MANSFIELD – The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling
$2,315,102 during its February meeting.
The Foundation will celebrate its 75th Anniversary this year with free community events throughout Richland County. Grants were awarded to various nonprofit organizations to host the free events. Details on how to attend the free events will be released in April.
The Board approved a five-year, $1.5M investment plan for Mansfield Rising projects. This year money has been allocated to improve facades on existing businesses, increase the number of public restrooms, public art and free public Wi-Fi. The Foundation is seeking partners to help fund and work on Mansfield Rising projects. To review the plan, go to richlandcountyfoundation.org and click the Community Impact tab.
Four career technical education scholarships were approved for students to earn certifications and credentials at technical institutions. The Scholarship Committee implemented a rolling deadline for CTE scholarships to meet various enrollment deadlines. In aligning with Ohio’s Attainment Goal, the Foundation wants to help fill the gap between job openings and certified employees as well as lead the way to support workforce development through CTE scholarships.
The deadline for college scholarship applications is April 1.
Three competitive grants were awarded:
Flying Horse Farms for Summer Camp for children with serious illnesses
Raemelton Equestrian Center for equine-based therapy scholarships
Women’s Fund for an endowment campaign
The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor-advised funds which allows individuals and families the opportunity to make grant suggestions to favorite charities. Donor-Advised Funds are a flexible and convenient alternative to a private foundation. It is also a way to keep charitable contributions anonymous, at the preference of the donor.
The following organizations received grants from donor advised funds:
Altrusa Club of Mansfield
American Red Cross
Ashland University
Avita Health System Foundation
Capital Research Center
Catalyst Life Services
Catholic Charities
Domestic Violence Shelter
First Congregational Church
Friendly House
Harmony House
Humane Society of Richland County
Judicial Watch
Leadership Institute
Lifeline of Ohio
Lucas Community Center
Lucas Local Schools
Madison Summer Baseball League Inc.
Mansfield Area Y
Mansfield Art Center
Mansfield Christian School
Mansfield Rotary Club
Mansfield Richland County Public Library
Mid-Ohio Youth Mentoring
MIT Cambridge
Nature Conservancy
Neos
OhioHealth MedCentral Health System
Ontario Police Department
Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center
Richland Community Development Group
Richland County Habitat for Humanity
Salvation Army
Shelby Helpline Ministries
United Way of Richland County
Western Reserve Academy
Willard Church of the Nazarene
The board allocated grants from donor-designated and agency funds. Agency Funds are established by charitable organizations and can be endowed or non-endowed. The agency benefits from the Foundation’s professional asset management, which allows the agency’s staff and board to focus on providing services to their constituents.
Designated Funds provide annual support to the charities selected by the donor. They offer the added benefit that if the organization ceases to exist; the Foundation has the responsibility to ensure that the donor's original intent is met in seeking new suitable organizations.
The following organizations received grants from donor designated and agency funds: AA/Mansfield Intergroup American Guernsey Foundation American Red Cross Ashland University Buckeye Council Boy Scouts of America Catalyst Life Services Center for Individual and Family Services Children’s Dyslexia Center Children’s Theatre Foundation Clear Fork Valley Foundation Community Action for Capable Youth Discovery School Domestic Violence Shelter Downtown Mansfield Inc. First Christian Church, Mansfield First Congregational Church Friendly House Association Friends of Gorman Nature Center Habitat for Humanity Richland County Hospice of North Central Ohio Kingwood Center Gardens Lucas Local Schools Malabar Farm Foundation Mansfield Richland Public Library Mansfield 1st Evangelical Presbyterian Church Mansfield Area Y Mansfield Art Center Mansfield Aviation Club Mansfield Cancer Foundation Mansfield Cancer Foundation – Pat Kracker Mansfield Christian School Mansfield City Schools Mansfield Memorial Homes Mansfield Playhouse Mansfield Police Department Mansfield Rotary Club Foundation, Inc. Mansfield/Richland Public Library Methodist Theological Seminary North Central Ohio Alzheimer’s Association North Central Ohio Land Conservancy North Central State College North Central State College Foundation North End Community Improvement Collaborative
Ohio Bird Sanctuary Ohio Genealogical Society OhioHealth Foundation OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital Ohio State College of Medicine Ohio State University – Mansfield Ontario Local Schools Ontario Police Department OSU/NCSC Photo Arts Programs Pioneer Career and Technology Center Renaissance Performing Arts Association Renaissance Theatre Richard David Gardner Fund Richland Academy of the Arts Richland Carrousel Park Richland County Children’s Services Richland County Historical Society Richland County Museum Richland Newhope Center Richland Newhope Industries Richland Pregnancy Services Salvation Army St. John’s Church The New Store Third Street Family Health Services Trapshooting Hall of Fame Inc. United Way of Richland County University Club Volunteers of America Women’s Fund Y Aware
About the Richland County Foundation The Richland County Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3, was established in 1945 as a way for individuals to pool and invest their gifts for the long-term good of Richland County and its residents.
The Foundation helps people in Richland County give back to their community by investing their gifts for charity wisely so that grants can be made to improve the quality of life for all of the county’s citizens. Working together with donors, the Foundation meets important needs today and plans for a strong future.