#GivingTuesday™ is a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, charities, families, businesses and individuals around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. Greater Toledo Community Foundation encourages northwest Ohio nonprofit organizations to participate in this global day of giving.
Greater Toledo Community Foundation is encouraging your participation in this local day of giving.
1. Between now and November 1, local nonprofits are asked to register their intent to participate in #GivingTuesdayNWO. Starting October 2, register your Intent to Participate here. By registering, your organization will be listed on GTCF’s website, www.toledocf.org, and promoted to our donors and fundholders as qualifying nonprofits to support on GivingTuesday – November 28, 2023.
2. Please Note – NEW IN 2023: In celebration of Greater Toledo Community Foundation’s 50th Anniversary, in 2023, registering your organization’s Intent to Participate in #GivingTuesdayNWO will also qualify you for further promotion during our December anniversary celebration event – The Giving Tree project. Organizations registered for #GivingTuesdayNWO will also be promoted on our 50th Anniversary microsite, encouraging Toledo area residents to support our local nonprofits during the holiday season. This promotion will run November 16 through December 31, 2023.
Use this logo to identify the program on your webpage:
3. A Results Survey for #GivingTuesdayNWO will open November 29th and remain open through 11:59 pm on December 13, 2023. It is imperative that all nonprofit organizations participating in #GivingTuesdayNWO complete the survey to provide us a general idea of how northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan did with their fundraising for this day. Access to the survey will be available here on and after November 29, 2023.
4. Do you have additional questions? Click here for our Nonprofit FAQ.
On November 28, 2023, we are asking donors to consider making a gift to their favorite local charities.
1. Starting October 17, you can view a list of eligible northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan nonprofits who notified us of their intent to participate in #GivingTuesdayNWO. The list will be updated on October 24 and November 1; a final list of eligible nonprofits will be published no later than November 16 at 4 pm.
2. Do you have questions about #GivingTuesdayNWO from the donor’s perspective? Click here for our Donor FAQ.
3. If you use social media, please consider sharing information about your donation via Facebook and use #GivingTuesdayNWO.
TOLEDO, OHIO, August 15, 2023 – Keith Burwell, president of Greater Toledo Community Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Nolan Thobe, accounting associate, to the Foundation team.
Nolan Thobe joined the Foundation in October 2022 as a Finance Intern and was recently offered full-time, employee status as the Foundation’s Accounting Associate. Nolan graduated from Bowling Green State University in May with a degree in advertising. He reports to Tammy Sprow, the Foundation’s Controller.
Tammy Sprow, controller, shared “We are excited to welcome Nolan to the Finance team. He did an outstanding job as an intern over the last year. We’re excited to expand his role and bring him on full-time.”
JOB TITLE: Vice President, Philanthropic Services
DEPARTMENT: Philanthropic Services
SUPERVISOR: Executive Vice President of Operations and Special Projects
Greater Toledo Community Foundation is a community asset. The Foundation is a collection of funds established by donors interested in philanthropy and supporting the Toledo area. Currently, the assets of the Foundation are approximately $400 million, made up of over 1,000 funds. The Foundation is the largest grant maker in the Toledo area, granting $20 million per year.
GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION
Provides assistance in matters related to development and donor services, including:
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervises the work of the Philanthropic Services staff in the areas related to development and donor services which includes but is not limited to:
QUALIFICATIONS
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
While this is mainly an office position, the ability to lift small boxes (letter stock, postcard stock, booklets) is required occasionally.
There will be some in-town travel required and occasional out-of-town travel for professional development opportunities.
To apply for this position, email your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Please include Vice President of Philanthropic Services in the subject line.
TOLEDO, OH – July 27, 2023 – The Board of Trustees of Greater Toledo Community Foundation recently approved $192,882 in grants from the David C. and Lura M. Lovell Foundation Designated Fund of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation (Lovell Fund) to six nonprofit organizations.
Grants from the Lovell Fund are made to nonprofit organizations whose programming seeks to reduce the stigma around living with and seeking services for a mental health issue.
