Recent Discretionary Grants - Spring 2025

The Dayton Foundation recently awarded $652,983 in discretionary grants that were approved by the Foundation’s Governing Board to assist Greater Dayton charities. Additionally, grants totaling $72,000 were awarded through the Foundation’s Greenlight GrantsSM program to benefit area nonprofits.

The Foundation’s discretionary and Greenlight Grants programs are made possible by donors who have provided unrestricted or lightly restricted funds. These funds enable the Foundation to act on opportunities for the community and address pressing needs throughout the region.

Advocates for Basic Legal Equality ($30,000) to help local leaders address environmental issues

Bottom Line ($25,000) to make trauma-trained advisors available to Dayton Public Schools seniors who are applying for college

Boys & Girls Club of Dayton ($75,000) to construct a new, larger facility

Brukner Nature Center ($20,000) to add concrete walkways to make outdoor areas easier to navigate

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Caesar's Ford Theatre, Inc.
Caesar’s Ford Theatre, Inc. ($10,000) to support a new film to reform the theatrical representation of American-Indian history

Choices in Community Living, Inc. ($8,000) to purchase a new generator

County Corp ($13,500) to develop a marketing plan to increase community engagement

Dayton Movies dba The Neon ($10,000) to enhance The Neon’s patio

Dayton Theatre Guild ($10,000) to reduce energy costs by installing solar panels

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Downtown Dayton Partnership Corporation
Downtown Dayton Partnership Corporation ($25,000) to support the Courthouse Square Transformation Project Plan

Economic & Community Development Institute ($20,000) to support the new Women’s Business Center at Central State University

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Elizabeth's New Life Center
Elizabeth’s New Life Center ($20,000) to replace 12 HVAC units

The Foodbank, Inc. ($75,000) to help construct a new Community Centered Building

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Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley
Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley ($25,183) to assist individuals who are blind or have low vision by providing assistive equipment and services

Greene County FISH (Friends In Service to Humanity) Pantry ($20,000) to install a new freezer and cooler

The Learning Tree Farm, Inc. ($10,800) to purchase a utility tractor

Little Art Theatre Association, Inc. ($25,000) to support the theatre’s historic restorations

Montgomery County Law Enforcement ($37,500) to construct a memorial to honor law enforcement officers

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National Aviation Hall of Fame
National Aviation Hall of Fame ($25,000) to fund Phase II of the Discovery Flight Innovation Lab

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NPower, Inc.
NPower, Inc. ($25,000) to provide IT training for underserved, military-connected individuals

Parity, Inc. ($75,000) to build organizational capacity and expand programming

Preschool Promise ($20,000) to help communicate the Be Ready by Five program resources to families

Rebuilding Together Dayton, Inc. ($25,000) to expand its Fall Prevention program for older adults

We Care Arts, Inc. ($15,000) to replace the organization’s 20-year-old roof

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Xenia Adult Recreation & Services Center
Xenia Adult Recreation & Services Center ($8,000) to purchase a modified minivan for transporting seniors

Greenlight Grants Awards

Affecting Community Transformation Oasis House ($2,500) to make exterior house repairs

America’s Packard Museum ($2,000) to install lights in the parking area

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The Bach Society of Dayton
The Bach Society of Dayton ($5,150) to purchase a harpsichord

Building Bridges, Inc. ($4,450) to complete the organization’s website upgrade

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Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley
Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley ($3,000) to purchase new software for the Guardianship Program

Daybreak ($2,500) to support upgrades to its facility and programming

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Dayton Diaper Depot
Dayton Diaper Depot ($1,000) to provide resources to set up the organization’s new location

Dayton Metro Chapter BHS ($3,500) to help purchase modern choral risers

Dayton Public Radio – WDPR ($5,000) to add an online donor portal and provide staff with remote access to the music system

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Dayton Sewing Collaborative
Dayton Sewing Collaborative ($5,950) to create a pilot Fashion Club at Belmont High School

