Community Builder Grant Program

The Community Builder Grant is administered by the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, a public charitable organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and families in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, with a particular emphasis on the greater Toledo area. The Foundation supports a wide array of services across fields such as education, social services, health, neighborhood and urban affairs, natural resources, and the arts. The overarching goal of the grant is to create safe and positive living environments, empower families with supportive resources, and foster youth development. The grant offers up to $25,000 per award and supports three primary funding objectives: seed money for new and innovative programs that address unmet community needs, expansion of successful programs to serve new or unique audiences, and capacity-building enhancements for existing nonprofit organizations. Emphasis is placed on sustainable, impactful projects that promote collaboration among organizations and present innovative solutions to community challenges. Only nonprofit, charitable organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status are eligible to apply. Additionally, projects must benefit residents of northwest Ohio or southeast Michigan. Applications that propose services in these geographic areas are accepted twice annually, with deadlines on January 15 and July 15. Applications must be submitted online through the Foundation's website, and applicants will be notified in writing of the Foundation’s decision approximately two to three months after the submission deadline. Grant proposals are evaluated based on several criteria, including evidence of collaboration, a unique approach to meeting community needs, alignment with community planning efforts, and long-term sustainability plans. Special consideration is given to applications proposing matching funds and those offering innovative or pilot solutions to community issues. For capacity-building proposals, the Foundation prioritizes initiatives that enhance operational or programmatic sophistication and support strategic growth. Applicants must include a range of supporting documents, including a list of the Board of Trustees, the IRS tax exemption letter, background and mission of the organization, recent financial statements (either audited or unaudited), an operating budget, and a detailed project budget. Additional documents are required for capacity-building requests involving evaluations or business planning, such as consultant qualifications and a formal proposal from the third-party evaluator or specialist. For further details, prospective applicants can contact Patrick Johnston, Vice President of Community Investments at the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, via email at patrick@toledocf.org or by phone at 419-241-5049. The Foundation’s office is located at 300 Madison Avenue, Suite 1300, Toledo, OH 43604.