Recent Grants
These are the grants awarded by Ashland County Community Foundation within the past year. To learn more about our grants, or to apply for a grant, visit our grants page.
Community Grants
In 2023, thirty-three organizations serving the Ashland County community received grants totaling $357,342.
A Kid Again received a grant to send Ashland County children with life-threatening conditions on adventures with their families.
ACCESS received a grant for a technology initiative to more effectively assist clients.
Adaptive Sports Ohio received a grant to provide Everyone Plays Kits to children with disabilities in Ashland County.
Advocates For Families received a grant to fund building improvements, including heating and cooling units and foundation work.
Ashland Center For Nonviolence at Ashland University received a grant to help bring Rev. Naomi Tutu to Ashland to speak.
Ashland Christian Health Center received a grant for a parking lot expansion project.
Ashland County Cancer Association received a grant to purchase local meat gift cards for cancer patients and their families.
Ashland County Wildlife Conservation League received a capstone grant for electrical equipment and installation at the Historic Homestead Log House.
Ashland Schine’s Theatre Organization received a capstone grant for the renovation of the Green Room Annex and Theatre Connector.
Ashland Soil & Water Conservation District received a grant to improve the parking area at the Hazel Willis Woods, an outdoor educational learning laboratory near Mifflin.
Ashland Special Needs Ministry received a grant to enhance the respite program.
Ashland Symphony Orchestra received a grant to provide a free school day concert for third graders and a free Young People’s Concert for children of all ages and their families.
Associated Charities received a grant to construct a laundry/utility room and restroom in the building’s warehouse area.
Eaglewings received a grant to cover rehab/recovery program fees for local residents and to assist participants with housing and transportation needs.
Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio received a grant to expose Ashland County students to career opportunities and pathways within local Ashland businesses.
Living Waters Outreach Ministry received a grant for materials and labor to replace the building’s roof.
Loudonville Church Women, Inc. received a grant to help families in need by providing free clothing and housewares, Christmas food and toys, and backpacks and school supplies.
Mohican Historical Society received a grant to develop an exhibit that will examine the life and legacy of Johnathan Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed.
Old Uniontown Quilt Guild received a grant for materials to provide quilts for local children in foster care.
Pathfinder Farms received a grant to purchase a cargo trailer for use as a remote headquarters during trips away from the farm.
Polk-Jackson-Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department received a grant to purchase CPR mannequins to provide training to the public.
Rape Crisis Domestic Violence Safe Haven received a grant to purchase a new outdoor playset and indoor furniture for use in the shelter.
Rise FM received a grant to help purchase a station vehicle.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio received a grant to support nights of rest and support services for Ashland County families while they are seeking medical care for their child in central Ohio.
Rowsburg Lions Club received a grant to replace the roof at the Rowsburg Community Center.
Southview Grace Brethren Church received a grant for lighting equipment and installation at the Wifflefest field and parking lot.
The Ground Truth Project / Report for America received a grant to help fund the position of a reporter at Ashland Source to cover the Ashland County community.
The Salvation Army received a grant to expand the youth music and performing arts program by providing more scholarships for families and renting The Ashland Theatre.
The Society for Handicapped Citizens of Medina County received a grant for new furniture at The Link Ashland.
United Church Residences of Ashland Ohio received a grant for a community room makeover at Mill Run Place.
Additionally, three organizations received Community Grant distributions in recognition of Hazel Myers Spreng. They include Ashland Public Library, First United Methodist Church and United Way of Ashland County.
Women's Fund Grants
In 2023, seven organizations serving Ashland County women were awarded Women’s Fund Grants totaling $23,627.
ACCESS received a grant for seed money to pilot a new Foundational Growth program.
Appleseed Community Mental Health Center received a grant for monthly kinship care support groups
Ashland Christian Health Center received a grant to provide mammograms for patients
Ashland County Cancer Association received a grant to help fund the Survivor’s Dinner
Fostering Family Ministries received a grant to provide Trust-Based Relational Intervention training for Ashland County Job and Family Services staff as well as foster and kinship parents.
Park Street Brethren Preschool received a grant to improve door security in the event of a lockdown.
Rape Crisis Domestic Violence Safe Haven received a grant to repaint the exterior of Safe Haven’s Transitional Shelter building.
IMPACT Youth Grants
In 2023, fourteen organizations serving Ashland County youth were awarded IMPACT Youth Grants totaling $18,813.
Advocates for Families received a grant for monthly youth mentoring group outings.
Appleseed Community Mental Health received a grant to provide youth crisis kits for school liaisons.
Ashland Bike Project received a grant for equipment for the Team WILD Adventure Mountain Bike Youth Program.
