Ohio Philanthropy News - October 31, 2025

The Columbus Foundation announced a $500K investment in 21 food pantries across the region as the central Ohio community prepares for the potential loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
 
The Fairfield County Foundation awarded grants to 17 organizations totaling $194K for the second and final grant cycle in 2025.
 
The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley awarded over $170K to recipients in 17 different high schools.
 
The KeyBank Foundation donated $10K to Fathers & Sons of Northeast Ohio during the grand opening of the new downtown Akron bank branch.
 
The Lima Community Foundation awarded grants from the Warren A. and Mary E. Copeland Fund to four local organizations, each receiving $46K in recognition of their exemplary service and commitment to the Lima community.
 
The Nordson Corporation Foundation supported the seventh annual TECH CORPS Hackathon event on Nov. 8 at Lorain County Community College in Lorain County, where high school students will build technology and teamwork skills while learning about potential careers in the field.
 
The Defiance Moose Lodge 2094 fund, under the Defiance Area Foundation umbrella, has awarded DASH Defiance a $2K grant for the upcoming 5K walk/run.
 
The J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation made a $1.5M naming gift to jumpstart a new in-patient hospice facility, the Straker Foundation Hospice House, which broke ground on Oct. 21.
 
The Community West Foundation distributed over $115K in grants to nonprofits serving Cleveland, Western Cuyahoga and Lorain counties.
 
Findlay Council voted to donate $125K to support the establishment of a microtransit system by the Hancock Area Transit Service (HATS), with the Hancock County Board of Commissioners, the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation and private donors also contributing to the project’s development.
 
Knox County Foundation’s Board of Directors has approved updates to the Foundation’s Guidelines for Grantmaking to better support local nonprofits and ensure a more efficient, accessible grantmaking process.
 
The James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation made a $20M bequest to the University of Cincinnati's Gardner Neuroscience Institute in Corryville.
 
The Bowling Green Community Foundation provided a grant to fund the initial acquisition of nets, paddles and balls, enabling the Community Center to offer pickleball within the facility.
 
The Nationwide Foundation donated $10M through the Pediatric Innovation Fund to create more affordable housing in Columbus.

Other Member News

The Raymond John Wean Foundation approved more than $41K to support resident-led initiatives in Warren and Youngstown.
 
The Erie County Community Foundation’s Board of Directors awarded $134K in charitable grants to numerous Erie County nonprofits, schools and municipalities.

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The Ohio Philanthropy News digest features a limited number of member press releases that the media may not have picked up. To have your news featured, email the link to your online press release to Jessica Howard and Alyssa Donahey. Press release features are limited to funding news; sending your release does not guarantee it will be published; and members will be featured no more than once per month. Questions? Contact Jessica Howard.