Connections

Abundant Life Christ Centered Ministries | Kitchen Expansion

$40,000 Project Budget | $10,000 Granted

Abundant Life Christ Centered Ministries is looking to expand its kitchen capacity to provide hot meals to families in the Northwest Dayton and Trotwood area. Funds will be used to remove old kitchen appliances and install new ones, as well as add more prep tables, shelving and small appliances. The Kitchen Expansion project represents a vital investment in Northwest Dayton and will help reduce hunger, address rising food costs and strengthen community well-being.

Hernika Campbell , Executive Programs Director, (937) 470-6138

The Bottom Line, Inc. | College Success Program Launch in Ohio

$651,600 Project Budget | $50,000 Granted

Bottom Line is launching its college Success program in Ohio for the 2025–26 academic year, providing research-validated, one-on-one advising to undergraduates from under-resourced communities. The program uses the DEAL curriculum – degree, employability, affordability and life – to guide students through course selection, financial literacy, wellness and career preparation for up to six years. Nearly all local participants come from low-income households, and 84 percent are first-generation college students, making this support critical for persistence and graduation. A rigorous randomized controlled trial shows Bottom Line students are 23 percent more likely to graduate within four years, and graduates typically earn twice their family’s income. Funds will be used to cover program costs, ensuring more Ohio students achieve the transformative benefits of a bachelor’s degree.

James Cosby, Executive Director, (937) 838-1235

Clothes That Work | On the Move: The Campaign to Build Capacity, Empower Lives and Secure Futures

$3,000,000 Project Budget | $25,000 Granted

Clothes That Work’s mission is to clothe, educate and empower individuals to prepare them for employment success. Dayton Foundation funds will be used to purchase clothing fixtures for its new location, which is situated in a bustling shopping area in Kettering, Ohio. The nonprofit organization is seeking additional funding to assist with build-out costs for the new headquarters, including training rooms, staff offices, the Boutique and a donation warehouse. The facility will enhance visibility and increase revenue, as well as provide a more welcoming and accessible experience for clients and Boutique shoppers.

Cindy Garner, Executive Director, (937) 222-3778

County Corp | Northwest Dayton Pathway to Homeownership - Phase III-A

$1,369,750 Project Budget | $50,000 Granted

County Corp focuses on improving the Greater Dayton/Montgomery County community by providing affordable housing and youth development programs that have a real impact on residents’ lives. County Corp is undertaking the third phase of the Pathway to Homeownership Program to build 30 additional homes over the next three years in groups of five homes. Funds will be used to construct the first five homes and will provide the critical financial foundation to support subsequent builds. The Pathway to Homeownership Program creates new, affordable, owner-occupied housing opportunities and invests in and stabilizes underserved neighborhoods.

Steve D. Naas, President, (937) 531-7026

Daybreak | Heat Pump Replacement

$691,506 Project Budget | $25,000 Granted

Daybreak’s goal is to empower homeless youth and young adults to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. Funds will be used to support Phase 2 of a comprehensive five-year Heat Pump Replacement project, which involves replacing 42 aging and increasingly inefficient heat pump systems throughout the facility. These systems are essential for providing safe, reliable and energy-efficient heating and cooling to both residential apartments and communal spaces that serve vulnerable populations.

Courtney Patel, CEO, (937) 395-4600

Dayton Live | Q Theater

$150,000 Project Budget | $15,000 Granted

Dayton Live’s focus is to strengthen community engagement in the arts through inspiring performances, educational opportunities and world-class venues. Funds will be used to help pay for teaching artists, program supplies, costumes, printing and marketing in support of the Q Theater. Q Theater provides a creative and therapeutic outlet for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies who would benefit from being in an environment where they can be their authentic selves. The program aims to enhance the mental well-being of youth ages 12 to 20 by fostering a sense of belonging and empowering them to use the performing arts as a positive outlet for self-expression.

