Toledo Walleye Hockey Club’s Wishing Well Fund

The Toledo Walleye Hockey Club’s Walleye Wishing Well Fund, administered through the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, supports nonprofit efforts to improve the fitness and wellness of youth in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. As part of the Foundation’s mission to enhance quality of life in its service area, the Walleye Wishing Well Fund solicits proposals from tax-exempt organizations offering programs for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. These programs must promote health and wellness through physical activity, particularly during the colder months when such opportunities are typically limited. The focus of the fund is to expand access to programs that encourage healthy lifestyles, physical fitness education, and exercise. These programs may take place indoors or outdoors and should involve structured activities designed to foster long-term habits of wellness. Proposals that integrate an educational component—enabling participants to gain knowledge or skills relevant to healthy living—will be prioritized in the review process. Grant funds may be applied toward a wide range of eligible expenses, including enrollment fees, transportation costs, sports or activity-related equipment, uniforms, and program materials. Additionally, applicants may seek funding to support the maintenance or rehabilitation of recreational venues such as sports fields or gymnasiums. Organizations that previously received funding from the Walleye Wishing Well Fund will be considered, but preference is given to new applicants. However, organizations that were awarded a Helping Hens Fund grant in the same calendar year are not eligible to apply for this opportunity. Grant awards typically range from approximately $1,500 to $10,000 and are awarded competitively. Applicants are advised that funding is limited and should not be viewed as an annual or recurring source of support. All proposals must be submitted online via the Foundation’s website (www.toledocf.org) no later than 11:59 p.m. on August 1. Late or incomplete submissions, or those sent by email, mail, or fax, will not be accepted or reviewed. In order to be considered, applications must include a comprehensive project description, an evaluation plan detailing participant numbers and cost-per-participant estimates, and plans for sustaining the project beyond the grant period. A full budget including income sources and itemized expenses must also be submitted. Required attachments include the organization’s board list, IRS determination letter, a background summary, financial statements (audited or unaudited, prepared within the last 18 months), and the organization’s current board-approved operating budget. Applications will be reviewed by the Foundation’s staff and the Walleye Wishing Well grant review committee. Only expenses incurred after grant notification are eligible for coverage. Interested applicants seeking additional information may contact Patrick Johnston, Vice President of Community Investments, at 419.241.5049 or Patrick@toledocf.org. The fund does not operate on a rolling basis and does not guarantee future cycles, so applicants are encouraged to meet all requirements carefully and submit well in advance of the August 1 deadline.

Applications must be submitted via online portal; emailed, mailed, or faxed submissions will not be accepted.