(August 6, 2026) Twenty-eight discretionary and Greenlight GrantsSM totaling $430,599 were awarded by The Dayton Foundation’s volunteer Grants Committee and approved by the Foundation’s Governing Board to address emerging needs and opportunities in the region. These grants, made possible thanks to individuals who have established unrestricted or lightly restricted charitable funds, promoted efforts in the arts and culture, health, education, human services, philanthropy and other community-building endeavors.
Discretionary grants totaling $329,438 were awarded to the following organizations.
Athletes in Action Sports Complex & Retreat Center ($9,552) to replace mattresses and mattress covers to maintain a high-quality and comfortable environment for overnight guests.
Dayton Dream Center ($25,000) to transition the Adopt-A-Block program, which addresses addiction, homelessness and more in East Dayton, into a permanent initiative that creates lasting community impact.
Learn to Earn Dayton ($70,000) to expand the Access to Counsel program citywide to address housing instability and the impact it has on student attendance and success.
Mission of Mary Cooperative ($60,000) to purchase and renovate a home in Dayton’s Twin Towers neighborhood to provide affordable, high-quality housing for interns and seasonal staff.
Northeast Churches Emergency Center ($13,986) to assist with building improvements, including exterior enhancements and restroom renovations.
OH Taste Foundation ($60,000) to support Phase 2 of the 6888 Kitchen Incubator that helps food industry entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
Pink Ribbon Good, Inc. ($50,000) to purchase a renovated office building in Troy, which will serve as the organization’s national headquarters.
We Care Arts, Inc. ($40,900) to enhance the organization’s capacity to meet the rising demand for trauma informed arts programming for adults with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
The Foundation’s Greenlight Grants program assists organizations seeking quick, small grants for special projects, program expansions, capital improvements or capacity building. In recent months, $101,161 in Greenlight Grants was awarded to the following organizations.
Darke County Historical Society, Inc. ($4,300) to repair a handicap-accessible ramp and safety railings at the museum.
Dayton Society of Artists ($7,500) to replace windows and upgrade the air conditioning system.
Dignity Exchange ($1,500) to purchase shelving units and office equipment.
Eastmont United Methodist Church ($3,197) to design and implement a new website that will assist with fundraising for the construction of three new duplexes for women, children and pets.
Eastway Corporation ($7,500) to assist with a commercial kitchen renovation.
Emerge Recovery & Trade Initiative ($7,400) to equip the Automotive Service Technician Program on the Emerge campus to prepare up to 24 students annually for automotive careers.
Flourishing Under Distress Given Encouragement, Inc. ($7,500) to create a full-service resource center that supports programming and technology for the community.
4 Paws for Ability, Inc. ($5,000) to resurface and upgrade the parking lot to ensure safe, accessible and equitable access.
Greater Dayton Union Cooperative Initiative DBA Co-op Dayton ($5,000) to support The Co-op Games, an interactive training model that teaches cooperative governance, democratic decision-making and business financial literacy.
Kids Read Now ($5,500) to develop, translate and pilot four financial literacy training modules for bilingual families.
Muse Machine ($7,500) to support the 2026 Summer Institute, a free professional development program for educators focused on integrating documentary filmmaking into the classroom.
Piqua Arts Council ($4,000) to engage experienced consultants to help the organization through a period of growth and transition, supporting the expansion of programming and increasing access to the arts for Miami County residents.
Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development ($896) to purchase an innovative, light-based reaction training system that enhances neurodevelopmental therapy and educational interventions for individuals with neurological conditions.
St. Vincent de Paul Society ($7,500) to improve the accessibility and efficiency of the kitchens at the DePaul Center supportive housing facility.
A Special Wish Foundation of Southwest Ohio ($6,000) to create a professional, user-friendly website.
StoryChain ($4,000) to launch a new literacy program that allows children of incarcerated parents to record stories in return—mirroring the successful model long used with incarcerated mothers and fathers.
United Missionary Baptist Church ($6,368) to purchase, deliver and install two commercial-grade deep freezers.
Valor Therapeutics, Inc. ($3,000) to implement Soul Recovery, an innovative, trauma-informed therapeutic program for justice-involved veterans participating in veterans treatment courts.
Violence Free Futures ($5,000) to replace the existing residential-grade toilets in its domestic violence shelter with commercial-grade, high-pressure flushing toilets.
With God's Grace Mobile Food Pantry ($2,500) to purchase refrigerators and shelving units for the Pantry.
More information about The Dayton Foundation and its competitive grants programs is available at www.daytonfoundation.org/apply-for-a-grant or by calling (937) 222-0410.
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.