Amanda Burks, Chief Development Officer, (937) 637-8148

Five Rivers Health Centers | Pharmacy Robot

$246,756 Project Budget | $35,000 Granted

Five Rivers Health Centers serves low-income patients in Dayton, Ohio, by providing both primary and specialty care services. Funds will be used to purchase a refurbished pharmacy robot for the new Xenia campus. This new location combines two Xenia sites and will add a new low-cost pharmacy for Five Rivers patients in March 2026. The purchase of a refurbished robot helps provide patients with access to low-cost medications, addresses staffing challenges for hard-to-fill positions and strengthens the Xenia Campus’ path to financial sustainability by increasing pharmacy usage rates.

Gina McFarlane-El, CEO, (937) 281-5940

Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley | Assistive Equipment Scholarship

$25,000 Project Budget | $25,935 Granted

Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley’s mission is to empower people with disabilities and other disadvantages so they may achieve independence and improve their quality of life. The nonprofit organization offers vision services for community members who are blind or facing visual impairment, so they have what they need to adapt and remain independent and active in public life. Funds will be used to maintain and purchase diagnostic and assistive equipment.

Amanda N. Williams, Director of Development, (937) 528-6371

Greater Dayton Union Cooperative | Gem City Market

$1,350,000 Project Budget | $25,000 Granted

Founded in 2016, Co-op Dayton creates cooperative businesses to meet community needs. Its flagship project, Gem City Market, is a community- and worker-owned grocery store serving West Dayton’s former food desert. The Market offers affordable, high-quality food and aims to be a community anchor.

Following its pilot phase, the Market launched a four-year plan to boost sales and engagement by focusing on operational efficiency, which helped it grow to 5,000 members and leverage local partnerships for sustained support. Funds will support efforts that, coupled with recent grassroots momentum and improved operations, will put Gem City Market on track for long-term viability.

Cherrelle Gardner, Executive Director, (937) 369-0473

Greater Edgemont Community Coalition | Edgemont Youth Construction, Home Repair and Beautification Pilot Program

$114,000 Project Budget | $25,000 Granted

Greater Edgemont Community Coalition’s mission is to facilitate connections and networks for the wider community through urban agriculture and civic engagement. Greater Edgemont is launching a pilot program to train youth in construction, home repair, lawn maintenance, landscaping and horticulture. This pilot is the start of a long-term strategy to build community-driven career pathways for Dayton youth while meeting repair and beautification needs in West Dayton. Funds will be used for the program’s first-year costs, such as youth stipends, food, equipment, supplies and storage.

Rhonda Miller, Board Member, (937) 219-3539

Junior Achievement of O.K.I. Partners | JA Take Stock in Your Future Program

$149,942 Project Budget | $8,000 Granted

Junior Achievement has more than 100 JA locations across the nation, making it the country’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Funds will be used for classroom kits and other expenses for the JA Take Stock in Your Future program, which focuses on financial literacy and career readiness for local high schoolers by introducing them to the stock market.

Jeff Taylor, CEO & President, (513) 346-7100

K12 Gallery for Young People | K12/TEJAS Positive Mental Health and Community Protective Partition

$386,055 Project Budget | $20,000 Granted

K12 Gallery for Young People aims to inspire people of all ages to imagine, learn and create art in a unique and encouraging environment. This mission fulfills a community need to increase art accessibility for all Miami Valley residents, regardless of age or ability to pay. Funds will be used to support a significant multi-phase construction project involving the planning, design and improvement of the nearby empty lot and historic barn recently purchased by K12/TEJAS. The project involves several components that will transform the area, turning the green space into a beautiful and safe environment that supports the positive mental health of program participants and the surrounding community.

Jerri R. Stanard, Executive Director, (937) 461-5149

Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio | Capacity Expansion

$174,843 Project Budget | $20,000 Granted

Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio is the region’s only organization that provides free business legal services exclusively to nonprofits, helping them stay compliant and focused on their missions. PBPO serves more than 445 nonprofits in Dayton and Cincinnati through direct legal services and expert education, addressing hundreds of legal matters annually and offering webinars, workshops and resources on emerging issues. Demand for PBPO’s services has surged, requiring additional administrative support to sustain operations and allow attorneys to focus on legal work and education. Funds will be used to support two new positions to maintain the organization’s expanded capacity needs.

