Ohio Philanthropy News - January 30, 2026

The Springfield Foundation awarded over $900K in discretionary grants to Clark County nonprofits. 

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is accepting scholarship applications for Mahoning Valley students until March 1. 

The Make Muskingum Home program, a collaboration between the Muskingum County Community Foundation and the J.W. and M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation, provided $50K in student loan repayment over five years to recipients who live and work in Muskingum County and was recognized by the Muskingum County Commissioners through official proclamations. 

Director Jill Collins’ Master Teacher Award of Excellence grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation helped fund new assisted hearing devices for the Ridgewood High School auditorium, which were introduced during the holiday comedy Closed for the Holidays at the annual senior citizens’ luncheon. 

The Cleveland Foundation supported HOLA Ohio to offer a free, eight-week U.S. citizenship preparation course for Latino residents of Lake County. 

The New Albany Community Foundation held its 23rd annual Remarkable Evening benefit on Dec. 3 at the New Albany International Business Park, headlined by Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, with proceeds supporting the foundation’s annual grants to area nonprofits. 

The 2026 Marion Community Foundation Scholarship Program application period runs through Feb. 10. 

The Mercy Health-Defiance Hospital received a $1.5K grant from the Defiance Area Foundation Community Fund for its Defiance Pathways Hub. 

The Youngstown Foundation funded the Live Music Initiative, a program that supports live music at selected downtown venues, set to launch alongside Youngstown’s free community event, First Fridays, with the aim of providing residents with arts and culture experiences in a central setting.  

The Cleveland Cavaliers Community Foundation and the Monsters Community Foundation distributed $160K in grants to 11 local nonprofits that support youth empowerment and families in Cleveland.

The AES Ohio Foundation awarded more than $1.5M in grants to 54 area organizations. 

The Middletown Community Foundation and the city of Middletown plan to create a $15M partnership to redevelop Middletown’s urban core, starting with an initial $5M contribution from Butler County commissioners. 

Other Member News

The Greater Toledo Community Foundation, in partnership with Stranahan Supporting Organization, established the Arts and Culture Area of Interest Fund to distribute over $567K to 15 organizations working to bring creative expression and cultural experiences into the heart of our communities.  

The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation and Health Council of Northwest Ohio, with community partners, are ensuring uninterrupted operation of schools as Community Hubs in seven high-need Toledo neighborhoods through the 2025–2026 school year with a $245K grant supporting coordinated, place-based services. 

The Bryan Youth Activities Fund, held at the Bryan Area Foundation, awarded $7.5K in grants to support local youth sports programs in Bryan. 

The Ohio Arts Council’s board approved grants totaling $375K for 77 Ohio artists through the Individual Excellence Awards program.