Coshocton Foundation Unrestricted Grant

The Coshocton Foundation was created in 1966 by a bequest from Adolph Golden, a local merchant and harness racing enthusiast. Since its founding, the Foundation has supported a wide range of community-focused initiatives throughout Coshocton County, Ohio. Initially established with a single fund, its capacity and community engagement were expanded in 1989 when Edward and Frances Montgomery introduced a matching challenge grant, encouraging widespread local donations. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $10 million in grants through its Unrestricted Fund and manages over 185 Restricted Funds. The Foundation’s Unrestricted Grants are governed by a five-member Distribution Committee that meets three times per fiscal year. These members are appointed by representatives from county and city government, ensuring broad representation. The Committee holds autonomous authority to award grants from the unrestricted fund and select restricted funds. Trustees, also appointed, oversee broader operations, and an investment committee ensures responsible management of the Foundation’s assets. Unrestricted Grant applications are open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that directly serve Coshocton County residents. Applications must be submitted in person or by mail and received by 4:00 p.m. on the posted deadline to be considered for review at the next committee meeting. Email submissions are not accepted. All applicants must include IRS documentation verifying nonprofit status and provide their EIN. Applications without this documentation are automatically rejected. The grant application must include several key components: a description of the problem or opportunity being addressed; project objectives and implementation plan; expected outcomes including how many people will benefit; project budget; amount requested; other sources of funding; and a sustainability plan. Applications must be submitted in seven complete copies, and the Foundation requests that they not be bound or packaged elaborately. The Committee awarded $22,011.09 during its final meeting of Fiscal Year 2025, held in September. A total of six new grants were awarded to community organizations, and three previously partially-funded projects received additional support, bringing the year’s total distributed amount to over $78,000. The next application deadline for the first meeting of Fiscal Year 2026 is December 5, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., with awards expected in January. Interested applicants can obtain the fillable grant application from the Foundation’s website and should direct submissions to the Distribution Committee at the Foundation's headquarters. Additional organizational documents and financial disclosures are available at the office or by phone request at 740-622-0010.

Missing IRS documents result in automatic rejection.