Community Foundation Awards $672,593 in Grants

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $672,593.40 at the September board meeting. This total includes nine competitive grants totaling $651,062; one president’s discretionary grant totaling $250; one designated grant totaling $11,262.40; and one donor advised grant totaling $10,019.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS
Competitive grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that seek to meet community needs and match the goals, objectives, and priorities of the Community Foundation. Grantseekers must submit a written grant proposal for consideration. Applications are reviewed four times per year.

Funding for competitive grants comes from unrestricted and field of interest funds established by donors at the Community Foundation. Unrestricted funds allow the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees to direct the funds where they are most needed. Field of interest funds are granted in the donor’s chosen area of interest, such as health, education, or the arts.

The following nine competitive grants totaling $651,062 were approved by the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees at their September meeting.

Artful EDUtainment
Artful EDUtainment was awarded a one-year grant totaling $2,600 to allow the organization to grow through a professionally-led strategic planning process.  The goal of this process is to create a three-year plan that will guide the mission, vision, direction and goals of this new agency.

Boy Scouts – Black Swamp Area Council
The Boy Scouts – Black Swamp Area Council was awarded a three-year grant totaling $50,000 to expand the Boy Scout’s Learning for Life program, specifically Exploring and Venturing.

Celebrate Central Committee
The Celebrate Central Committee was awarded a one-year grant totaling $40,000 with The Arts Partnership as fiscal sponsor to fund two studies:

• A Business Plan/Market Analysis for ongoing operation of Central Auditorium that includes competitive analysis, arts and cultural trend identification, market analysis, potential leadership summary, and financial plan; and
• A Fundraising Assessment that includes a preliminary case for support and assessment of philanthropic appeal of the proposed fundraising goals for facility renovation and endowment that identifies external factors such as philanthropic environment and economic climate that may affect the timing and strategy of a fundraising effort.

CHOPIN Hall
CHOPIN Hall was awarded a three-year grant totaling $23,230 to fund a three-year branding and marketing campaign to reinforce Chopin Hall’s position as the community leader in fighting hunger in Hancock County.  This would also serve as the strategic first step in building a case for support, the tool that drives annual fund requests of churches and individuals.

Camp Fire USA of Northwest Ohio
Camp Fire USA of Northwest Ohio was awarded a one-year grant totaling $3,500 to implement the “Tell the Story” video project to empower Camp Fire USA Northwest Ohio Council to effectively market its organization through a professionally produced video and four 1-2 minute videos that will be integrated into the Camp Fire USA Northwest Ohio website.  The project will increase awareness of Camp Fire’s mission, vision and relevance in our community.

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation was awarded a one-year grant totaling $15,000 to support the 2012 CommunityREAD. The featured book is Still Alice by Lisa Genova.  The author will be visiting the community March 1^st and 2^nd of next year.

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation was awarded a one-year grant totaling $400,000 to fully support debt service for The Family Center building loan.

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation was awarded a two-year grant totaling $25,000 to support service-learning teacher mini-grants and training to continue this powerful education strategy in Hancock County.

The University of Findlay
The University of Findlay was awarded a one-year grant totaling $73,600 to implement the Threat Assessment Management for local high schools and the Family Center.

PRESIDENT’S DISCRETIONARY GRANTS

• CHOPIN Hall was awarded a one-year grant totaling $250 to support the Annual Stuff the Bus campaign supported by the family center agencies.

AGENCY & DESIGNATED GRANTS

Designated grants are awarded from charitable funds established to support a specific nonprofit organization. Fund establishers may have specified how those funds were to be used by the organization, or funds may be awarded for general support. The following designated grant totaling $11,262.40 was approved by the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

• Owens Community College Foundation, provide support for the Success Program, $11,262.40

DONOR ADVISED GRANTS
Donor advised grants are recommended by the business, individual, or family who established the donor advised fund. The following donor advised grant totaling $10,019 was approved by the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

• Findlay City Schools, support of the purchase of equipment for Pantasia, $10,019