In the 2014 competitive grant program, Marion Community Foundation is providing $778,000 to area not-for-profit organizations. This is a record year in both the number of applications and the total amount requested, according to Julie Prettyman, program manager at Marion Community Foundation. The Foundation received 79 grant applications with requests totaling more than $2 million, an increase of $650,000 from the previous year.
“It is significant to note that while the amount of awards increases each year, so do the requests. There is much need in the Marion community,” said Marion Community Foundation president Dean Jacob. “We are pleased to be able to support so many Marion area organizations either through direct grants or, increasingly, through matching fund grants — to make every dollar awarded go as far as possible.”
According to Jacob, matching grants require the recipient organizations to go to other sources and donors for new funding. Marion Community Foundation will then match new money that they raise.
”At first, it might appear to be a burden, but it’s actually a helpful tool for the organization to use to develop new gifts that they might not have otherwise received if it were not for the match. With the Foundation’s match, every dollar they raise becomes two. It encourages organizations to broaden their horizons and not become dependent on the Foundation’s grants,” Jacob said.
The competitive grant program drew awards from 21 funds managed by Marion Community Foundation specifically for the purpose of supporting local charitable programs and organizations.
“While the funds involved in our competitive grants program provide a great deal of support to Marion charities, it is worth noting that these funds are only a small portion of the 185 funds currently in the Foundation’s portfolio,” said Jacob. “Tens of thousands of dollars of additional grant funds are awarded each year from designated and donor advised funds in addition to the competitive grants program.”
Marion Community Foundation significantly increased the number of awards – 43 this year, as compared to 27 in 2013. The recipients and awards are as follows:
- Black Heritage Council of Marion County, $2,500 to support their annual Empowering Our Youth banquet;
- Boys and Girls Club of Marion, $50,000 to support student attendance and staffing for the Healthy Habits Start Here child obesity prevention program;
- Center Street Community Health Center, $120,000 to improve the health of our community by providing medical services for persons with need;
- Center Street Community Health Center, $5,000 to support individual requests for health services;
- Dayspring Wesleyan Church, $2,498 in support the Marion Upward Scholarship and new soccer sports project;
- Epworth Preschool, $1,175 for the purchase of curricula materials, playground equipment, fall zone materials, classroom materials, and/or professional development;
- Eye-to-Eye Low Vision Support Group, $2,367 to purchase accessories for a PA system to enhance meeting presentations for members of the Surviving Sight Loss support group;
- I CAN Center for Excellence, $25,000 in ongoing support of the ACT Empowered program for juniors of all Marion County high schools;
- Let’s Read 20 Initiative, $5,000 for the purchase of books for the countywide literacy program;
- Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program and Center Street Community Health Center, $12,500 in support of a family planning clinic for low-income women and adolescents;
- Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program, $2,300 for the purchase of sleep sacks and carbon monoxide/smoke detectors for their Infant Safe Sleep program;
- Marion Area Counseling Center, $18,730 in continued support of the school-age education program, Signs of Suicide;
- Marion Area Counseling Center, $20,000 in support their Recovery Housing program;
- Marion Concert Band, $2,500 in support of guest musical group fees, rental fees, advertising, and new music;
- Marion County Family Court, $2,460 for the purchase of four new bullet proof vests for probation officers of their Safe Community Engagement with Juveniles and Families program;
- Marion Crawford ADAMH Board, $5,300 for the Prevention Not Punishment program, a voluntary drug screening for teens;
- Marion Crawford Prevention Programs, $4,000 in support of pHarming Effects, a prescription drug abuse program for all freshmen in Marion County;
- Marion Matters, $30,000 in support of a middle and high school Getting Ahead Class and Financial Literacy program for student from impoverished families;
- Marion Public Library, $7,500 in support of their My First Library Card program to encourage early literacy;
- Marion Senior Citizens Association, $575 for senior citizen transportation;
- Marion Shelter Program, $8,000 toward operational costs of the homeless shelter;
- Marion Technical College, $10,000 in scholarship support for students of the Rapid Entry and Workforce Development program;
- Mid-Ohio Fine Arts Society, $3,925 in support of their Smart Art Beginners Series art classes at the Boys and Girls Club;
- Mid-Ohio Food Bank, $10,000 in support of their Backpack Program, a weekend meal support program for children;
- Mobile Meals of Marion County, $14,000 for their meal assistance program;
- Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission, $31,000 in ongoing sponsorship of the United Community Rx Program, co-founded by Marion Community Foundation and United Way of Marion County;
- The Ohio State University at Marion, $25,000 grant to provide capital support for a new science and engineering building, and an additional $25,000 matching grant to assist with fund raising for the new building;
- Palace Cultural Arts Association, $100,000 to provide capital support for theatre restoration projects;
- Palace Cultural Arts Association, $150 to support live theatre/dance programs in Marion County;
- Peace and Freedom Committee, $2,500 in support of the annual Martin Luther King Breakfast;
- Prairie Parks Foundation, $25,000 grant and $50,000 matching grant in support of Phase 4 expansion of the Marion Tallgrass Trail for miles 7-9, and an additional $8,000 grant for the construction of an observation deck adjacent to the trail lake;
- Prevent Blindness, $2,450 for the purchase of vision care products, services, and screenings as part of their Vision Care Outreach in Marion County;
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, $5,000 to their Helping Hands Program, to fund overnight stays for Marion County families with seriously ill children;
- Royal Family Kids Camp, $10,000 in continued support of their day camp for children from Marion County Children Services;
- Rushmore Academy, $25,000 in support of their Jobs Program, and an additional $12,500 matching grant to assist with additional fund raising for the program;
- Salvation Army, $50,000 for their Food & Crisis Intervention program which assists households in financial crisis with lodging, utilities, clothing, hygiene, transportation, rehousing and food;
- Turning Point, $12,000 in funds for the In-School Prevention Program to address issues of teen dating violence in area middle and high schools;
- Wopat Marion Family YMCA; $2,367 in ongoing support of their exercise program for individuals with arthritis;
- Wopat Marion Family YMCA, $3,170 in support of the YMCA Delay the Disease exercise program for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease; and,
- Wopat Marion Family YMCA, $18,822 in continued support of Pioneering Healthier Communities’ events to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles.
In the past 16 years, Marion Community Foundation has awarded more than $8 million in grants and scholarships. Its funds address the Marion area’s varied needs in healthcare, the arts, environment, history, education, economic development, and other facets of local residents’ quality of life.
According to Jacob, anyone can contribute a tax-free donation to any of the funds in the competitive grants program by contacting Marion Community Foundation. Individuals can easily create their own named endowment fund that can be directed to meet general or specific community needs.
“We would love to support every organization that requests grant funds,” said Jacob. “Additional donations and funds will bring us closer to being able to do so.”
Marion Community Foundation serves as the philanthropic clearinghouse for the Marion area and is a leader in planned giving. The Foundation administers more than $41 million in 185 endowed funds and distributes approximately $1.5 million annually in grants and scholarships. It is located inside the Stengel-True Museum at 504 S. State St. Marion Community Foundation’s offices are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Information is available by visiting Marion Community Foundation on Facebook, its website, or by calling (740) 387-9704.
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