WARREN, Ohio – The Raymond John Wean Foundation Board of Directors has approved grants of more than $380,000, including $151,250 in additional resources to existing grantees to support equitable compensation practices.
To support the Wean Foundation’s strategic priority of economic opportunity, a total of $230,000 was awarded to the following three organizations:
United Returning Citizens
United Returning Citizens will receive general operating support over two years. The organization works to support justice-impacted individuals and their families with a successful transition into the community. Support is offered to clients through a wraparound approach that includes mental health, workforce and housing services.
URC’s intake efforts help determine the services individuals may benefit from, and through partnerships, these services are offered onsite at URC’s office. More than 270 individuals received services in 2024.
Thrive Mahoning Valley
Thrive Mahoning Valley will receive general operating support for one year. The Youngstown-based organization’s work is multifaceted and includes workforce placement services, addressing the transportation gap and equity and community engagement training for employers. At the heart of its work is a desire to create a community that is welcoming to all, with a focus on meeting the needs of those relocating to the area.
Since its inception, the organization has provided services in both English and Spanish. Its Bikes for Newcomers program has provided 50 bikes to individuals in Warren and Youngstown, with more than 30 people on its waiting list. A job placement pilot with Schwebel’s Bakery resulted in seven hires, including a bilingual supervisor. In 2025, the organization is seeking to expand to up to 240 job placements.
Gener8tor Management LLC
Gener8tor Management will receive funding to expand its virtual Skills Accelerator Program in the Mahoning Valley. Gener8tor is a nationally ranked venture capital firm and accelerator that brings together startups, investors, job seekers, musicians, artists and others to create equal opportunities. Its goal is to close equity gaps for founders, continually improve the workforce and foster relationships with diverse communities and organizations.
Gener8tor has programs in more than 40 communities across the country and has been in the Mahoning Valley since 2017, when it launched its gBeta program out of the Youngstown Business Incubator. The Skills Accelerator Program provides online workshop-style courses tailored to support job seekers in becoming proficient in new skills for a growing digital economy. The program also offers one-on-one career coaching and job placement.
Other Funding
Additionally, the board approved $151,250 to be distributed among five minority-led organizations with up to $2 million in annual revenue that have received a community investment grant in the past two years. This support represents the Wean Foundation’s commitment to exploring equitable compensation practices among nonprofits. The issue of equitable compensation has steadily grown in focus for the Wean Foundation over the past several years.
“As we work toward our vision of empowered residents creating an equitable Mahoning Valley, we’ve made a concerted effort to increase our support of Black, Hispanic and Latinx-led organizations, which face significant inequities, including less funding and greater restrictions on that funding than White-led organizations,” said Jennifer Roller, Wean Foundation president. “This leads to challenges in being able to hire, adequately compensate and retain qualified employees to grow and sustain their important work.”