprofits, CFMV expanded its emergency grant criteria and use of its Community Response Fund. It awarded $103,000 in emergency grants in 2025 in response to unexpected funding interruptions, the federal shutdown and significant local emergencies, keeping essential services in place when they were needed most.
In total, CFMV distributed more than $6.63 million in 2025, including $2.8 million in competitive grants to nonprofit organizations working across education, health, economic stability and quality-of-life initiatives. This work was supported by individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits and fundholders working through the Foundation.
Donor advised funds at CFMV contributed more than $516,000 toward this year’s competitive grants, alongside grantmaking from affiliate foundations: the Western Reserve Health Foundation, Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation, William Swanston Charitable Fund and the Mahoning Valley Historical Society Foundation.
Beyond grantmaking, CFMV continued investing in nonprofit capacity and collaboration.
It hosted several events that offered space for learning, relationship-building and shared problem-solving, such as nonprofit coffee hours, an Advocacy Workshop for Nonprofits and training sessions on topics like grant financial documents.
Building on that momentum, CFMV launched a more cohesive calendar of nonprofit learning opportunities in 2026 under the Growing Together: Learning & Networking Series.
With support from CFMV, the Healthy Community Partnership advanced resident-centered collaboration throughout the year, supporting initiatives focused on safer streets, restoring urban tree canopy and food access. One such effort, the Plant Power! Food Sovereignty Initiative, distributed 800 plants to help residents grow their own vegetables and herbs, strengthening access to healthy food while encouraging community ownership.
In 2026, CFMV expects continued demand for responsive grantmaking, deeper cross-sector partnerships and strategies that help nonprofits adapt to shifting economic and policy conditions.
It remains committed to connecting charitable resources to local needs and supporting the organizations and partners working to strengthen the Mahoning Valley.
Founded in 1999, the CFMV is a public charity with seven full-time employees. It builds and administers charitable funds and distributes grants, scholarships and other financial support to strengthen communities across the Mahoning Valley.
