The Community Impact Fund, administered by the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, is a competitive grant program funded through multiple unrestricted charitable contributions. These unrestricted funds enable the Foundation to respond to evolving community needs by directing support toward impactful projects within specific focus areas each year. The Foundation serves the counties of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Tyler, and Wetzel in West Virginia, as well as Belmont and Jefferson in Ohio.
The grant program centers around three key focus areas: Next Generation Leadership/Mentoring, Youth Recreation/Activities, and Economic Mobility. Projects under the leadership focus should serve youth and young adults aged 12 to 25 and must include measurable outcomes in leadership, civic engagement, or personal growth. Recreational activities must support physical, social, or developmental health for youth aged 6 to 18 and must be structured, ongoing programs rather than one-time events. Economic Mobility initiatives should aim to improve financial self-sufficiency through services like housing, transportation, workforce support, or financial literacy, with an emphasis on sustainable outcomes.
Eligible applicants include IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and government entities such as schools and libraries. Applications must be submitted via the CFOV's Foundant Technologies grant portal. The portal will open to applicants on November 3, 2025, and close on December 18, 2025. All applications must be fully completed and submitted electronically; no edits are allowed after submission. Only one application per organization will be accepted per cycle, and the maximum request is $7,500.
The evaluation process is conducted by a distribution committee that scores applications based on several criteria including alignment with focus areas, project quality, goals, implementation methods, and budget justification. Funding notifications will be issued by the end of January 2026. Grant funds will be disbursed by the end of February 2026, with a project implementation period from February 2026 through February 2027. Grantees are required to submit a final report within 12 months of receiving the grant.
Applicants are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to apply, as technical support is not guaranteed on the deadline day. For assistance with the application portal or other inquiries, applicants may contact Debbie at 304-242-3144 or via email at debbie@cfov.org. The application includes narrative sections on project alignment, objectives, evaluation metrics, and sustainability, as well as uploads for board lists, operating budgets, and a detailed project budget with narrative.
