Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility varies by program. The Youth Horizon Education Grant, Community Wellness Initiative, and McCluskey Arts & Heritage Fund are open to registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, public and charter schools, school districts, government agencies, and (for the Arts Fund) individual artists applying through a fiscal sponsor. The Veterans Bridge Program accepts applications from 501(c)(3) organizations, VA-affiliated community partners, and government veteran-serving agencies. The Emergency Family Relief Fund is available to individual Ohio residents and may be submitted directly or through a referring social service agency. All applicants must operate within or serve populations in the state of Ohio, with preference given to the central Ohio seven-county service area (Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, and Union counties).

The Youth Horizon Education Grant and Community Wellness Initiative follow an annual cycle: applications open November 1, close February 28, undergo committee review in March, site visits in April, and awards are announced by May 15. The Veterans Bridge Program operates on a rolling quarterly schedule with decisions within 45 days of each quarterly closing date. The Arts & Heritage Fund opens January 1, closes May 1, and announces awards by July 15. The Emergency Family Relief Fund accepts applications year-round and targets a 10-business-day turnaround from submission to determination. All timelines are published on our Programs page and are subject to extension only in extraordinary circumstances with Board approval.

Award ranges are set by program: Youth Horizon Education Grants range from $10,000 to $75,000 per cycle; Community Wellness Initiative grants from $5,000 to $50,000 per year; Veterans Bridge Program awards from $2,500 to $25,000; Arts & Heritage Fund grants from $1,500 to $15,000 per project; and Emergency Family Relief Fund disbursements are capped at $2,500 per household. Requests above or below these ranges will be considered only in exceptional circumstances and require a written justification. Our Neighborhood Capacity Micro-Grant track provides seed funding of $500 to $2,500 for neighborhood-level initiatives within Columbus city limits.

Organizational applicants must submit: (1) an IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) status or a government agency authorization letter; (2) the most recent IRS Form 990 or independently audited financial statement; (3) a current board of directors list with affiliations; (4) a line-item project budget with narrative justification; (5) a project logic model or theory of change; and (6) one to two letters of support from community partners. Individual applicants for the Emergency Relief Fund must provide proof of Ohio residency, documentation of the qualifying event, and income verification. Renewal applicants in good standing may submit an abbreviated application. Full requirements are detailed on our Application page.

Yes. An organization may submit applications to multiple program tracks simultaneously, provided that each application addresses a distinct project or service line. However, the Foundation will not fund overlapping costs. If you are requesting support for two components of the same project, submit a single application to the program track that best aligns with the primary focus of the work. Our program staff can help you determine the optimal submission strategy during a pre-application consultation, which you can schedule by calling our office.

The Community Wellness Initiative offers an optional one-year renewal for grantees in good standing, subject to an abbreviated renewal application and continued compliance with program requirements. All other programs award funding on a per-cycle or per-project basis. Organizations seeking sustained support are welcome to apply in consecutive cycles, and prior grantees in good standing are eligible for renewed funding. The Foundation does not make multi-year binding commitments, as annual grant budgets are determined by the Board based on endowment performance and strategic priorities.

All grantees are required to submit a progress report at the midpoint of their project period and a final report within 60 days of project completion. Reports must include a narrative summary of activities and outcomes, a financial reconciliation comparing actual expenditures against the approved budget, and quantitative data on beneficiaries served and outcomes achieved. For Youth Horizon and Community Wellness grants, disbursement of the second funding tranche (40% of the award) is contingent on timely submission of the midpoint report. Report templates and guidance documents are provided at the time of grant agreement execution. Failure to submit required reports may result in suspension of future funding eligibility.

If your application is not selected for funding, you will receive a written notification explaining the decision. Common reasons for non-selection include: the project falls outside our geographic or programmatic focus; the budget exceeds the program's award ceiling without adequate justification; the application was incomplete at the time of review; or the available funding for the cycle was fully allocated to higher-scoring proposals. Denied applicants are encouraged to request a debrief call with our program staff to discuss how to strengthen future submissions. Denial in one cycle does not affect eligibility in subsequent cycles.

We do not accept unsolicited proposals outside of our established application cycles. However, we welcome letters of inquiry and pre-application consultations at any time. If you are unsure whether your project aligns with our funding priorities, we encourage you to contact our program office to schedule a 30-minute consultation. These conversations are informal and carry no obligation. Our staff can help you assess fit, identify the most appropriate program track, and advise on the application process. Letters of inquiry may be sent to [email protected].

Our program office is available by phone at (614) 555-0247 during business hours (Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM). You may also email us at [email protected] or visit our office at 250 South High Street, Suite 1140, Columbus, OH 43215. For grant-specific inquiries, please direct your communication to [email protected]. We aim to respond to all inquiries within two business days.