Stranahan Foundation
/OVERVIEW: Based in Toledo, Ohio, the Stranahan Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the areas of education, physical and mental health, ecology, arts and culture, and human services. Its education grants reach a broad range of programs at the local and national levels.
IP TAKE: The Stranahan Foundation prioritizes the greater Toledo, Ohio area, but conducts work nationally. Proposals from nonprofits outside of this area are accepted by invitation. In this foundation’s case, grantseekers should gain the attention of foundation staff and their work should be interesting enough in order for Stranahan to invite them to submit a letter of inquiry.
PROFILE: The Stranahan Foundation was established in 1944 in Toledo, Ohio by brothers Frank and Robert Stranahan, who founded the Champion Spark Plug Company. The foundation seeks “to assist individuals and groups in their efforts to become more self-sufficient and to contribute to the improvement of society and the environment.” The foundation’s current grantmaking programs are early childhood education and community stewardship, which includes physical and mental health, ecological well-being, arts and culture, and human services.
Grants for K-12 and Early Childhood Education
The bulk of the Stranahan Foundation’s education funding happens through its Early Childhood Education program, which prioritizes support for children from birth to five years old. It works to “to increase access to high-quality early childhood teaching and learning by supporting programs across the country” that directly improve ECE professionals’ skills and work to expand and retain ECE professionals currently in the field.
Other education grantmaking happens through its Community Stewardship program and interest areas here include, arts education, diversity, and community service. It also supports “access to programs that offer alternatives to traditional educational opportunities,” such as vocational training.
Past grantees include AMIKids, a personal development program for at-risk children and teens in the Southern United States, and VEGGIE U, a national gardening and nutrition curriculum for elementary school classrooms.
Grants for Mental Health and Public Health
The Stranahan Foundation’s Physical and Mental Health grantmaking happens through its Community Stewardship program and is relatively broad rather than prioritizing a specific illness. The foundation awards grants to organizations working in mental health and public health in order to increase access to care, expand mental health education, “support alternative care methods,” develop preventative measures, and conduct research to “eradicate health crises.” The Stranahan Foundation also supports hunger, housing, and other basic needs through its Human Services priority area. Past grantees include Growing Hope, Community Mobile Meals of Sarasota County, Amos House, The Lighthouse for the Blind, Ability First, and Child and Family Resources.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
The Stranahan Foundation’s Ecological Well-Being grantmaking occurs through its Community Stewardship program and is dedicated to “preserving or returning to healthy, sustainable communities for both current and future generations,” “conserving and restoring our natural environment,” and “educating community members about our natural environment.” Grantees include Toledo Zoological Society, Toledo Botanical Garden, Trout Unlimited, Trust for Public Land, Forest Conservancy, and Four Corners School of Outdoor Education.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The Stranahan Foundation’s Arts and Culture grantmaking happens through its Community Stewardship program and supports organizations and institutions across the United States. It prioritizes groups that “reach out to and include those who might not otherwise have such opportunities,” especially those that “directly engage participants, of any age, in the creative process.” Grantees include Toledo Cultural Arts Center, Theater Development Fund, Site Santa Fe, Northwest Film Festival, and Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally range from $10,000 to $50,000. It also offers a small grants-immediate needs program for local organizations that have been previously funded; these grants range from $500 to $5,000. Stranahan prioritizes organizations in the Toledo, Ohio area. For organizations in other parts of the country, only those that are invited may apply for grants.
The foundation’s application process begins with a letter of inquiry followed by an invitation to apply for funding. Inquiry and application due dates are posted on the foundation website. The application portal is only open for a limited time, so grantseekers will want to check the foundation website frequently for updates.
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