Erin Childs, President & CEO, (513) 977-4010

Ronald McDonald House Charities Dayton | Sensory Garden and Play Area

$139,227 Project Budget | $10,000 Granted

Ronald McDonald House Charities Dayton offers support and the comforts of home to families with critically ill children. Funds will be used to create a sensory garden and natural play area adjacent to the House, which is located steps away from Dayton Children’s. With this support, RMHC Dayton will add turf, child-safe fencing and inclusive furnishings to make the space fully accessible for children of all abilities. The space will offer families a peaceful, inclusive place to relax and regroup during an incredibly difficult time.

Rita Cyr, CEO, (937) 224-0047

Spectrum New Beginnings | Dayton Doula Initiative for Black Maternal and Infant Health

$121,500 Project Budget | $20,000 Granted

Spectrum New Beginnings is a nonprofit organization dedicated to renewing minds and transforming lives by providing accessible, holistic wellness programs and self-care practices. Funds will be used to support the launch of the Dayton Doula Initiative. This new grassroots initiative in West Dayton works to reduce infant mortality and maternal health disparities by connecting Black mothers and families to trained, culturally grounded doulas and a network of community-based support.

Taylor Johnson, Executive Director, (937) 234-7820

TCN Behavioral Health Services | Farmhouse Recovery

$503,858 Project Budget | $40,732 Granted

TCN Behavioral Health Services’ mission is to improve lives by providing clinically excellent and accessible behavioral health services. TCN is renovating its ADU space to make it functional for Intensive Outpatient Program groups and private one-on-one sessions with staff. The facility will provide 16 additional recovery beds for men, addressing a documented gap in services in Miami County and the surrounding region. Funds will be used toward renovation costs in the Farmhouse.

Lori A. Strobl Esq., CEO, (937) 376-8700

Teach For America, Inc. | Tutoring for Dayton Students

$97,140 Project Budget | $20,000 Granted

Nearly 44 percent of U.S. students started the 2023–24 school year behind grade level, with high-poverty districts experiencing twice the learning loss of wealthier communities. Teach For America’s Ignite program tackles this challenge by providing research-backed, high-frequency, small-group tutoring during the school day through trained fellows. In Dayton, Ignite partners with Dayton Leadership Academies, where more than 90 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Early results from the program show 73 percent of participants met or exceeded achievement targets. Funds will be used to support the recruitment, training and coaching of fellows, as well as stipends and program evaluation, to ensure delivery of personalized tutoring that strengthens foundational math skills. This investment will help Dayton students close learning gaps and build the skills needed for long-term success.

Jennifer Howard, Executive Director, (216) 347-5297

YMCA of Greater Dayton | YMCA Camp Kern Inclusive Bathhouse

$300,000 Project Budget | $45,000 Granted

YMCA Camp Kern is a space where kids, families and groups come to challenge themselves, build confidence and create lasting bonds. Funds will be used for the construction of a modern, inclusive bathhouse on the main camp property. The new bathhouse will feature 12 fully equipped private stalls, each with a toilet, shower, sink and mirror, and one ADA-compliant stall. The project will modernize an essential part of the camp experience and ensure all campers can access safe, clean and dignified hygiene facilities.

Dale Brunner, CEO & President, (937) 223-5201

Artemis Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence | New CRM System

$5,599 Project Budget | $5,599 Granted

Artemis Center empowers survivors of domestic violence to make decisions and choices that will establish and maintain safety for themselves and their children. Funds will be used to purchase and implement Bloomerang, a new donor and constituent relationship management system. This system will significantly strengthen the organization’s capacity to serve and engage survivors, donors and volunteers by streamlining current processes and enhancing fundraising efforts among other activities. It also will ensure the Artemis Center can continue providing free, lifesaving services for survivors of domestic violence in Greater Dayton.

Jane Keiffer, Executive Director, (937) 531-5700

Beaver Creek Wetlands Association, Inc. | Interactive Map

$5,000 Project Budget | $5,000 Granted

Beaver Creek Wetlands Association preserves and restores endangered wetland habitat through conservation, stewardship and education, and by providing public access. Funds will be used to help build an interactive mapping software program for the parks to provide real-time location information for visitors. This software will be available through a website or via QR codes that visitors can scan as they enter the parks, providing points of interest and helping prevent them from getting lost while navigating the more than 20 parks and reserves along the Beaver Creek wetland corridor.