Habitat for Humanity ($3,500) to implement an updated software database

Mercy Manor, Inc. ($4,000) to develop a strategic and fundraising plan

Miami Valley Leadership Foundation ($2,500) to implement the MVLF Connect App

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Miami Valley Meals
Miami Valley Meals ($2,000) to update the organization’s basement facilities

Mosaic Church ($3,000) to purchase commercial-grade kitchen appliances and accessories

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937 Hoop Dreams
937 Hoop Dreams ($3,350) to acquire court-regulated basketballs and professional-grade basketball hoops

Ohio Historical Society/ d.b.a. Ohio History Connection ($3,000) to provide free history education for Dayton-area schools

Sidewalk Soldiers ($3,100) to enhance operations at its drop-in centers for women who have been or are at risk of being sex trafficked

A Special Wish Foundation of Southwest Ohio ($5,000) to conduct board development training

StoryChain LLC ($3,500) to expand this storytelling program that connects incarcerated parents with their children

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We Love Birthday Parties
We Love Birthday Parties ($4,000) to conduct strategic planning that will help the organization provide birthday celebrations for underserved children


These grants were made possible thanks to the following Unrestricted or Field-of-Interest funds of The Dayton Foundation.
Dr. Khurshid Ahmad Charitable Fund
Lee and Judith Amundson Charitable Fund for Children
Soma S. and Veni Avva Endowment Fund
Joe & Terri Baldasare Fund for Children
Berry Fund
Catharine French Bieser Fund
Irvin Gruen Bieser Fund
Ted and Irita Black Legacy Gift
Jack and Emily Blake Fund
Lena Cantor Family Fund
Dr. William G. and JoeAnna Cassel Fund
Hampden W. and Erma R. Catterton Fund
W. A. Chryst Fund
David H. and Edith W. Clark Family Fund
Francis Crosthwaite Fund
The Joan F. and William H. Eicher Fund
Gretchen W. “Jinx” Fensel Fund
Fresh Air Farm Society Trust Fund
Greater Dayton Jaycee Fund
Mr. and Mrs. John B. Greene Fund
Mary E. Gundersen Endowment Fund
Henrici Family Fund for Equality and Justice
Dorothy M. Herbst Fund
Isabel Herbst Fund
James M. Hewitt Fund for the Blind
James P. Hudson Legacy Fund
Mary J. & Frances P. Hussey Fund
Harry H. and Hilda M. Imboden Fund
Jahoda Family Fund
Mary Ann and Rich Johnson Fund for Aviation History and Heritage
Eleanor and John Kautz Fund
Robert H. and Enis N. Kissinger Fund
Kohnle Family Fund
Dr. Gary L. LeRoy Fund
Ray Loughman Fund
Lytle-Kimmel Fund
Warren E. Miltenberger Fund
Monarch/Genesis Fund A
Jean E. Nicholas Fund
Kenneth E. and Margaret E. Parnell Fund
Robert Patterson Memorial Fund
The Robert and Jean Penny Endowment Fund
Jesse Philips Fund
Ellen Jane Lorenz Porter Fund
The Mary and Richard Pryor Fund
John E. and Elizabeth Purdy Fund
Nancy And Neal Reichelt Community Endowment
Phil Rizzo Fund for Students in the Miami Valley
Delphin T. and Marilyn K. Shannon Fund
Harry A. & Phoebe Shaw Charitable Fund
Robert D. Shultz Memorial Fund
James W. Simovart Charitable Fund
Paul E. and Josephine H. Smiley Fund
Donald M. and Dorothea Hunt Spindler Endowment Fund
Willard E. Talbot Memorial Fund
Lenore B. Talbot Thomas Memorial Fund
Harry A. Toulmin, Jr., and Virginia B. Toulmin Fund
Werner C. and Juliet V. Triftshouser Fund
Eleanor VanAusdal Children’s Fund
Paul & Susanne Weaver Family Fund
Betsy B. Whitney Discretionary Fund
Herman and Dorothy Worsham Fund
The Signa W. Zimmerman Memorial Trust Fund