Ohio Philanthropy News - January 9, 2026

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley awarded $717K through its fourth and final competitive grant cycle of 2025, supporting work ranging from the construction of a school library to state-level advocacy work.
 
The Lima Community Foundation celebrated its 60-year anniversary by awarding grants totaling $60K, along with additional funding from the Martha S. MacDonell Arts Fund, to invest in youth programs and inspire the arts.
 
The Schooler Family Foundation is celebrating 40 years of grantmaking in Coshocton and surrounding areas, during which it awarded 444 grants totaling more than $9.6M.

The Holmes County Education & Community Foundation announced a grant award of $25K to the Village of Glenmont to support the development of plans to improve the village’s stormwater conveyance system.
 
The Defiance Area Foundation awarded a $4,962 grant to the Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission.
 
The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless’ new shelter received additional support from The George Gund Foundation, the city of Cleveland and the Community West Foundation.
 
The Ohio Arts Council funded the Creative Aging art series initiative in Athens to expand high-quality arts programming for older adults, with a focus on lifelong learning, social connection and personal well-being.
 
The Blanchard River Watershed Partnership received a $20K grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation to support the urban prairie pilot project planned for flood mitigation land along East Main Cross Street.
 
The Middletown Community Foundation named Travis A. Robinson as the new executive director.

The Pickaway Township Fire Department received a donation from the Mona Pants Foundation for new lifesaving equipment to help pets in emergency situations.
 
The J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation provided funding for a $60K renovation to TruLight Ministries' building to help the local organization address hunger issues while serving a positive message.

Other Member News

The Muskingum County Community Foundation was awarded nearly $300K from the Appalachian Regional Commission through the READY Grants to Grow program, as well as $25K through ARC's READY Community Foundations initiative, to expand college access and strengthen local capacity.
 
The Van Wert County Foundation embraced the spirit of giving by matching donations up to $10K per fund made to Charitable Organization Endowment Funds and selecting Permanent Designated Funds held within the foundation.

The Central Ohio Association of Fundraising Professionals has named Grange Insurance Company a 2025 National Philanthropy Day honoree, in the large employer category, celebrating the company's inclusive, associate-driven model of giving and its sustained investment in health and human services, education and the arts.