Western Reserve Health Foundation Grants is a grant from the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley / Western Reserve Health Foundation that funds projects improving the health and well-being of all residents of Mahoning County, Ohio. Following the 2026–2028 Mahoning-Trumbull Community Health Improvement Plan, the foundation prioritizes maternal, infant, and child health, as well as other targeted healthcare needs.

Strong proposals incorporate clearly defined metrics for success, involvement of people with direct experience of the issues, highly engaged cross-sector partners, and plans to address underlying social and economic challenges. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations serving Mahoning County residents. Grants are available up to ,000 and support both general operating requests and specific programs.

Application deadlines occur quarterly: April 15, July 15, and October 15, 2026.

Grant Opportunities - Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley has a variety of grant opportunities with different due dates throughout the year. Grant criteria and submission instructions are listed under individual grant descriptions below. Click the dropdown boxes to read full details on each grant opportunity.

For information on navigating our grant portal and more information about our grants process, please visit the Grantseeker Resources and Tutorials section at the bottom of this page. The Community Foundation is currently accepting applications for our Q2 cycle through April 15.

Please note that funding priorities for the Western Reserve Health Foundation, Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation, and William Swanston Charitable Fund have been updated. A summary of the updates is available HERE and each fund's Request For Proposals is available in its dropdown. All open applications can be started and completed in our online grant portal here .

Update: As of August 6, 2025 , the applicant dashboard in our grant software has been updated to include a new look and easier navigation; there is nothing applicants or grantees need to do for this change, but for help navigating the updated portal, check out the tutorials here . *OPEN Fund for Women & Girls Impact Builder Grant Funding is available for projects and initiatives that benefit women and girls in the Mahoning Valley.

Local nonprofit organizations, community groups and individuals working with a fiscal sponsor are welcome to apply. Student projects are also welcomed. For those in student groups at Youngstown State, please confirm that your organization has an account with the YSU Foundation.

Students who are part of programs hosted by nonprofits (for example: Inspiring Minds, Youngstown SafeZones, or Sojourn to the Past) should include a letter from the organization that they’re willing to support the project. From the pool of proposals, final applicants will be selected to present their ideas at an event on the evening of Thursday April 30, 2026 , held at the Youngstown Main Library (305 Wick Ave. Youngstown OH 44503).

Shareholders of the Fund for Women and Girls will vote on the proposals, and funding decisions for the $5,000 in total prize money will be announced that evening. If you or someone from your organization is not able to attend the event to present your project, please do not apply. Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here.

*OPEN* Young Philanthropist Fund Funding is available for eligible Mahoning Valley organizations. While there are no specific funding priority areas, requests should address needs of the Mahoning Valley community and its residents. Requests submitted through this application are shared with The Young Philanthropist Fund Distribution Committee for review and consideration.

The Committee is comprised of members of the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals, with grants made annually from the proceeds of the 25 Under 35 Awards dinner. Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here.

*OPEN* Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley-General Grant 2026 Application Deadlines: April 15, July 15, October 15 Funding is available for eligible organizations serving residents of Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. While this grant opportunity does not have specific funding priority areas, requests should clearly explain how they will address community needs or opportunities.

Requests submitted through this application are shared with the Community Foundation’s advised funds that participate in grantmaking and with our Distribution Committee. Funding typically ranges between $5,000 and $10,000 and supports both general operating requests and specific programs or projects Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here.

*OPEN* William Swanston Charitable Fund 2026 Application Deadlines: April 15, July 15, October 15 The William Swanston Charitable Fund will prioritize their grant making in 2026-2028 for innovative projects that prevent or reduce the risk factors that can create disparities and create opportunities for all children in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to thrive in the following areas: • Health and Wellness , with priorities on Mental & Behavioral Health, Access to Care, and Health Information • Education , with priorities on Kindergarten Readiness, 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency, 8th Grade Math Proficiency, and High School Graduation/College & Career Readiness • Children’s Service , with priorities on youth involved in the justice system, and the intersection of child welfare with parental substance abuse and/or incarceration We also consider how an organization does its work and who leads it.