Ashland Bookcase Project received a grant for bookcase materials and books to promote literacy and kindergarten readiness.
Ashland High School Lunch Bunch received a grant to provide stationary, gift bags, snacks and small gifts to encourage students through the Secret Society Supporting Him/Her.
Ashland Youth Football League received a grant for helmet reconditioning and recertification.
Hospice of North Central Ohio received a grant for the Memorial Butterfly Release at Camp Hope Children’s Bereavement Camp.
Loudonville Church Women received a grant to purchase schools supplies and other essentials to support students through the Back to School program.
Park Street Brethren Preschool received a grant to purchase art room furniture and supplies.
Rape Crisis Domestic Violence Safe Haven received a grant to help cover the cost of day, weekend and weeklong camps for youth who have accessed Safe Haven’s services.
RePlay for Kids received a grant to provide a high school STEM workshop in which students create adapted toys for children with disabilities.
Savannah Lions Club received a grant for the Youth Program to provide summer camp for children in low-income neighborhoods.
Southview Grace Brethren Church received a grant to renovate the Wifflefest field.
Team Focus received a grant to purchase dress clothing and t-shirts for young men attending the Team Focus Ohio Summer Leadership Camp.
Teacher Mini-Grants
In Fall 2022, Ashland City Schools Foundation and Ashland County Community Foundation awarded 21 mini-grants totaling $5,441 from ACSF and $18,093 from ACCF.
The following teachers received grants from one or both foundations:
Ashland City Schools Foundation
- Martha Bickley, Ashland High School, received a grant for “Talk with the World.”
- Jacqueline Thacker, Ashland High School, received a grant for “Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics.”
- David Thompson, Ashland High School, received a grant for “Hidden Wonders under the Microscope.”
- Kara Young, Edison Elementary School, received a grant for “Books Help the WRITE Stuff.”
Ashland County Community Foundation
- Zane Aleman, Ashland Middle School, received a grant for “Musical Instrument Maintenance.”
- Travis Beck, Taft Intermediate School, received a grant for “Making Test Prep/Review Fun!”
- Ryane Briggs, Ashland High School, received a grant for “Arrow to Arrow Mentoring.”
- Amy Chandler, Reagan Elementary School, received a grant for “News-o-matic.”
- Elizabeth Condit, Ashland High School, received a grant for “Sensory/Flexible Seating.”
- Shari Harlan, Edison Elementary School, received a grant for “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader.”
- Kelsey Kenney, Loudonville High School, received a grant for “Exploring Our Job and Life Skills.”
- Kristen Leiby, Mapleton Elementary School, received a grant for “Strong Hands.”
- Andrew Lewellen, Hillsdale Middle School, received a grant for “All About Animation” and supplies.
- Julie McDonnell, Taft Intermediate School, received a grant for “Ready Set Go-The Kinesthetic Classroom.”
- Tracy Morgan, Ashland High School, received a grant for “Real Life Field Scientists.”
- Alexandria Paulino, Edison Elementary School, received a grant for “STEM in action!”
- Monica Ralpj, Mapleton Middle School, received a grant for “Promoting Positive Participation in the Post Pandemic Pupil.”
- Aimee Ross, Loudonville High School, received a grant for “The Art and Science of ‘Appreciology:’ Becoming Leaders.”
- Kelly Shetler, C.E. Budd School, received a grant for “Time for Kids.”
- Valerie Welday, Edison Elementary School, received a grant for “Grow our Classroom Library!”
- Kyle Wissel, Hillsdale High School, received a grant for “Understanding History through an American Musical.”
In Spring 2023, Ashland City Schools Foundation and Ashland County Community Foundation awarded 11 mini-grants totaling $5,559 from ACSF and $10,940 from ACCF.
The following teachers received grants from one or both foundations:
Ashland City Schools Foundation
- Nancy Boyer, Ashland High School, received a grant for “Visiting Artists at Ashland City Schools Fine Arts Show.”
- Neil Ebert, Ashland High School, received a grant for “Professional Musician Residency.”
- BreAnn Fennell, Reagan Elementary School, received a grant for “Zooming to the Zoo in Third Grade.”
Ashland City Schools Foundation and Ashland County Community Foundation
Tracy Morgan, Ashland High School, Shaping Students Into Scientists (Nearhood 1st year teacher)
Adam Schulte, Ashland High School, Happy Atoms & Snatoms: Physical Molecules in a Digital World
Ashland County Community Foundation
Steve Coffey, Mapleton Middle School, received a grant for “I Robot- Making the Ultimate Robot.”
Laura Galleher, Edison Elementary School, received a grant for “Self-Regulation Tools for Students with Special Needs.”
