The Greenlight Grants program, offered by The Dayton Foundation, is a competitive funding opportunity designed to provide small, rapid-response grants to nonprofit organizations serving the Greater Dayton region. These grants are intended for special projects, program expansions, capital improvements, or capacity-building efforts that have a clear, time-sensitive impact. The program is not meant to support ongoing operational expenses or general organizational support.
The Dayton Foundation, founded in 1921, has distributed over $1.4 billion in grants supporting a wide range of causes including education, health, arts and culture, animal welfare, and housing. Greenlight Grants are made possible by donors who have placed few or no restrictions on their funds, giving the Foundation’s volunteer Grants Committee and Governing Board the flexibility to direct support where it is most needed. Grants are reviewed quarterly, and award decisions are communicated within two weeks of each application deadline.
Greenlight Grants range from $500 to $7,500. Eligible organizations must be recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofits with at least two years of operational history and a demonstrated track record of sustainability. Projects must benefit residents of Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble, or northern Warren counties in Ohio. Applicants must also show a commitment to inclusion and access, collaboration with other entities, and address unmet needs in the community. The Foundation emphasizes efficient resource use, cooperation among organizations, and reducing service duplication.
Applications must be submitted via The Dayton Foundation’s online grants portal. A courtesy worksheet is available to help applicants prepare responses before submission. Required attachments include a recent audit (or explanation of exemption), a balance sheet and income statement for the most recent fiscal year, and an itemized project budget. Collaboration features within the portal allow applicants to invite team members or executives to review or sign submissions.
The program’s deadlines for FY2025 are March 3, June 2, September 2, and December 1, all due by 4:00 p.m. Decisions are made approximately two weeks after each deadline. The next opportunity, GG FY2026.12, opened October 27, 2025, and closes on December 1, 2025. Funding decisions for this round will be made on February 5, 2026. Applicants with outstanding final reports from prior grants are ineligible until reporting is completed. Each project may only be submitted once for consideration, even if previously denied.
