GFCF awards grants totaling more than $292K

FOSTORIA — The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling $292,786.82 to several area organizations in the first half of 2025, the foundation announced Wednesday in a news release.The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation includes 43 component funds, ranging from unrestricted community funds to donor-advised funds, organization-endowment funds and more in support of philanthropic opportunities. The most recent grants bring the total distribution of GFCF grants awarded to more than $4.1 million since the foundation's inception in 1998, supporting more than 70 non-profit agencies and organizations in Fostoria and beyond.Among the first-half grants, $140,913 went toward Wood County Plays' construction of an inclusive playground in Fostoria's City Park. Wood County Plays received $75,000 from The Mennel Milling Company Community Improvement Fund; $32,206.20 from the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation Fund; $25,000 from the Fostoria Revitalization Fund; $6,461.23 from the Richard and Ann Carter Fund; $1,455.24 from the Ashland Farms Fund; and $791.12 from the Robert and Betty Watson Fund. The playground build is expected to be completed in September.Other grants were: $45,547.13 to the Geary Family YMCA from a private donor-advised fund; $9,343.76 to the Fostoria Learning Center and $9,343.77 to the Terra College Foundation from the Fostoria Learning Center Fund/Terra College College Foundation as an annual distribution; a $10,000 general support grant to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation from the #FRONTLINEPROUD fun; $10,000 to Tiffin University for the George Kidd Presidential Initiatives Endowment from The Mennel Milling Company Community Improvement Fund; $10,000 to the River Valley Athletic Boosters' capital campaign from The Mennel Milling Company Community Improvement Fund; $4,000 to Fostoria Vision 2020 (doing business as the Fostoria Area Visitors Bureau) from the Fostoria Revitalization Fund for the Fostoria fireworks display; $,275 to annual flag maintenance at Midblock from the Fostoria Flag Fund; $600 to the Midwest Sculpture Initiative from the Eugene and Elizabeth Schalk Donor Advised Fund; $5,000 to the Imagine for Youth Foundation from the Richard and Ann Carter Fund for the implementation of a Care Closet at the Geary Family YMCA; an annual distribution of $4,513.37 from its endowment fund to High Street United Methodist Church; $1,000 to CASA of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties for general support from the Leroy T. Kelbley Fund; $250 to the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation from the Rotary Club of Fostoria Donor Advised Fund for operating support.The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation for facilitated $40,000 in grants from private component funds whose donors wish to remain anonymous.The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation accepts grant applications from qualified 501c3 organizations twice a year for consideration from unrestricted community funds. The next application deadline, for fall awards, is Aug. 29. Notification of those awards will take place in December, with distribution taking place in January 2026.Organizations applying for grants usually will not be considered for funding from an unrestricted fund more than twice in a three-time period. This guideline and timeline does not apply to grants from restricted funds or donor-advised funds. More information about the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation is available at website www.fostoriafoundation.com/grant-information; by calling 419-434-1894 or by emailing to director@fostoriafoundation.com.