Strong proposals incorporate a combination of: • Clearly defined metrics for success • People with direct experience of the issues being addressed involved in planning and implementation • Highly engaged partners from a range of sectors • Plans to address underlying social and economic challenges Funding is typically available up to $10,000 and supports both general operating requests and specific programs or projects.

The full Request For Proposals for the Swanston Charitable Fund, which further explains its focus areas and consideration criteria, is available HERE . Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here.

*OPEN* Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation 2026 Application Deadlines: April 15, July 15, October 15 The Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation seeks to improve the health and well-being of all residents of Trumbull County .

Following the priorities of the 2026-2028 Mahoning-Trumbull Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), our funding focuses for 2026-2028 are: Maternal, Infant and Child Health The Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation also funds available for the following specific areas of healthcare: Needs of cancer patients and/or their families Hospice services, care or education Diabetes care, including prevention programs and education Orthopedic care and/or support for patients including education We also consider how an organization does its work and who leads it.

Strong proposals incorporate a combination of: Clearly defined metrics for success People with direct experience of the issues being addressed involved in planning and implementation Highly engaged partners from a range of sectors Plans to address underlying social and economic challenges The Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation also prioritizes applications that are connected to the Healthy Community Partnership action teams and/or aligned with the initiative’s shared vision and goals.

If your organization is not currently active in the Healthy Community Partnership, please contact Robin Perry at rperry@HCPMahoningValley. com or 330-743-5555 to be connected. Funding typically ranges up to $20,000 and supports both general operating requests and specific programs or projects.

The full Request For Proposals for the Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation, which further explains its focus areas and consideration criteria, is available HERE . Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here.

*OPEN* Western Reserve Health Foundation 2026 Application Deadlines: April 15, July 15, October 15 The Western Reserve Health Foundation seeks to improve the health and well-being of all residents of Mahoning County .

Following the priorities of the 2026-2028 Mahoning-Trumbull Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), our funding focuses for 2026-2028 are: Maternal, Infant and Child Health The Western Reserve Health Foundation also has funds available for the following specific area of healthcare: We also consider how an organization does its work and who leads it.

Strong proposals incorporate a combination of: Clearly defined metrics for success People with direct experience of the issues being addressed involved in planning and implementation Highly engaged partners from a range of sectors Plans to address underlying social and economic challenges The Western Reserve Health Foundation also prioritizes applications that are connected to the Healthy Community Partnership action teams and/or aligned with the initiative’s shared vision and goals.

If your organization is not currently active in the Healthy Community Partnership, please contact Robin Perry at rperry@HCPMahoningValley. com or 330-743-5555 to be connected. Funding typically ranges up to $20,000 and supports both general operating requests and specific programs or projects.

The full Request For Proposals for the Western Reserve Health Foundation, which further explains its focus areas and consideration criteria, is available HERE . Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here.

*ALWAYS AVAILABLE* Emergency Grants Food Access Emergency Grants - NEW The ongoing shutdown of the federal government has resulted in significant disruptions to critical services and programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports thousands of households throughout the Mahoning Valley.

These disruptions have resulted in increased demand on local resources to fill in the gaps to ensure residents in the Mahoning Valley are able to meet their basic health and safety needs.

The Community Foundation’s limited emergency funding resources are focused on coordinated efforts that can quickly expand existing food access across the region — such as scaling up established programs or collaborations that reach multiple communities. Priority will be given to organizations with an existing relationship with the Community Foundation, either as a grantee or a community partner.

The Community Foundation will consider requests from individual food access efforts, including food pantries, if the following information can be provided: The food access effort (ex: food pantry, meal delivery, etc.) was operational before the request for emergency funding was made.

The applicant can provide information regarding current resources available (ex: food in a pantry inventory, staff or volunteers available to expand the program, etc.) and how long these resources will last. The applicant can provide information about the impact the anticipated increase in services will have on their current level of service delivery and a general approach to responding to this increased demand on services.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, churches, government agencies, and organizations working with qualified fiscal sponsors Priority is given to organizations with an existing relationship with CFMV as a grantee or community partner Organizations must have been providing food access programs before the reduction of SNAP benefits.

