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Grants to Ohio Nonprofits and Agencies in Eligible Areas for Programs and Projects to Benefit Local Residents

Community Grants Program


Grant Writers
Agency
Foundation
GrantWatch ID#
178332
Funding Source
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF of SHELBY COUNTY
Array ( )
Geographic Focus
USA: Ohio: Shelby County and surrounding areas
Important Dates
LOI Date: 08/15/25
Deadline: 09/30/25 11:59 PM EST Save
Grant Description
Grants of up to $20,000 to Ohio nonprofit organizations and government agencies in eligible locations for a wide range of programs and projects that benefit local residents. Applicants must contact the program staff to be invited to apply. Applicants are then required to submit a preliminary proposal before submitting a full proposal. This program should benefit the residents of Shelby County and its surrounding areas.

Community Grant Priorities:

  • Impacts Shelby County Residents
  • Project must be sustained after the grant is exhausted
  • Based upon current community needs
  • An unduplicated program/project
  • Diversity in those who are served
  • Promoting community wellness and addressing societal problems

Other Factors Considered:

  • The request must be specific
  • An innovative, new concept or process
  • Meets a need not fully met by existing programs
  • Affects an underserved population
  • Impacts a growing need in the community
  • Is not a replacement of existing capital equipment
  • Has sufficient data or statistics to support the request

The Community Grants Program is not intended to be a source of ongoing operational and annual funding for an organization. However, the Grants Committee may consider a repeat request after all new programs/projects have been reviewed and/or awarded. 
Full Grant Text RFP
Recipient
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Must be a recognized 501(c)(3) organization, a government entity, or have a fiscal agent with a 501(c)(3) status. If a fiscal agent (a 501(c)(3) or governmental entity) will be the payee to receive a grant, please list that entity’s name and EIN on the Preliminary Proposal form.
Ineligible
The Community Foundation does not typically make grants from its discretionary funds for:
• General organizational operations
• Ongoing/repeated programs
• Fundraising drives
• Individuals
• Religious organizations for religious purposes meant to primarily serve its members (programs open to the community may be considered)
• Endowments
• Specific scientific, medical, or academic research
• Political activities
Pre-Application Information
Organizations interested in completing a Preliminary Proposal need to first gain permission to apply by contacting Juli Smith. When you are approved to apply, you will receive a code that will open the proposal within the online site.

Spring Grant Cycle
- Preliminary Proposal Opens – January 2 of each year
- Preliminary Proposal Deadline – February 15 of each year
- Full Proposal Deadline – March 30 of each year
- Awarded the last week of April

Fall Grant Cycle
- Preliminary Proposal Opens – July 1 of each year
- Preliminary Proposal Deadline – August 15 of each year
- Full Proposal Deadline – September 30 of each year
- Awarded the last week of October

To apply for a grant, please follow these steps:

1. Call or email the Grants Manager, Juli Smith, to discuss the grant request idea. Preliminary Proposal and Full Proposals will not be accepted if they have not been approved by the Grants Manager. If approved to apply, a code will be given to enter the online Grant Portal, allowing access to the application.

2. Preliminary Proposals: Complete an online Preliminary Grant Proposal. After the Grants Committee reviews Preliminary Proposals, each applying organization will be informed if the proposal has been declined or is advancing to the Full Proposal stage.

3. Full Proposals: Those making it to the Full Proposal stage will be emailed a link for the online Full Proposal form. The Grants Committee may ask for additional information, an interview, or a site visit.

4. Final Decisions: The Committee will submit recommendations to the Board of Trustees and the Trustees will make the final decision at their April or October meeting. The applicants will be notified by email soon thereafter.

Most grant awards will be paid as follows:
- 80% following board approval of a grant request.
- 20% upon submission of a favorable grant evaluation report which follows the completion of the program or project.

Organizations may not apply for a similar grant until previous awarded grants have been completed. However, the Committee may consider a grant for a new program or project within the same organization.

Grant portal video tutorial 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O2-rkkxy9iQ1WLx2LKaBYr9LgFoXfaqt/view?usp=sharing

Grant portal video tutorial 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cmTa7Hmacg4pqJpn5Xo92vp3RzRxfoeS/view?usp=sharing

Grant portal video tutorial 3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/155ta4kdwfWbiSnftjux_PGJHfMkse5Bz/view?usp=sharing

Grant portal written tutorial: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HyVKOrd9FiHscI3tsupIHKpwzcrMRqwWF43t4zXK9NY/edit
Estimated Size of Grant
Grants may be in any amount up to $20,000.
Term of Contract
In general, The Community Foundation of Shelby County awards grants for one year. In selected instances, multi-year grants may be considered.
Contact Information
To submit the Preliminary Grant Proposal online (by invitation only):
https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfscgrants

To discuss a grant request please contact Juli Smith, Grants Manager, either by phone at (937) 497-7800, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or email to jsmith@commfoun.com.

The Community Foundation of Shelby County
100 South Main Avenue
Sidney, Ohio 45365-2771
RFP & Supporting Documents
Full Grant Text RFP

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.

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