Grants were made to:
TOLEDO, OHIO, July 27, 2023 – The Board of Trustees of The Andersons Fund Supporting Organization of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $213,000 to 13 area nonprofit organizations.
Grants from The Andersons Fund Supporting Organization are considered once a year, and are awarded only to nonprofit, charitable organizations. Grants support organizations with programs in the areas of education, social services, physical and mental health, neighborhood and urban affairs, natural resources, and the arts. Priority consideration is given to requests related to capital projects. The annual deadline for receipt of proposals is April 15th.
The following grants were awarded:
TOLEDO, OHIO, July 12, 2023 – Keith Burwell, president of Greater Toledo Community Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Tammy Sprow as the Foundation’s Controller. She will report to Kim Cryan, chief financial officer. Tammy started with the Foundation on July 5th.
Tammy is a degreed accountant with 25 years of work in the construction, manufacturing and grocery industries. She brings a wealth of accounting and management experience to the Foundation, having started her professional career as an auditor with Ernst & Young, LLP and most recently as the CFO for Rupp Rosebrock, Inc., a privately-owned construction management company.
“Tammy has a passion for accounting, technology and process improvement. We are excited to have her join the Finance Team and help us continue to serve our donors and grantees at the highest level” says Kim.
Supporting Access for People with Autism
Sources disagree on the current prevalence of autism and disagree even more on what causes it. But one thing everyone involved with autism will tell you: more people than ever need support to manage the disorder — and that support is not easy to access.
“We’re seeing a tsunami of autism now,” said Dustin Watkins, Executive Director of Bittersweet Farms. “Some of this increase is due to a lack of awareness and understanding of the condition in the past — but it is also definitely increasing. Autism is a spectrum and families with people on the spectrum face all kinds of challenges, no matter where they are on that spectrum.”
But, thanks to the work of visionary leaders in the northwest Ohio autism community, the region affords youth and adults across this spectrum more support and connection than many U.S. cities its size, and those resources are growing. In this annual report, we showcase three innovating organizations that have received Greater Toledo Community Foundation support via family foundations, fundholder gifts and grants.
Bittersweet Farms
As understanding of autism grew throughout the 1970s, many area schools provided classroom education and other services for children whose autism required significant support. But when these children aged out of public education in their late teens, most faced a limited future with aging parents absent peer-group friends or meaningful work.
One special education teacher in Toledo Public Schools, Bettye Ruth Kay, dreamed of a better future for her students. In 1983, that dream became Bittersweet Farms.
Modeling her vision on England’s Somerset Court, the world’s first farmstead community for adults with autism, Bettye began Bittersweet Farms with the help of area businesses and community members. Today, nearly 150 individuals are participating in day programs or living onsite at three different Bittersweet locations in Whitehouse, Lima and Pemberville — which still include some of Bettye’s students from the late 1970s.
Bittersweet’s focus on horticulture, animal care and creative arts reaps tangible benefits for program participants. “We could do more, but our workforce is the main limitation,” said Dustin, who joined Bittersweet’s support staff right out of college. “High behavioral needs require the highest grade of professional support because it is so much about rapport and relationships. It’s a real labor of passion — nobody gets into this kind of work because of the money. But we still have to be competitive to attract skilled professionals and offer quality programs that prospective employees recognize as making a difference.”
Bittersweet’s focus on horticulture, animal care and creative arts reaps tangible benefits for program participants. “We could do more, but our workforce is the main limitation,” said Dustin, who joined Bittersweet’s support staff right out of college. “High behavioral needs require the highest grade of professional support because it is so much about rapport and relationships. It’s a real labor of passion — nobody gets into this kind of work because of the money. But we still have to be competitive to attract skilled professionals and offer quality programs that prospective employees recognize as making a difference.”
Charitable donations are what make those programs possible. “The lion’s share of our funding comes from Medicaid — about 80-85%,” said Dustin. “Gifts from supporters make the crucial difference in the quality of our programs. Many of our core initiatives have been funded by Greater Toledo Community Foundation grants and gifts from donor advised funds.”
