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Community Foundation Awards $1M in Grants

November 30, 2022

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $1,029,476 at the November board meeting. This total includes 17 responsive grants, seven president’s discretionary grants and 36 donor advised fund grants.

“The Foundation recently surpassed $75 million awarded in our history and this additional $1 million will be another step in a positive direction for Hancock County,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of the Foundation. “These grants are possible because of generous donors in our 30-year history. Like the grants listed below, the generosity of these donors will have a lasting community impact.

Responsive Grants

Responsive grants are awarded to organizations 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 responsive grants comes from our Community’s Endowment, made up of Funds for the Common Good and Field of Interest Funds established by donors at The Community Foundation. The following responsive grants were approved by the Board of Trustees, made possible by our Community’s Endowment:

  • 50 North was awarded $10,000 for free weekend activities in 2023.
  • Bless Up & Bloom was awarded $3,150 for a pilot program for salon services for those who need self-confidence, employability, self-awareness, and overall wellness, to help everyone flourish, at any stage in their lives.
  • The Family Center was awarded $500,000 for the principal payment on the building loan for the facility which houses 12 nonprofits providing a wide variety of critical services to area residents.
  • Focus Recovery and Wellness was awarded $17,777 to expand the i am somebody podcast.
  • Hancock County Housing Coalition was awarded $1,500 to join the Greater Ohio Policy Center.
  • Hancock Historical Museum was awarded $5,000 to create the Junior Historians service-learning group.
  • Hancock Public Health was awarded two grants:
    • $843 to provide support services to local youth with diabetes.
    • $3,000 to purchase a second A1c machine.
  • Marathon Center for the Performing Arts was awarded $16,334 to support school day performances for area youth.
  • OhioGuidestone was awarded $4,847 to provide peer recovery services in Hancock County.
  • On Target Outfitters was awarded $218 to provide fishing and hunting equipment for youth.
  • Ohio State University Extension of Hancock County was awarded $1,200 to provide scholarships for low-income individuals to participate in Dining with Diabetes classes.
  • Sightline Security was awarded $35,000 to support cybersecurity assessment and training for four local nonprofits.
  • University of Findlay was awarded up to $125,000 to support the expansion and modernization of the Newhard Planetarium.
  • Village of Arcadia was awarded $150,000 to implement the Community Heart & Soul program.
  • Village of Mt. Blanchard was awarded $620 to support items from the Mt. Blanchard Heart & Soul action plan.
  • West Ohio Food Bank was awarded $21,000 to support additional food distributions including a pilot program in rural parts of the county.

President’s Discretionary Grants

President’s Discretionary grants fund urgent or special requests outside The Community Foundation’s various grant cycles. The President of The Community Foundation is allocated an amount each year. These grants typically do not individually exceed $5,000. The following discretionary grants were awarded:

  • Blanchard River Watershed Partnership was awarded $400 to support the Phase I Riverside Dam restoration project event.
  • Children’s Museum of Findlay was awarded $2,500 for a free admission day in 2023.
  • City of Findlay was awarded two grants:
    • $1,500 to purchase ornaments for the Christmas tree in Dorney Plaza.
    • $3,600 for a free admission day at the Cube in 2023.
    • Lima Symphony Orchestra was $2,400 for three Symphony Storytimes at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library in 2023.
    • Marathon Center for the Performing Arts was awarded $2,700 for a free family movie event in 2023.
    • University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum was awarded $300 to provide books for attendees of the November 2022 Funday Sunday.

    Donor Advised Grants

    Donor Advised Funds are established by individuals, families or corporations to recommend grants to nonprofits they’re passionate about. The nonprofits are vetted by the Foundation and grants are awarded. The following donor advised grants were awarded:

    • 36 grants to 29 organizations totaling $120,587.