New efforts created in response to the loss of funding will not be considered for this particular emergency grant opportunity CFMV offers emergency grant opportunities for eligible nonprofit organizations facing urgent funding needs. This program addresses both unforeseen events that significantly interrupt essential services AND (as of May 2025) challenges related to recent unprecedented changes in federal funding and.

Emergency Grant requests will be prioritized based on alignment with the below key pathways: Social Safety Net: Support for health, safety, and basic needs Vulnerable Communities: Aid for communities adversely impacted by policies Advocacy: Nonpartisan advocacy for essential social services and other community-centered needs Community Resilience: Programs fostering social connection, enrichment and cultural programming Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, churches, government agencies, and organizations working with qualified fiscal sponsors Priority is given to organizations with an existing relationship with CFMV as a grantee Funding needs must arise from unexpected circumstances , which can include cuts in federal funding; however, funding that has been frozen or lost due to changes that occur through regular legislative budgeting processes will not be eligible for consideration for these emergency grants Requests must demonstrate the time-sensitive nature of the need Applications must explain why the organization could not predict or reasonably plan for the situation Submissions must outline a clear strategy for preventing similar funding emergencies or replacing lost financial support in the future Emergency Grants are generally available up to $5,000 , with additional resources available on a case-by-case basis.

How to Apply for an Emergency Grant There are no deadlines; requests can be made at any time. Submit a brief explanation via email to grants@cfmv.

org with the subject line "[Your Organization Name] - Emergency Grant Request" If deemed eligible, you'll receive a link from CFMV staff to a brief online application Requests will be evaluated based on urgency, impact, and alignment with CFMV's vision and values Staff will respond to initial inquiries within 2-3 business days All effort will be made to provide a funding decision within two weeks of application submission *CLOSED* Hospice Trust of Trumbull County 2026 application deadline: October 15 The Hospice Trust of Trumbull County invites proposals, under a competitive grant process, and awards grants to organizations promoting hospice services, hospice care, or hospice education in Trumbull County.

Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here. *CLOSED* Ohio Living Lifelong Learning Fund 2026 application deadline: October 15 The Ohio Living Lifelong Learning Fund supports projects that provide seniors in Mahoning County with education programs and learning opportunities. Grant awards range between $500 and $1,500.

Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here. *CLOSED* Steel Valley Homes for Youth Fund The Steel Valley Homes For Youth Fund provides grants to assist dependent, neglected or abused children, and young adults, in the Mahoning Valley, to transition into independent and productive adult living, with an emphasis on housing.

Priority will be given to requests that address capital needs, supplies/equipment and fixtures or enrichment activities for children and young adults in a housing program. Before applying, please contact our Community Impact Team at grants@cfmv. org or by calling 330-743-5555.

Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here. *CLOSED* International Institute Funds The advisory committee of the International Institute Funds considers both general grants and mini-grants during the same cycle. The same application form is used for both grant opportunities.

The IIF funds organizations, within Mahoning and Trumbull counties, that focus on promoting the interests in and understanding of foreign born people. Before applying, please contact our Community Impact Team at grants@cfmv. org or by calling 330-743-5555.

The International Institute Funds also offers mini-grants ($500 or less) for organizations, within Mahoning and Trumbull counties, that seek to preserve and promote cultural heritage. This includes, but is not limited to, music, dance, art, food and education. However, mini-grant funding cannot be used for general operations or to sponsor/underwrite an event.

Mini-grants will be made in the amount of $500 or less. Organizations must submit an application through our online grant portal here. If you have questions about our grant opportunities, contact CFMV staff at grants@cfmv.

org . Please note that draft applications left in the grant portal for 18 months will be marked "Abandoned" and will no longer be available to edit. Frequently Asked Questions Who’s eligible to receive grants from the Community Foundation?

We make grants to organizations that are deemed not-for-profit by the IRS, such as 501(c)3s, religious organizations, schools and government entities. If you’re not registered with the IRS, you may apply through a fiscal sponsor. Which fund should I apply to?