Avenues for Autism
When Bob and Suzy Tyner’s first child began exhibiting developmental abnormalities in the early 1950s, autism wasn’t even a word yet, let alone a diagnosis. But the Tyners were an exceptional couple. They relentlessly pursued the limited resources available at that time to help their son live his best life — and they had a vision for other families like them.
“In the 1950s and 60s, they were carving new trails,” said Dave Tyner, Bob and Suzy’s youngest son. “Dad’s original idea was ‘I want a building where people could go to get what they need.’ Mom and Dad knew that if they just had some information, they could have made a huge difference with their own son, and having blazed those trails, they felt they could make a difference for others.”
At first, the brick-and-mortar building of Bob’s dreams was out of reach — but eventually, the family started the Tyner Foundation in the late 1990s and began fundraising in earnest. In 2004, the Tyners established their foundation as a supporting organization with GTCF and the Great Lakes Center for Autism, which became Avenues for Autism in 2004, now housed in ProMedica’s Finnegan Center. Today, the Tyner Foundation is the primary source of non-Medicaid funds for the organization, and the Tyner family remains highly involved in both the fund’s and Avenues’ governing boards.
Mary Jane Luck, the Tyner’s daughter noted, “In a lot of ways, these parents have to reinvent the wheel. Where do you get information? Where do you get a diagnosis — and how do you get in line for one, which itself can take some time? And once you do, it’s not a one-size-fits all as far as therapies go. Avenues for Autism streamlines this process for families.”
Avenues’ executive director, Stacy Harper agrees. “No two situations are the same for families with autism, and everyone’s journey is different,” she said. “Avenues is a place where families can get help, in person or online, with navigating our many area resources to find those that best fit their needs. We also provide highly trained therapists who work with caregivers as well as those on the spectrum.”
Many such families have needs that aren’t paid for by Medicaid — so the Suzanne Tyner Autism Fund was created specifically to meet these needs. Stacy gave an example: “An area family had a child who could not tolerate the tactile stimulation of a shower. They didn’t have a bathtub and couldn’t afford to pay for one. A grant from this fund covered the cost of a tub and its installation, so the child could bathe comfortably.” In 2022, this fund provided roughly $45,000 to more than 30 families for medical and social services, therapies, sensory items, tuition, safety equipment and more.
Bob and Suzy have now passed, and their legacy is being maintained by Dave and Mary Jane, with Dave’s two sons now involved as well. “GTCF has been a huge factor in the growth of Avenues for Autism” said Dave, noting that because he and Mary Jane both live out of town, GTCF’s local business connections and guidance have been as important to them as GTCF’s management of the Tyner Foundation’s funds. He concluded: “In our early days, when it was mainly fundraising, our resources were a total pass-through. Now, as a supporting organization, our foundation can provide a certain amount in perpetuity to Avenues — and more than 90% of the money goes directly to families to pay for services or other needs.”
Valentine Theatre
Thanks to the efforts of Destination Toledo, The Ability Center and several area tourism attractions, Toledo is on its way to becoming a Certified Autism Destination city for families nationwide.
The Valentine Theatre is now among these attractions — but this wasn’t the initial goal of the Valentine staff when they began exploring autism-friendly programming for children.
“Our Executive Director, Jori Jex, had nominated me to be a panelist on the Ohio Arts Council sustainability grant,” said Valentine Development and VSD Coordinator Kelby Sodeman, describing her experience in Columbus. “One of the presentations that stood out to me was a New Albany Symphony program for children with autism called ‘Sensory Saturdays.’ It made me realize there were whole populations that were missing out on what we had to offer.”
Valentine’s leadership was enthusiastic about Kelby’s report and the possibilities of creating special programming for children with autism. On the advice of former Executive Director of Avenues for Autism Katina Harding, the Valentine created a “retreat space” adjacent to the front lobby where audience members who needed a stimulation break could go during a performance.
Another essential key to an autism-friendly experience was high-quality training for [#] of their all-volunteer team of ushers. Suitable programming designed for youngsters with autism was another need. Jori explained how GTCF made both possible: “GTCF had a community builder grant in two amounts — $50,000 and $25,000. Our application for the smaller grant was approved and allowed us to pay for staff and volunteer training. It also covered resources for visitors like headsets and fidget toys and the programming itself, so we could avoid taking on a heavy financial risk as we implemented the program.”
Kelby added: “The national touring groups who present our children’s theatre were already offering sensory-friendly adaptations of their programs. So, even though there were modifications to the experience, all of our usual families came anyway — they didn’t feel like it wasn’t for them.”
GTCF-funded staff and volunteer training also earned the Valentine a Certified Autism CenterTM (CAC) designation. The certification is granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), and supports the effort to make Toledo the second autism-friendly destination city in the U.S.
But it’s the joy of children who’ve been introduced to the experience of live theatre of which the Valentine team is most proud.
“We had tons and tons of compliments!” said Kelby. “For our very first show, I stood where our usual will-call table was to distribute headsets and fidget toys, just letting people know what we were doing. People would say, ‘I have a friend whose child has autism — I’m going to let them know about this!’ Most families like this have never been able to take their child to live theatre for fear their child might be too disruptive or that they might be ‘shushed’ or made to feel uncomfortable. Our mission was to make the Valentine a warm and accommodating place for children with autism and their families to make memories together.”
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross observed that beautiful people “do not just happen” — their compassion and concern for others is often rooted in or informed by difficult personal experiences, which sometimes accompany their many blessings. This was certainly true for Craig and Cathy Sheets.
A tax accountant and partner at the Plante Moran accounting firm, Cathy was always a high achiever. “I was a straight-A student and couldn’t understand how some students struggled to grasp things,” she said. But her first child, Sara, taught her about those struggles: she was born on the autism spectrum with a low IQ. And then, not long after their second child, Rebecca, had begun elementary school, Cathy was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“I had two years where I was asking myself, ‘Why is this happening to me?’” Cathy said. But she also came to deeply appreciate her many blessings through the experience. Following her diagnosis, as she reassessed her demanding personal and professional roles, both her husband Craig and her partners at Plante Moran were supportive. She recalled: “One of my co-workers said to me, ‘You know how you love helping people? Now it’s your turn to let other people feel that love.’”
Cathy’s experience inspired the couple to seek new ways to help others in need. “We were able to manage everything — all the medical bills for me, and for Sarah, too,” she said. “We know there are so many people who need an extra hand. We asked ourselves, ‘How can we do something to help people in the community when they find themselves in that spot?’”
The couple decided to answer that question with a donor advised fund at Greater Toledo Community Foundation. Sometime later, they worked with their GTCF advisor to convert their donor advised fund to a donor advised endowed fund in which gifts are made only from interest on the fund, which enhances its longevity.
“With the endowed fund, we contribute to the fund to build capital when our tax obligations are at their highest,” Cathy explained. “It enables us to support in perpetuity the kinds of causes that are important to us. It also enables us to bring our girls into our family philanthropy. GTCF provides the oversight and vetting that will make it easy for them to continue our intentions after we are gone.”
Craig and Cathy are looking forward to the time when their endowment will reap rewards for others. “Right now, our focus is on its funding, so we are not thinking about exactly what to fund — and we see that as another benefit of working with GTCF,” she noted. “When future need arises, the money will be there.”
The couple also values the Foundation’s local focus. “Even though I didn’t grow up in Toledo and we’ve since moved away, Toledo is where we raised our family. So, it was very important to me to have that tie,” said Cathy. “Toledo gave us a lot and it has a special place in our hearts.”
When Bob and Sue Savage met at a Catholic young adult convention at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, excitement was in the air in more ways than one.
“President Kennedy had come to address the meeting, and everyone was thrilled to see him,” said Sue. Bob was certainly pleased to see the president — but he was also there for other sights. “What do young guys like to do? Drink beers and look at the girls!” he chuckled. Sue had caught his eye, and before long, marriage was on the horizon.
Bob’s energetic leadership as a student at The University of Toledo had drawn the attention of local political leaders. By the time Bob and Sue met, although he was barely out of college, he had already been elected to his first term on Toledo city council. He served for three consecutive terms from 1963 to 1969 as Toledo’s youngest councilman and leading vote-getter. But in 1969, he declined to run again. Both his family and business were growing, along with Bob’s role in the community as a business leader — including a term of service on the board of the brand-new Toledo Community Foundation when it was launched in 1973.
As the Savage’s six young children began their education, Sue continued the Savage family’s public service. Sue took on a variety of volunteer roles in their schools and at other institutions as well, including St. Anthony Villa, and most recently, the Christ Child Society and as chair of the board of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library.
It was natural, then, that Bob and Sue chose a donor directed pooled fund with Greater Toledo Community Foundation to manage their regular contributions to the many schools and charitable organizations they supported over the years. “Almost all our giving is local,” noted Sue. “We chose a donor directed fund so we could specify where all the gifts from our fund would go, whether annual donations or gifts for special projects, such as the creativity lab at the downtown library branch.”
Bob has also created two GTCF funds to facilitate fundraising and support for specific causes. The Science Society Fund helps Toledo’s Imagination Station refresh its permanent exhibits, and the Distinguished Clown Corps Fund helps defray the cost of Toledo’s annual holiday parade. Both are funded by membership fees, and in the case of the Clown Corps fund, the yearly dues reserve the member a spot in the holiday parade’s clown brigade.
Bob added, “The Community Foundation gives people a convenient way to manage charitable giving, and a good place to put their money to do good work in the community. That’s what sold us on being involved at the very beginning, and it hasn’t changed — we think it’s great.”
Toledo, Ohio, June 27, 2023 — Greater Toledo Community Foundation (GTCF) has announced that it will be gifting four concerts to the community as a "Soundtrack to Summer.” This generous gift will bring the sounds of summer to Toledo and provide a great opportunity for people to come together and enjoy live music.
The concerts will be held at various locations throughout the city and will feature a diverse range of musical styles and genres. From jazz and blues to rock to country, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Three of the concerts will be free to attend, making them accessible to all community members.
The Greater Toledo Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the people of Toledo and the surrounding areas. It works to support a wide range of charitable causes and organizations, including those that focus on education, the environment, social services and the arts. This gift of four concerts is just one of the many ways that they are working to make a positive impact on the community.
"We are thrilled to be able to offer these concerts to the community," said Keith Burwell, President and CEO of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation. "Music has the power to bring people together and create a sense of unity and joy. We hope these concerts will provide a much-needed opportunity for people to come together and enjoy some great music."
The concerts are part of a 12-month campaign called, “Fifty Years of Funding Futures,” which includes an entire 2023 calendar of community events and programs centered on honoring the past, celebrating the present and equipping future generations for continued community impact was also announced.
"We believe that by working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of the people in our community," said Burwell. "We are committed to supporting a wide range of initiatives that will help to improve the quality of life for everyone in Toledo and the surrounding areas."
The 2023 Soundtrack to Summer Includes:
For more information, please visit 50YearsForToledo.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
About “Fifty Years of Funding Futures”
“Fifty Years of Funding Futures” is the 50th-anniversary campaign for Greater Toledo Community Foundation (GTCF). Through its five decades of service, GTCF has been trusted to distribute more than $310 million in grants to Toledo area nonprofits and beyond. GTCF now holds more than 900 funds and approximately $435 million in assets with the goal of creating a better community for generations to come.
Through a yearlong campaign, GTCF’s “Fifty Years of Funding Futures” will deliver meaningful communications, events and programs centering on honoring the past, celebrating the present and equipping future generations for continued community impact. For more information, visit 50YearsForToledo.com.