Foundation funds a homeless shelter renovation and other emerging needs in the community

During its February meeting, the Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $2,067,053.

Competitive, field of interest and donor-advised fund grants approved by the board included the following grants: 

Wayfinders Ohio, the local homeless shelter, received a grant to renovate a building at 661 Park Avenue East to create a larger shelter. The current shelter at 124 West Third Street accommodates 58 people daily, while the new shelter will house 75 people daily. Last year, Wayfinders assisted approximately 700 individuals. A larger shelter would not only serve more people but also enhance their quality of life. 

Catholic Charities received a grant to provide community emergency and adult advocacy services. Nearly one in four households in Mansfield and over 13.5% in Richland County live at or below the poverty level. More than 21% of Richland County renters are severely cost-burdened paying over 50% of their income for rent and utilities. 

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio received a grant for its Helping Hands program. The grant will offset the cost to house Richland County families at the Ronald McDonald House while their severely ill children are receiving care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The cost to house one family per night is $100 per room and families are asked to donate $20 per night to help cover costs. However, the average donation in 2023 was $4.70 per night. 

The City of Mansfield received a grant to renovate the historic 1937 Works Progress Administration (WPA) bath house at Liberty Park.  The goal is to transform the bathhouse into a pavilion that will serve as a multi-functional community space. The renovated bathhouse will feature ADA-compliant restrooms, accessible parking, a catering kitchen, outdoor grills, picnic tables, and a small club room for rental and storage. 

The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor-advised funds which allows individuals, families, and corporations the opportunity to make grant suggestions to their 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 International Mansfield
• Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter
• Buckeye Imagination Museum
• Catholic Charities
• Community Foundation of Otsego County, Inc.
• Crawford County United Way
• Discovery School
• Domestic Violence Shelter
• Family Planning of South-Central New York
• Family Service Association
• Fenimore Art Museum
• Friendly House Association
• Galion Community Center YMCA
• Glimmerglass Festival
• Grace Episcopal Church
• Hartwick College
• Heartwood
• Helios Care
• Highlands Nature Sanctuary
• Holy Comforter Episcopal Church
• Island Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary Inc.
• Killbuck Water Shed Land Trust
• Lucas Local Schools
• Make A Wish Foundation
• Mansfield Art Center
• Marietta College
• Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Education Foundation
• Music Academy of Karate & Empowerment
• Nature Conservancy
• North Central Ohio Land Conservancy
• North Central State College Foundation
• North End Community Improvement Collaboration
• Nuhop Center for Experiential Learning
• Ohio Bird Sanctuary
• Ohio Environmental Council
• Ohio Heartland Community Action Center
• Ocean Conservancy
• Pathfinder Village Foundation, Inc.
• Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
• Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center
• Red Clay Ranch Equine Rescue & Sanctuary
• Red Cross East Central Ohio
• Renaissance Performing Arts
• Richland Community Development Group
• Rubies Women’s Group
• Salvation Army
• Sierra Club Ohio
• Springbrook Foundation
• St. Paul Outreach
• St. Peter’s Parish
• The Accomplis Collective, Inc.
• The New Store
• Third Street Family Health Services
• United Way of Ashland County
• United Way of North Central Ohio
• United Way of Richland County

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 a new suitable organization.

The board approved grants from donor-designated and agency funds to the following organizations:

• American Red Cross
• Ashland University
• Buckeye Council Boy Scouts of America
• Catalyst Life Services
• Catholic Charities – Mansfield
• Children’s Dyslexia Center
• Children’s Theatre Foundation
• Clear Fork Valley Foundation
• Domestic Violence Shelter
• First Christian Church, Mansfield
• First Congregational Church of Mansfield Ohio
• Friendly House Association
• Friends of Richland County Park District
• Habitat for Humanity Richland County
• Kingwood Center Gardens
• Mansfield Richland Public Library
• Mansfield 1^st Evangelical Presbyterian Church
• Mansfield Art Center
• Mansfield Cancer Foundation
• Mansfield City Schools
• Mansfield Playhouse
• Mansfield Rotary Club Foundation, Inc.
• Mansfield/Richland Public Library
• Methodist Theological Seminary
• North Central Ohio Alzheimer’s Association
• North Central State College
• North Central State College Foundation
• Ohio Bird Sanctuary
• Ohio Genealogical Society
• OhioHealth Foundation
• OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital
• Ohio State University – Mansfield
• Ontario Local Schools
• Renaissance Performing Arts Association
• Richland Academy of the Arts
• Richland County Children Services
• Richland County Children Services – The New Store
• Richland County Historical Society
• Richland Pregnancy Services
• Salvation Army
• Shelby Helpline Ministries
• St. John’s Church
• Third Street Family Health Services
• Trapshooting Hall of Fame Inc.
• United Way of Richland County
• Volunteers of America
• Wayfinders Ohio
• YMCA of North Central Ohio

Career Technical Education Scholarships
The Board of Trustees awarded 18 scholarships to students attending a career technical education school. The Scholarship Committee implemented a rolling deadline for CTE scholarships to meet various enrollment deadlines. 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.

Special Grants:

Report for America

YWCA Childcare Resource & Referral