There are a few options, highlighted in bold below. Our biggest opportunities have a quarterly deadline – though the Young Philanthropist Fund, International Institute Funds and the Hospice Trust of Trumbull County have just one every year. The Community Foundation General Grant Fund and the First Place Community Fund don’t have specific priorities, but projects should address the needs of Mahoning Valley residents.

The Western Reserve Health Foundation and Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation focus on projects that address the physical and mental health needs of Mahoning County (for the Western Reserve Health Foundation) and Trumbull County (for the Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation).

The William Swanston Charitable Fund supports projects and initiatives addressing the disparities facing children in the Valley, including health, education and children’s services. The Young Philanthropist Fund awards grants once per year, with recipients chosen by members of Mahoning Valley Young Professionals. This grant fund doesn’t have a focus area, but projects/initiatives should address community needs in the Valley.

Funding comes from the proceeds of the annual 25 Under 35 Awards dinner. The International Institute Funds supports organizations that focus on foreign-born people in the Mahoning Valley. Finally, the Hospice Trust of Trumbull County is a competitive grant process.

Awards are made to organizations that promote hospice services, care or education in Trumbull County. What kind of projects does the Community Foundation support? We like to support a wide range of projects, so as long as your initiative is aimed at making the Mahoning Valley a better place and you meet our other eligibility criteria, your project is up for considerations.

Beyond just funding individual projects, the Community Foundation also offers operational grants that you can use however you need to help achieve your mission. Do I need to meet with the Community Foundation before applying for the first time? What documents do I need to include in my application?

Grant applications must include your current annual budget, a year-to-date income statement and a list of board members. If your organization has been audited, you must also include a Copy of Management letter of your most recent audited financial statements. If you aren't familiar with the financial documents we require as part of an application, check out our Quick Guide to Financial Documents or this webinar on our YouTube page.

How much funding should I request? We don’t have many rules or restrictions about the size of our grants or the amount you can ask for. However, keep in mind that we usually don’t provide funding to cover more than half of a project/initiative’s total costs.

The Community Foundation general grants typically range from $5,000 to $10,000, while awards from our affiliate foundations typically range from $10,000 to $20,000. How many grants can I apply for? There’s no limit on how many times you can apply for grants from the Community Foundation, though we do encourage organizations to be strategic about their grant requests.

If you’re seeking money for a project/initiative that’s already been funded by the Foundation, we ask that you complete the final grant report before applying again. Can I get help with writing my proposal? We don’t help organizations write grant applications.

However, to make our grants as accessible as possible, we’ve tried to make our application process as simple and transparent as we can. If you have question about the application or don’t understand something, call us any time at 330-743-5555. If I’ve had a grant application denied in the past, can I apply again?

Absolutely! Each application is judged on its own merits. If you have any questions about how you can improve your application, we’re more than happy to set up a meeting to review the application and offer suggestions for improvement.

Who will review my grant application? If you’re applying to the Community Foundation General Grant Fund, your application will be reviewed by our active fundholders, who each have their own interests and kinds of projects they like to support. For other grant opportunities, we send your application to the organization’s board or a committee, who will review it and make a decision on whether or not to fund it.

How long will it take for me to find out if I was awarded a grant I applied for? Usually about 3 months after the submission deadline. Be sure to remember that it’s 3 months from the quarterly deadline, not from when you turned in your application.

What happens after my organization receives a grant? First off, congratulations! Before we can send you a check, you’ll need to complete the grant agreement we send over.

After that, you can get to work on your project. Within a year of getting your grant, you’ll also need to fill out a final report that tells us what you achieved and, if you didn’t meet your goals, what you learned from the experience. If you miss the deadline to submit your final grant report, you won’t be considered for any other funds until it’s turned in.

Why does the application ask about the race of my organization’s leadership and who we serve? Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all residents of the Valley. Unfortunately, philanthropic organizations (ourselves included) have historically given preference to long-running and well-resourced groups, which has limited the funding going to community-level organizations – groups that are often led by people of color.

