2nd round of Fostoria grants awarded

The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $200,000 to several area organizations in its second round of funding in 2024. The second-round grants raise the year's total to more than $400,000 supplied to non-profit organizations. "With a mission to improve the quality of life in our community, the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation is proud to have distributed over $430,000 in grant awards from numerous component funds in 2024," said Michele Cochran, executive director of the foundation, said in an email. "With a blend of unrestricted community funds along with donor-advised funds from which to make grant awards, our reach allows us to support many non-profit organizations that share our mission for making a significant impact in our community and beyond. "We appreciate the generosity of those who have opened a fund or donated to an existing fund at the foundation so this mission can continue in perpetuity." The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation now includes 38 component funds, ranging from unrestricted community funds to donor-advised and funds and organization endowment funds in support of philanthropic opportunities in Fostoria and beyond. The most grants take the total distribution of GFCF grants awarded to $3,923,637.93 since the foundation's inception in 1998, supporting more than 60 non-profit organizations. Following are second-half grants for 2024: • Wood County Plays received a $75,000 Grant from The Mennel Milling Community Improvement Fund to grow the endowment for children's literacy initiatives. Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard, Inc., received a grant of $3,500 on behalf of Fostoria Friends and Veterans, in care of American Legion Earl Foust Post 73 from the #FRONTLINE Proud fund. The grant will be used toward bringing the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Fostoria in June 2025. • The Geary Family YMCA received a $750 grant for its capital campaign and a $500 grant for the 2024 Foundation Park Bash from the Fostoria Rotary Club Donor Advised Fund. • Tilly's Christmas for Kids Charity received a $1,000 grant from the Aaron and Donene Smith Donor Advised Fund to supply support and gifts at Christmas for Seneca County families in need. • Kaubisch Memorial Public Library received a $1,000 grant from the Miller Family Donor Advised Fund for general support. • The Cleveland Clinic Foundation received a $30,000 grant from the Miller Family Donor Advised fund and $10,000 from the Miller Donor Directed Pooled Fund for general support. • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation each received a $1,000 grant from the Miller Family Donor Advised Fund. The Greater Fostoria Community Foundation also facilitated $40,000 in grants from private component funds whose donors wish to remain anonymous. The application deadline for spring 2025 awards is Feb. 28. Notification of the awards will take place in May, with distributions made in June. Organizations applying for grants usually will not be considered for funding from an unrestricted fund more than twice in a three-year period. This guideline does not apply to grants from restricted funds and donor-advised funds. For more information, visit www.fostoriafoundation.com/grant-information, call 419-434-1894 or email to director@fostoriafoundation.com.