Ohio Children's Foundation (Ohio)

The Ohio Children's Foundation prides itself on its approachability and its relatively easy application process. The Foundation is responsive and accepts requests throughout the year. Those wishing to apply for a grant should send a 1 to 2 page letter that describes the project: its objectives, time frame, total cost, and amount requested. New applicants should attach a brief description of the organization.

The Ohio Children's Foundation's mission is enhancing the lives of children through acts that are designed to keep them free from hunger, poverty, and violence. The Foundation's primary interests are early care and education and school readiness. The foundation believes that conventional approaches aren't always the most effective way to help children, and encourages organizations to think creatively, act productively and to search for programs that challenge the status quo for the benefit of children and their families. Its grants support innovative pilot programs as well as successful, long-standing initiatives. Recently funded projects have focused on such things as: summer camp for at-risk and disadvantaged children; after-school learning, including programs for immigrant families; services for abused and neglected children; positive discipline programs (practical application of non-physical disciplinary techniques); services for homeless families with children; child care and programs for at-risk children and parents; training in developmentally appropriate practices to childcare professionals; strategies to end childhood hunger; conservation, science, and education programs; holiday gifts for pre-teen and teenage children who are in foster home care; a camp for girls entering the 6th through 8th grades designed to build self-esteem, physical fitness, interpersonal cooperation, and leadership skills; and, among others, a model middle-school program for disadvantaged Latino children which includes social and athletic activities, as well as assists with medical and social services for their families. The foundation also believes there is great power in convening groups to work toward a common solution. For example, in 2001, the Foundation helped develop a community-based initiative involving more than 30 organizational partners in Columbus. This initiative, called Pre-K Partners, seeks to increase school-readiness among the highest-risk 4- and 5-year-olds. Similarly, the foundation encourages others to create collaborations that bring together resources effectively and efficiently. In addition to its regular grant making activities, the Ohio Children's Foundation has joined with two other funding organizations to provide mini-grants to organizations that serve one or more of Ohio's 29 Appalachian counties. Partners in this effort are the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville. In 2006, the focus for these mini-grants was Fostering Access to Education, with the objective of improving access to educational opportunities for citizens of Appalachian Ohio.

History of Funds:

As a grant-making public charity, the foundation has awarded more than $8 million to hundreds of organizations working on behalf of Ohio's children. In 2006, the Foundation granted nearly $520,000 in support of programs and projects that enhance the lives of children in Ohio. These grant amounts ranged from $1000 to $50,000. A list of these funded applicants and summaries of their projects is available here: http://www.ohiochildrensfoundation.org/2006g.html

Average Award:

Varies

Name: Barbara Miller, President

Department: Ohio Children's Foundation

Street: 486 City Park Avenue

City: Columbus

Zip: 43215

Email: info@ohiochildrensfoundation.org

Fax: 614-461-1949