Dayton Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Dayton Foundation supports capacity-building, capital campaigns, education, computer literacy, art, urban redevelopment and youth and diversity in the Greater Dayton area of Ohio.
IP TAKE: The Dayton Foundation offers grant orientation sessions to first-time grantseekers each June and November.
PROFILE: Established in 1921, the Dayton Foundation is a regional community foundation based in Dayton, Ohio. D. Frank Garland first suggested the idea of the foundation, and John H. Patterson, founder of the National Cash Register Company, made the initial endowment. Today, the Dayton Foundation manages over 3,700 separate funds. The foundation aims to "help you help others through philanthropy and community leadership.” It funds local efforts for capacity-building, capital campaigns, education, computer literacy, art, urban redevelopment, youth and diversity.
The Dayton Foundation often looks to strengthen local nonprofits through capacity-building grants for technical support, community needs assessments, impact studies and marketing surveys. It also funds capital campaigns and projects that help nonprofits buy real estate and pay for construction, renovations and furnishings. Capital grants also go towards software, equipment, office relocations and technology upgrades. The Dayton Foundation makes discretionary grants for special projects and program expansion as well. Recent interests include educational efforts, computer literacy, artistic residencies, urban redevelopment, youth mentoring and diversity projects. The foundation’s Greenlight Grants program offers small grants of $500 to $7,500, while discretionary grants are usually larger and go towards many different community efforts. There are also several smaller funds at that accept grant applications. Partner organizations include the African-American Community Fund, Asian-Indian Community Fund, several smaller area community foundation affiliates and ten supporting organizations.
Grants range between $500 and $75,000. Grantmaking focuses exclusively on the Dayton region of Ohio. The funder focuses discretionary grants especially on Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble and Warren (north) counties. Past local grantees include the Artemis Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence, Dayton Boys and Girls Club and the Brukner Nature Center.
This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry from nonprofits. It hosts grant orientation sessions twice per year that are recommended but not required. The Dayton Foundation accepts one LOI per grant cycle, per organization. Upon review, the staff invites selected nonprofits to submit full grant applications. Direct general questions to the staff at info@daytonfoundation.org or 937-222-0410.
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