Healthy Neighborhoods

The Stark Community Foundation offers the Healthy Neighborhoods grant program to empower resident-led neighborhood associations within Stark County, Ohio. The program is specifically tailored to support communities in Alliance, Canton, and Massillon. It aims to improve the quality of life for residents by funding projects that align with the Foundation’s Healthy Neighborhoods Framework. The framework emphasizes key community development concepts including image and identity, physical conditions, involvement and investment, and neighborhood marketability. These guiding principles help ensure that the funded projects contribute to sustainable neighborhood revitalization and resident engagement. Only recognized neighborhood associations with elected officers are eligible to apply. Associations must be led by individuals who have completed the Neighborhood Leadership Training (NLT) and reside within the boundaries of the applying neighborhood. Participation in the Healthy Neighborhoods Summits is also a requirement. The Foundation encourages collaboration by allowing associations to apply through a fiscal sponsor, provided that the sponsor is a 501(c)(3) public charity or a qualified government entity. Fiscal sponsorship requires submission of a signed agreement and the sponsor’s IRS Determination Letter. The grant program supports a broad range of activities designed to enhance neighborhood conditions, including but not limited to permanent landscaping improvements and projects that mitigate blight or slum conditions. Projects involving tools or equipment must be accessible to neighborhood residents and managed by the neighborhood association. Importantly, grant funds may not be used to compensate staff, fund projects that benefit religious institutions directly, or be allocated toward prizes. The maximum grant award is $3,500. Applications for the current grant cycle open on September 29, 2025, and close on November 21, 2025. Decisions will be communicated to applicants via mail, with awards being disbursed in January 2026. Applicants must apply online through Stark Community Foundation’s grant portal. At least one member of the association must attend a mandatory grant workshop, and applicants should be prepared to meet with Foundation staff and the grant review committee if further discussion is required. Recipients of the Healthy Neighborhoods grant must submit a final evaluative report at the end of the grant period. This report should include a detailed narrative describing the project’s outcomes and a financial breakdown of expenditures. Failure to submit this report may jeopardize eligibility for future funding. For assistance, applicants may contact Dana S. Johnson, Grants Manager and Program Officer, via phone at 234-458-2915 or email at djohnson@starkcf.org.

Ensure at least one neighborhood leader attends the required grant workshop. Align proposals with at least one of the Healthy Neighborhoods Framework concepts. Be prepared for follow-up meetings with Foundation staff or the review committee.