The Dayton Foundation is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the Award for Excellence in Community Leadership. This award recognizes community groups that have established committee-advised funds through The Dayton Foundation and are driving positive change by demonstrating best practices in community organizing, fundraising, collaboration and strategic planning.
The 2026 award recipients are as follows.
- Brad Bucher Elk Pride Never Dies Memorial Fund ($1,000) Established as a Dayton Foundation fund in 2022, its advisors have tripled the fund’s assets over the past year through outstanding fundraising initiatives. They also have positioned the fund’s grantmaking to better serve the needs of Centerville students by working to build relationships and include Centerville High School staff on its advisory committee.
- Community Foundation of Miami Township ($500) A fund since 1998, its advisors have directly impacted the Miami Township community through successful fundraising and grantmaking efforts. The fund is an excellent example of a “working board,” with committee members actively pitching in to help plan and staff fundraising events and representing the fund at other community events.
- Oakwood Schools Foundation ($1,000) A Dayton Foundation fund since 1993, its trustees established the Oakwood Schools Foundation Arts Enhancement Project Fund and launched a successful fundraising effort that resulted in the second-largest grant award in the foundation’s history. This effort enabled the school to revitalize the junior and senior high school auditorium.
“Each group’s efforts are worth recognizing for their impact and their deep relationships cultivated with stakeholders and the community at large,” said Kate Spencer, donor relations officer for The Dayton Foundation. “Our sincere thanks to each recipient for leading the way and serving as a model and resource for other Dayton Foundation component funds.”
The deadline to submit a nomination for the 2027 awards program is May 31, 2027. Any community member or advisor to a Dayton Foundation component fund may nominate a Dayton Foundation fund for this award. Nomination forms will be available April 15, 2027, or by special request to Kate Spencer at (937) 225-9952 or kspencer@daytonfoundation.org.
About The Dayton Foundation
The Dayton Foundation has been the trusted charitable giving resource for thousands of individuals, families and organizations since 1921. Ranked among the oldest and largest community foundations in the nation, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 billion in grants since its founding, with current assets from all funds totaling $1.3 billion. For more information about how The Dayton Foundation can help you help others, visit daytonfoundation.org or follow the Foundation on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube or Instagram.