GFCF awards over $188K

FOSTORIA — The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation, Inc. (GFCF) has awarded grants totaling $188,190.48 to several area organizations in the first half of 2024, including the addition of a new designated fund. The Seneca County Children's Literacy Fund was established with an opening grant of $50,000 from The Mennel Milling Company Community Improvement Fund, along with a $5,000 grant from The Miller Family Donor Advised Fund, and a $500 grant from the Fostoria Rotary Club Donor Advised Fund. This new designated fund of the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation will support children's literacy initiatives coordinated through the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library, which recently became the Seneca County Program Partner for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. Additional grants given include: • The Geary Family YMCA received a $39,594.43 annual distribution from a private component fund at the GFCF for general support. • The Hope Lutheran Church received a $30,000 grant from The Miller Family Donor Advised Fund towards the establishment of the Luther Community Outreach Center to be the location for three local non-profit agencies. • The Fostoria Learning Center received an annual distribution of $14,772.90 from the Fostoria Learning Center/Terra College Foundation Fund for general support of educational programming at the center. • The Terra College Foundation received an annual distribution of $14,772.89 from the Fostoria Learning Center/Terra College Foundation Fund for general support of educational programming for Fostoria residents. • The Rotary Club of Fostoria received a $5,000 grant from the Fostoria Rotary Club Donor Advised Fund for general support, and a $3,500 grant supporting various scholarships. • Wood County Plays received a $5,000 grant from the ProMedica Fostoria Advocacy/Economic Development Fund towards an inclusive playground build in Fostoria. • The High Street United Methodist Church received a $4,304.67 annual distribution from a private endowment fund established for them. • The Fostoria Area Historical Society received $1,122.48 from The Eugene & Elizabeth Schalk Donor Advised Fund and $1,402.52 from The Ronald & Evelyn Burns Family Donor Advised Fund to replace an exterior door on the second floor of the museum on North Street. • Fostoria Vision 2020 received $1,975 from The Fostoria Flag Fund for annual maintenance of the US Flag at Midblock. • The Good Shepherd Home received a $1,000 grant from The Widman Family Donor Advised Fund toward a pickleball court. • The Kaubisch Memorial Public Library received a $245.59 grant from the Miller Donor Directed Pooled Fund for general support. The next application deadline is Aug. 30. The foundation accepts grant applications from qualified 501c3 organizations twice a year for consideration from our unrestricted community funds. Notification of awards will take place in December with distribution in January 2025. Organizations applying for grants will not be considered for funding from a GFCF unrestricted fund more than two times in a three-year period. Note that this guideline does not apply to GFCF-restricted funds and donor-advised funds. For more information, visit www.fostoriafoundation.com/grant-information/ call 419-434-1894 or email director@fostoriafoundation.com.