In a year marked by inflation, a government shutdown and workforce challenges across the region, the Youngstown Foundation continued to do what it has done for more than a century: provide steady support for the Mahoning Valley through grants and gifts to local nonprofit organizations.
“We remain guided by our mission to provide financial assistance to charitable, scientific and educational institutions in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, with a continued focus on the city of Youngstown,” says Lynnette Forde, the foundation’s president.
Founded in 1918, The Youngstown Foundation has endured through wars, recessions and social change. The past year also brought some challenges to local nonprofits in the form of rising costs, staffing shortages and growing demand for essential services. As a responsive grant maker, the foundation supported the efforts of more than 100 nonprofit organizations focused on healthcare, education, economic development, arts and culture and other community priorities, ranging from long-established institutions to smaller organizations, according to Forde.
In 2026, the foundation intends to continue its legacy of partnership and collaboration with local nonprofits.
“Thanks to our founders and donors, we are fortunate to be in a strong position to provide financial support to organizations that contribute to a healthier community,” Forde says. “Through ongoing evaluation, the foundation remains focused on understanding and sustaining the long-term impact of the work we support.”
Pictured: Central YMCA Executive Director Dre Brown, Foundation President Lynnette Forde and Beth Scheller, president and CEO of the YMCA of Youngstown.
