Dayton Foundation Funds that Accept Grant Requests from Not-for-Profit Organizations

There are a number of funds established at The Dayton Foundation that not-for-profit organizations may apply to for grants. Brief descriptions and contact information for these funds are listed below.

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The Allegro Fund

The Allegro Fund is dedicated to the memory of Hermene Louise Schwarz, a pioneer in performing arts education in Dayton. This fund provides grants for performing arts organizations to enrich the Dayton community through dance, theater and music. Priority will be given to organizations that show collaboration with other groups, projects that utilize residencies or guest artists and performances that engage the community.

Application Period is Currently Closed

For more information, please contact Tania Arseculeratne, senior community engagement officer for The Dayton Foundation, at (937) 225-9966.

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Basic Human Needs Grants

The Dayton Foundation awards Basic Human Needs Grants to help your organization help people in need of basic necessities in Greater Dayton. Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations - that focus on basic human needs such as food, shelter, healthcare, and clothing. The organizations we consider for support are located primarily in Montgomery, Miami (south), Greene, Preble and Warren (north) counties.

STEPS TO APPLY

• 1. Review the Foundation’s Basic Human Needs Grant Guidelines.
• 2. If your organization does not have an audit, please download and review the Audit Exemption Policy.
• 3. Download, complete and submit the application.
• 4. We have added a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Form as a required document to our Basic Human Needs Grants application process. Please complete and submit the following Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Form along with the Basic Human Needs Grants application.

Please Note:

1) Organizations that are supported largely through government funding, please contact Tania Arseculeratne to make sure your organization is eligible to apply for a grant.
2) Organizations with an open Basic Human Needs Grant are not eligible to apply for a new grant until the final report has been submitted and the grant has been closed.

Application Deadlines for 2023: (February 10, May 12, August 11 and November 10 by 4:00 p.m.)

For more information, please contact Tania Arseculeratne, senior community engagement officer for The Dayton Foundation, at (937) 225-9966.

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The Brighter Tomorrow Foundation Fund

Every fall, the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation opens its grant process to applicants representing Montgomery County (Ohio) agencies that serve people with developmental disabilities. The application period extends over two months, from mid-September until the first Friday in November each year. Grant decisions are made in January and grantees are notified at that time. Grants have been awarded to 501(c)(3) organizations, local governmental agencies and academic institutions that serve individuals with developmental disabilities.

Application Period is Currently Closed
Click here if you are interested in learning more or would like to apply for a grant.

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Greater Dayton Conservation Fund

The Greater Dayton Conservation Fund supports conservation initiatives and programs that work to preserve Greater Dayton’s natural resources.

Application Period is Currently Closed
The Advisory Committee of the Greater Dayton Conservation Fund has launched a strategic initiative to pursue new funding opportunities. In future grant cycles, the Greater Dayton Conservation Fund distribution will be used to identify new, untapped sources of revenue to achieve positive outcomes for the collaborative work in our community.

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Dayton Youth Enrichment Fund Grant - Request for Proposals

The Dayton Youth Enrichment Fund was established to help broaden perspectives, pique curiosity and inspire a love of learning and exploration by providing support for nonprofit organizations to help youth participate in summer enrichment programs or outside summer camps. Enrichment programs and summer camps should give students the chance to grow in leadership, music, arts, STEM and a variety of academic and technology skills.

Application Period is Currently Closed
Applications are accepted by invitation only. For more information or questions, please contact Tania Arseculeratne at or (937) 225-9966.

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The Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation Fund

This fund seeks to improve the practice of law within the Greater Dayton area for the betterment of its citizens through a process of awarding grants for the management of programs and initiatives of such organizations and governmental entities which benefit and advance legal knowledge and service, and which effect and elevate the awareness of the legal and justice systems.

Now Accepting Applications (Deadline: Rolling Application)
For more information, please contact Lucy Baker, donor relations officer for The Dayton Foundation, at (937) 225-9960.

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The Centerville-Washington Foundation Fund

The Centerville-Washington Foundation, a fund family of The Dayton Foundation, accepts and reviews grant requests for programs that meet the following criteria: to launch new projects that represent a unique and unduplicated opportunity for the community, to support established organizations for special purposes and to generate matching funds from government or nonprofit organizations that benefit the citizens of Centerville and Washington Township.

Application Period is Currently Closed
Click here for additional information.

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The Community Foundation for Kettering Fund

Projects and activities supported by the Community Foundation for Kettering must benefit residents of the Greater Kettering area. Applicants must be recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation generally makes grants to support start-up or new projects currently not addressed by existing organizations, or special efforts by existing organizations to undertake unique activities or projects. For more information and to receive a grant application, please contact

Application Period is Currently Closed
Click here for additional information, or to download the application.For more information, please contact Lucy Baker, donor relations officer for The Dayton Foundation, (937) 225-9960.

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The Della B. Gardner Fund (Middletown Only)

The Della B. