How to Apply – To access the online application system, please click here.
Organizational due diligence attachments (board list, IRS letter, financial statements, budget, background) must be submitted with every grant application made to Greater Toledo Community Foundation, with the exception of applications made to the First Solar Corporate Charitable Fund and the Mud Hens-Walleye Transportation Fund. Faxed, emailed, mailed and/or delivered attachments will not be accepted. Acceptable file types include Word, Excel and PDF only. Please find detailed instructions within each set of grant guidelines below. Note that Greater Toledo Community Foundation suggests that you clearly name the files. Before you upload these attachments to our application portal, save these documents on your own computer with a name that matches the attachment type and includes your organization’s name. (For example, “Board List – ABC Services Agency” or “Operating Budget – ABC Services Agency.”)
Prior to submitting a proposal, applicants are encouraged to call the Foundation at 419.241.5049. The Foundation’s program staff is available to answer questions you may have regarding the grant application process. Please review the Nonprofit FAQ for answers to common questions about the application process.
Open Funding Opportunities
Toledo Rotary Club Foundation
Toledo Rotary Club Foundation grants support projects in the following areas:
- Projects that meet the needs of disadvantaged citizens, especially youth, disabled and elderly.
- Projects with community or international value.
- Among local projects, those that will have an impact in the City of Toledo or throughout the northwest Ohio region are preferred.
To access the online application, click here.
Andersons Fund Supporting Organization
Grants from the Andersons Fund Supporting Organization support capital improvement projects in the following areas:
- (1) Education, (2) social services, (3) physical & mental health, (4) neighborhood & urban affairs, (5) natural resources, and (6) the arts.
- Capital projects that involve additional funders.
Funds are limited and awarded on a competitive basis.
Click here for a list of the last round of grants awarded from this fund. Here, Chris Dziad reviews the guidelines and criteria for this funding opportunity.
To access the online application, click here.
For further information or to discuss a possible submission, please contact: Christine (Chris) Dziad, Program Officer 419.241.5049.
First Solar Community Giving Fund – Civic Engagement and Environmental Impact Grants
Provides support to projects and services that make a meaningful impact on "green" education initiatives, access to clean energy and water in underserved areas, and further development of innovative and sustainable technologies.
To access the online application, click here.
Community Builder Grants
Community Builder Funds support projects in the following areas:
- New innovative programs that addresses an unmet community need
- Existing program expansions to reach a unique audience
- Capacity building efforts that benefit existing nonprofit organizations
Requests up to $25,000 will be considered.
Click here for a list of the last round of grants awarded from this fund. Here, Patrick Johnston reviews the guidelines and criteria for this funding opportunity.
To access the online application, click here.
Community Impact Grants
Community Impact Funds support projects in the following areas:
- New innovative programs that addresses unmet community needs
- Existing program expansion to reach unique audiences
Requests in the amount of $50,000 or greater will be considered.
Click here for a list of the last round of grants awarded from this fund.
To access the online application, click here.
Upcoming Funding Opportunities
Dr. Morton Goldberg Lecture Fund
Greater Toledo Community Foundation is pleased to issue this Request for Proposals from individuals interested in delivering the next presentation in the Dr. Morton Goldberg Lecture Series. Proposed presentations must clearly incorporate a theme that promotes better human understanding and positive relations among individuals from diverse racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, with an emphasis on Judaic studies.
Please click here for the full Request for Proposal description.
Please click here for instructions on how to set up an individual account in the Foundation’s online application system.
Please click here for more details on Rabbi Goldberg’s extraordinary life.
Equity & Access Initiative Fund
In response to recent events across the nation and within Toledo, the Foundation created the Equity & Access Initiative Fund to proactively address the concerns raised by communities that are disproportionately impacted by inequity and lack of access in the Greater Toledo area. Competitive proposals will address one or more focus areas: Advocacy, Employment, Economic Development and Nonprofit Capacity.
To learn more about the Foundation's Equity & Access Initiative and grants awarded to date from this fund, click here.
Toledo Walleye Hockey Club's Wishing Well Fund
Supports projects in the following areas:
- Programs that promote overall fitness and wellness of children
- Projects that encourage activities during cold weather months
Click here for a list of the last round of grants awarded from this fund.
Bill Rowles Youth Foundation Fund
Bill Rowles Youth Foundation Fund grants support
- Programs that enhance the lives of young people under the age of 21 in northwest Ohio
- Priority consideration will be given to organizations and programs that serve youth who have had contact with the juvenile justice system, experienced school suspension or expulsion, or have other behavioral challenges
- Preference will be given to Wood County organizations
Click here for a list of the last round of grants awarded from this fund.
Katherine R. Smith Funds for Youth
Katherine Smith Funds for Youth support projects in the following areas:
- Programs that enhance the lives of young people under the age of 18 in northwest Ohio
- Programs that benefit youth residing in Lucas or Wood Counties
- Program operational expenses for existing services
- Program expenditures associated with establishment of new programs
Funds are limited and awarded on a competitive basis.
Click here for a list of the last round of grants awarded from this fund.
Toledo Mud Hens Baseball Club's Helping Hens Fund
Grants support projects in the following areas:
- Programs that promote overall fitness and wellness of children.
- Projects that encourage activities during warm weather months.
- Capital projects designed to maintain or construct new sporting venues
Click here for a list of the last round of grants awarded from this fund.
Fund for Islamic Understanding, Education and Dialogue of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation
Grants from this fund:
- Funds may be used to support educational or direct service programming that provide Muslims and non-Muslims opportunities to work together and engage in interpersonal dialogue.
- May be used to support multi-faith events if there is a significant emphasis on the Islamic faith;
- Are limited and will be awarded on a competitive basis, up to $5,000.
Strategic Alliance Partnership
Strategic Alliance Partnership grants support projects that:
- Create cost savings or service enhancements (e.g. costs related to mergers, shared administrative services, shared staff to serve common constituencies)
- Strengthen infrastructure, management capacity or service delivery by supporting alliances among nonprofit organizations
- Encourage collaborative partnerships that employ comprehensive strategies to strengthen community systems
Does your SAP project idea fit the criteria? Learn more here.
Invite-Only Opportunities
Stranahan Supporting Organization
The Stranahan Supporting Organization does not currently accept unsolicited grant proposals. Provides support to programs that enhance access to education opportunities, health care and cultural opportunities.
Oswald Supporting Organization
The Oswald Supporting Organization does not currently accept unsolicited grant proposals. Provides support to programs that further the growth of women and children of all ages.
COVID-19 Response Fund and Community Resilience Fund
Grant Seeker FAQ
If you have additional questions about Greater Toledo Community Foundation processes or giving options, you may also want to consult the content covered in our Donor/Fund and Advisor FAQs.
Some grants issued by Greater Toledo Community Foundation do require interim/final reports to be submitted. Any required reports and associated deadlines would be described in the grant agreement provided to the grantee organization. Specific instructions on how to submit reports are also included in the agreement.
No. These terms are used interchangeably to mean a set of instructions an applicant must consult to find all pertinent information about how to respond to a specific grant opportunity. The term “Guidelines” has historically been used at the Foundation to refer to a set of grant application instructions that are expected to remain roughly the same from year to year. The term “Request for Proposals” has historically been used to refer to a set of grant application instructions that may change each year or may be used one time for a special opportunity. Regardless of whether the document is called “Guidelines” or “Request for Proposals,” each prospective applicant must read the document very carefully to ensure that their grant application is responsive and complete.
Organizational due diligence attachments (board list, IRS letter, financial statements, budget, background) must be submitted with every grant application made to Greater Toledo Community Foundation, with the exception of applications made to the First Solar Corporate Charitable Fund and the Mud Hens-Walleye Transportation Fund. They must be submitted every single time the organization applies for a grant. These documents must be submitted through the online application portal at the time of the grant submission. Faxed, emailed, mailed and/or delivered documents will not be accepted. Please find detailed instructions within each set of grant guidelines.
There are some important details to keep in mind when submitting due diligence attachments. Acceptable file types include Word, Excel and PDF only.
With regard to the board list, applicants must be sure to include both the names and affiliations of the board members.
With regard to financial statements, there are two options for submission: (1) If the organization has had an audit prepared within 12 months of the date of application, the applicant may supply the full audit; or (2) If the organization does not have a full audit, or has one that is older than this, the applicant must submit both the balance sheet and the income & expense statement (also known as a “profit & loss statement” or “P&L”). Both of these statements must be supplied for the most recent fiscal year-end for the organization. These statements (balance sheet and income & expense statement) can be supplied as either one single attachment, or two.
Finally, when it comes to the organizational budget, be sure to submit a budget that has been approved by the board for the current fiscal year of the organization at the date of application.
Greater Toledo Community Foundation suggests that you clearly name your files before submission. Before you upload these attachments to our application portal, save these documents on your own computer with a name that matches the attachment type and includes your organization’s name. (For example, “Board List – ABC Services Agency” or “Operating Budget – ABC Services Agency.”)
Be aware that many of our grant guidelines require other attachments to be submitted, such as a project budget. Always read the grant guidelines for all required details. If you have any questions about this or any other aspect of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation grant application process, please call us at 419.241.5049 and ask to speak to a member of the Program Department.
All grant applications are carefully reviewed by the Foundation’s professional staff and Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees meets approximately 3-1/2 months subsequent to each deadline date to make funding decisions. Applicant organizations are notified, in writing, of approval/denial of funding requests within one week after the Board of Trustees takes action.
Greater Toledo Community Foundation publishes a set of Guidelines or a Request for Proposals for each competitive grant opportunity. All prospective applicants must read this document carefully to determine whether the grant opportunity presents a “fit” for the specific project they have in mind. All prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Officer listed on the bottom of the Guidelines or Request for Proposals document to discuss the proposal prior to application submission.
If the applicant wishes to proceed, he or she should click the link under the grant opportunity that states “To apply, click here” to be taken to the Foundation’s online application portal. All applications must be submitted using this online application process.
New and returning applicants log into the online application portal, and then click “Apply.” Once a new webpage has opened, applicants can either search for grant opportunities by utilizing the “quick search bar,” or scrolling down through the listed grant opportunities. Grants that are currently accepting applications will have the “Apply” icon.
Greater Toledo Community Foundation does not provide direct assistance with writing proposals, but The Center for Nonprofit Resources can connect you to training and individuals who provide the necessary guidance. The Center for Nonprofit Resources conducts workshops on proposal writing, among other services. Contact Milva Valenzuela Wagner, Director, The Center for Nonprofit Resources, by email or call 419.241.9513. You can find a listing of the workshops currently being offered at www.c4npr.org.
Specific questions regarding the grant application process should be directed to the program officer listed on the very bottom of the grant guidelines document associated with each funding opportunity. General requests can be addressed to Patrick Johnston, Vice President, Community Investments, at 419.241.5049 or email [email protected]. We encourage first time and returning applicants to contact our Program Department staff to discuss proposals prior to submission. While we cannot review draft proposals, we are happy to answer questions about the application process and provide general guidance on types of requests that each funding opportunity will consider.
If you have received an error message from the online application portal, please clear the “cookies” in your internet browser and try your submission again. You may do this by following the instructions associated with your particular internet browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.). If this does not resolve the issue, you may contact Greater Toledo Community Foundation by phone (419.241.5049) and ask to speak to any member of the Program Department (Patrick Johnston, Chris Dziad or Artisha Lawson). You may also email questions to members of the Program Department ([email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]). Please be advised that, while Foundation staff makes every effort to be available in advance of the grant deadline, we may be unable to help with requests made very near to the deadline. We encourage you to contact us early if you have questions and to test your system well in advance of submission to ensure that you will have no technology issues. First time applicants are encouraged to view the system tutorials located on the logon page for the grants application system.
No. The Foundation only makes grants to nonprofit organizations and not to individuals. However, if you are a student seeking scholarship assistance, click here to learn more about Greater Toledo Community Foundation’s scholarship offerings.
Areas generally not funded include individuals, computer hardware and software, vehicles, conferences, capital and research.
It is unusual for a grant award to cover a period of several years; grant requests are generally funded for one year.
There is a wide range in the amount of grants awarded. Grantees are encouraged to request the amount actually needed to successfully complete the proposed project.
The Foundation offers a number of fund options for individuals, families, businesses and nonprofit organizations. One fund – a Community Fund - leaves the decisions about your gift to the Foundation. We also refer to Community Funds as Unrestricted Funds. A Community Fund provides maximum assurance a fund will remain timely and relevant, and allows the Foundation to respond to immediate and changing needs of our community and its residents.
Due to the generosity of many individuals and families, these Greater Toledo Community Foundation Unrestricted Funds make up and support the following three internal funds: Community Builder Grants, Community Impact Grants and the Initiative Fund Grants:
Binzer Fund
Marge, Ted and Debbie Brenskelle Fund II
Craig Browning Cousino Fund
Eleanor C. Davies Fund
John & Hope Eastman Community Needs Fund
Evergreen Fund
Ruth Bennett Everhard Fund
Kate T. Foster Unrestricted Fund
Maxine L. Friedman Fund
Myrtle Geckler Memorial Fund
Good Works Fund
Mabell Hausman Fund
Edward Herzog Unrestricted Fund
Joseph S. & Virginia Heyman Family Unrestricted Fund
Severn Joyce Unrestricted Fund
Edward F. Knight Family Fund
William & Elsie Knight Community Fund
Alfred B. Koch Memorial Fund
Felia F. LeBoutillier Unrestricted Fund
Gordon M. Mather, Jr. Fund
Richard W. Muzzy Family Fund
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Sauer Fund
September Fund
Walter E. Terhune Fund
Roy Thal Fund
Catherine Troxel Todd Memorial Fund
Anna Dakin Trowbridge Fund
Tuscarora Fund 2
W. Paul Zimmerman Fund
Here, you can learn in less than 3 minutes about Greater Toledo Community Foundation’s online grant application system. Click here for instructions on how to complete the required grant agreement and reports.
For additional information about Greater Toledo Community Foundation grant programs, please write or call Patrick Johnston, Vice President, Community Investments, at [email protected] or 419.241.5049.
VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS
419.241.5049