Jacki Mayer, Executive Director, (937) 320-9042

Five Rivers Flow Arts | Props for Monthly Gatherings

$1,000 Project Budget | $1,000 Granted

Five Rivers Flow Arts works to promote acceptance, access and inclusion in the Miami Valley by creating a space where all individuals can express their true selves. At the nonprofit organization’s monthly Flow Arts Gathering, local artists can practice their flow, learn new skills from an expert instructor and engage with the local flow art community. Funds will be used to purchase props that can be used during class times. These props will aid in the organization’s mission to empower artists and performers, inspire creativity and ensure that everyone has the chance to thrive in the performing arts.

Michelle Harr, Treasurer, (937) 689-4824

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio | Accessibility at Camp Project

$7,500 Project Budget | $5,000 Granted

The mission of Girl Scouts, the world’s preeminent leadership development organization for girls, is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Funds will be used to improve accessibility at the Little House in Greenville. The creation of an ADA-compliant concrete sidewalk from the parking lot to the ADA-accessible ramp and porch will allow for a stable surface for members with mobility issues.

Aimee Sproles, CEO, (513) 225-6690

Good Shepherd Ministries | Garage Electric Installation Project

$7,500 Project Budget | $7,500 Granted

Good Shepherd Ministries is a nonprofit ministry that operates six recovery houses in East Dayton. Funds will be used to install essential electrical infrastructure in a new garage at its Xenia Avenue property. Currently, the lack of electricity limits training classes, equipment storage and microbusiness operations such as landscaping and snow removal. Once completed, the garage will serve more than 100 clients annually, providing hands-on job readiness opportunities in collaboration with partners such as ADAMHS, Christian Life Center and local churches.

Shawn Trapp, Program Director, (937) 938-5781

HUES Women's Health Advocacy Institute | Health Ambassador Program

$18,800 Project Budget | $7,500 Granted

HUES Women’s Health Advocacy Institute fosters conversation, community, advocacy, research and education to empower women of color in navigating health and wellness systems. Funds will be used for the Summer Youth Health Ambassador Program, which provides workforce development and a health equity initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of female healthcare leaders in Montgomery County. By engaging young women early and equipping them with soft skills in health communication, advocacy and leadership, HUES aims to build a pipeline of culturally competent professionals indigenous to the communities most affected by health disparities.

Nicole Carter Ph.D., Executive Director, (313) 300-3647

Impact Garage | Vehicle Lift

$15,950 Project Budget | $7,500 Granted

Impact Garage’s mission is to provide affordable, reliable auto repair services to individuals and families in need, helping them maintain safe transportation for work, school and daily life. Funds will be used to purchase a new vehicle lift for the auto repair shop. The new lift will help serve more community members who rely on the low-cost auto repair program, reduce wait times for customers in urgent need of repairs and help create a new employment opportunity, contributing to local workforce development.

Terri Fleck, President and Founder, (937) 759-8631

The Learning Tree Farm, Inc. | Security Camera System

$7,740 Project Budget | $4,740 Granted

Learning Tree Farm is a traditional working farm that engages people in hands-on, nature-based education. The nonprofit organization hosts and educates schoolchildren, homeschool groups, parent groups, gardening clubs, families and community members of all ages through a variety of events and outdoor learning experiences throughout the year. Funds will be used to support the installation of a comprehensive security camera system with cameras placed at key locations throughout the Farm. This initiative aims to enhance safety for more than 25,000 annual visitors and address recent security issues such as vandalism, theft and a preschool break-in. The system also will include a live-feed camera in the goat stalls for animal monitoring and public engagement.

Heather Pax, Executive Director, (937) 543-2169

Little Art Theatre Association, Inc. | Strategic Board Development

$7,500 Project Budget | $5,000 Granted

The Little Art Theatre Association is one of the oldest, continuously operating, single-screen theatres in Ohio. The nonprofit organization aims to achieve lasting organizational stability by transitioning its board of directors from a “working” board to a governing board focused on fiduciary duties, policy-making and strategic planning. With guidance from a consultation team, the board will undergo a structured transition process. This process will strengthen governance, enhance fundraising efforts and ensure long-term sustainability for the theatre.

Melissa Heston, Executive Director, (937) 901-0344