Ohio · Private / Regional Grant

Community Foundation of Ohio: Education Grants

Ohio's network of community foundations provides education grants for STEM, CS, and youth development programs across the state, connecting local donor priorities to community needs in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and rural Ohio.

Funding

$5,000–$100,000 (varies by foundation)

Eligibility

Ohio nonprofits and schools (varies by foundation geography)

Grade Focus

K-12

Subject

Education / STEM / Community development

Deadline

Varies by foundation (annual cycles)

Type

Private / Regional Grant

About This Grant

Ohio has a robust network of community foundations — the Columbus Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Dayton Foundation, and dozens of smaller county-level foundations — that collectively represent one of the richest local philanthropy ecosystems in the Midwest. These foundations manage billions in assets and distribute hundreds of millions in grants annually.

STEM education is a consistent priority across Ohio community foundations, reflecting donor interests in workforce development, educational equity, and community vitality. Local CS and STEM programs that serve specific communities — whether Cleveland's east side, Columbus's Linden neighborhood, or rural Appalachian Ohio — are natural fits for community foundation funding.

Ohio educators should research the community foundation(s) serving their specific geography. Each foundation has distinct priorities, application processes, and funding cycles. Building relationships with program staff at the relevant foundation — attending events, requesting informational meetings — is the most effective path to funding.

View Community Foundation of Ohio: Education Grants →

Eligibility

Ohio nonprofits and schools in the foundation's geographic service area
Programs with clear community benefit and measurable outcomes
Organizations with financial accountability and established track records
STEM programs serving underrepresented or underserved Ohio communities

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Community engagement, program evaluation, and organizational capacity building

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Ohio CS standards and fit cleanly into grant budgets. All kits include teacher guides and curriculum.

micro:bit Starter Kit — Entry-level physical computing, perfect for introducing coding and computational thinking.
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — Hands-on AI literacy curriculum covering machine learning concepts for K-12 classrooms.
Coding for Good Kit — Project-based learning kit connecting coding skills to real-world community challenges.
micro:bit Robotics Kit — Advanced robotics and engineering challenges for deeper CS exploration.

Keep in Mind

Research your specific county or regional community foundation first — local fit is more important than size.
Attend community foundation events to meet program staff; relationship-driven giving is the norm at community foundations.
Community foundations often have multiple grant cycles per year for different priority areas — check each foundation's calendar carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the largest Ohio community foundation?

The Columbus Foundation and Cleveland Foundation are among Ohio's largest. Dayton Foundation and Greater Cincinnati Foundation are also significant. Dozens of smaller county foundations cover rural areas.

Do community foundations fund individual classrooms?

Most community foundations fund organizations, not individual teachers. A school foundation or nonprofit partner is typically required.

Can organizations apply to multiple Ohio community foundations?

Yes, if your program serves multiple communities. Be transparent with each foundation about other funding applications.

Is there a statewide Ohio community foundation I should know about?

Ohio Community Foundation (ohiocf.org) is an umbrella organization; contact your county-level foundation for direct grant opportunities.

How can Forward Education help?

We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Ohio CS standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support for qualifying applications. Reach out before you apply.