Shari Harlan, Edison Elementary School, received a grant for “We Love Books!”
Amy Nelson, Ashland Middle School, received a grant for “The Collaborative Classroom.”
Shelby Pummell, Edison Elementary School, received a grant for “Social Emotional Learning.”
Monica Ralph, Mapleton Middle School, received a grant for “Students Making an Improved Learning Environment – S.M.I.L.E.”
Whitney Snyder, Loudonville High School, received a grant to update the eighth grade English Language Arts classroom library.
Bryan Spade, Mapleton Elementary School, received a grant for “Ready… VEX GO!”
Strategic Grants
While most of our grants are awarded in response to grant applications or at the direction of donors, we also make grants proactively when possible. We use unrestricted funds to make these strategic grants based on needs and opportunities in our community.
During the 2022-23 fiscal year, 13 Strategic Grants were awarded to support opportunities and meet needs that fall outside our annual grant cycles.
Living Legacy Foundation received an agency endowment fund challenge grant.
Loudonville Swim Team Boosters received an agency endowment fund challenge grant.
Living Waters Outreach Ministry received a grant for tower garden repairs.
Ashland Christian Health Center received a grant for lab costs and outside testing.
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office received a grant for new dive team equipment.
Ashland County Council on Aging received a grant for Alzheimer’s and dementia care giver support groups.
Ashland High School received a grant for field trips to Columbus.
Olive Tree Care received an agency endowment fund challenge grant.
Ashland County Prosecutor received a grant for drug testing equipment.
Ashland Youth Football League received a grant for new helmets.
Ashland City Schools received a grant for a commissioned piece for the jazz band.
Mohican Area Growth Foundation received a grant for Loudonville pickleball courts.
City of Ashland received a grant for a downtown mural.
Donor-Advised Fund Grants
During the 2022-2023 fiscal year, our donors used distributions from their Donor-Advised Funds to make grants to the following organizations, charitable funds and causes.
4 Leaf Rover
ACCESS
ACCF Women’s Fund
Appleseed Community Mental Health Center
Ashbrook Center at Ashland University
Ashland Center for Nonviolence
Ashland Chautauqua
Ashland Christian Health Center
Ashland City Schools
Ashland City Schools Lunch Support Program Fund
Ashland County Cancer Association
Ashland County Dog Shelter
Ashland County Park District
Ashland County Prosecutor
Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame
Ashland County Young Life
Ashland Faith Fund Inc
Ashland Family YMCA
Ashland Grace Church
Ashland High School
Ashland Main Street
Ashland Pregnancy Care Center
Ashland Rotary Service Foundation
Ashland Schine’s Theatre Agency Fund
Ashland Symphony Orchestra
Ashland Theological Seminary
Ashland University
Associated Charities
Brethren Care Foundation
Camp Nuhop
City of Ashland
City of Ashland Police Dept. – Police Donations for Community Outreach
City of Ashland, Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell
City of Ashland, Mayor’s Office
City of Ashland, Pickleball Association
First Presbyterian Church
Foundations Community Childcare Agency Fund
Gladys Rondy Stevens Memorial Lunch Support Fund
Global Outreach International
Harold ‘Bully’ Rader Memorial Scholarship Fund, fbo AHS Boys’ Basketball Outstanding Senior Player
Hospice of North Central Ohio
IMPACT Youth Grants Program
Jack and Kathy Vanosdall Family Community Grants Fund
James M. Cutright “CUTTY Fund for Youth Empowerment”
Jim Fish Vocational Education Fund
Jim Miller Memorial Fund, fbo Ashland University Military and Veteran Services Center
John T. ‘Jack’ Miller Outstanding AHS Senior Male Athlete Scholarship Fund, in honor of Stu Martin, Bully Rader, Bud Plank and Brother Bob ‘Bulldog’ Miller
Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission
LifeWise Academy – Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village
Loudonville Rotary
Mansfield Area Y
Mapleton Athletic Boosters
Matthew 25 Outreach
Mohican Area Growth Foundation
Ohio University
Olive Tree Christian Fellowship
Polk-Jackson-Perry Township Volunteer Fire Department
Reliant Mission
Robert Simonson Family Fund, fbo Mapleton Baseball
Robert Simonson Family Fund, fbo Mapleton Football
Robert Simonson Family Fund, fbo Mapleton Wrestling
Runyan Memorial
ShadoArt Productions, Inc.
Shop with a Cop
St. Edward Parish
Team Focus
The Brethren Church, National Office
The Cat House Feline Sanctuary, Inc.
The Salvation Army
Trinity Lutheran Church
United Way of Ashland County
Women’s Fund Childcare Initiative
Wright Way Foundation