We are committed to addressing inequities in our giving and part of that process is collecting information about who’s been supported by our grants. Your responses in this section of the application won’t disqualify or limit your application, it’s just a tool we’re using to making sure we’re on the path to equitable giving.

And if there’s any part of the demographic information you’re unsure about or aren’t able to collect information on, that’s OK! Just tell us in the application. What else do I need to know that will make applying easier?

There are a couple of features to our application portal that you should know about. First is the “copy” feature. A short video on how to use it can be watched HERE.

The button is in the top right corner on the Apply page and says “copy previous answers. ” From there, you’ll select which application you want to copy and it’ll plug all that info into your current application. Once the information has been copied, you’ll still be able to edit it before hitting “submit.

” Since the copy button only duplicates information that’s the same across whichever applications you’re filling out, it’s usually best to fill out the longest application first and then copy your answers from that one. There’s also the “preview” button on the Apply page of the grant portal. If you haven’t completed the eligibility quiz for a grant, it’ll show what questions are in it.

And if you’ve already taken that step, the preview button will show you the application. Be careful when using this function. While it looks exactly like the eligibility quiz and application form and allows for you to type in information, this IS NOT where you’ll actually fill those out.

Make sure your forms are submitted, use either the “Start eligibility quiz” or “Apply” buttons on the right side of the box. That’s not a question, but OK! Reach out to the Community Foundation at 330-743-5555 and someone on our team will be able to answer any other questions you have.

Grantseeker Resources and Tutorials All applicants must review the Grantseeker’s Guide before submitting a request to the Community Foundation or its affiliated foundations. The guide contains information on eligibility, the application process, grant conditions and the non-discrimination policy for grantees.

Download the Grantseeker's Guide If you’re submitting an application to us for the first time since we launched our new grant portal in Spring 2021, you’ll need to create a new account. We recommend you do this well in advance of an application deadline.

It’s a simple process, if you start with a few things prepared in advance: Contact information for the point person, and a username that is a frequently used email address (We will use this email address to communicate with you on your grant status.)

Contact information for your organization, including your EIN/Tax ID number Contact information for your organization’s Executive Director Information on your leadership team and the equitable practices of your organization Our online grants portal will allow you to track the status of your application, as well as file grant reports from your account, and you’ll be able to save, edit and submit applications.

Many of our grant rounds require different documentation, so depending on your organization’s status and the specific guidelines for the application you are working on, you may also be required to upload specific documents. The Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all residents in the Mahoning Valley.

Unfortunately, the funding community both here in the Mahoning Valley and across the nation has historically given favor to long-established and well-resourced organizations. This often leaves out organizations rooted in communities of color that are unable to overcome the requirement of having longevity and resources in order to obtain resources and longevity.

Because our foundation has not been blameless in this harmful disparity, we are committed to emphasizing racial equity in all that we do and stand for. An important aspect of carrying out this commitment is revising the Community Foundation's grantmaking process.

To begin addressing these inequities, it is up to us at the Community Foundation not only to learn from those disadvantaged by our traditional practices and networks, but also to take significant strides toward building meaningful and authentic partnerships. We recognize that many leaders of color in our community have a unique understanding of the challenges their fellow community members face and how to address them.

One of the first steps we are taking in redesigning CFMV’s grantmaking processes is to begin collecting more data. Going forward, you will see questions on the demographics of leadership and equitable practices incorporated into our grant process to better understand who’s applying for funding from the Community Foundation and our affiliate organizations.

This information is only seen by Community Foundation staff and will not automatically qualify or disqualify your application. To fully examine where we have missed the mark, we are committed to ongoing dialogue throughout our community about what emphasizing equity looks like in action. We do not have all of the answers and we certainly welcome community feedback about the best way to achieve our equity goals.

We urge you to join us on the journey to improve the lives of all Mahoning Valley residents. We recognize that numerous terms and phrases are used, particularly in our grant language, that you may not be familiar with or may have a different interpretation of than we do. In order to provide clarity to our words, we’ve provided definitions or explanations.

Glossary of Commonly Used Terms Submitting an application through our grant portal How to copy answers across multiple applications: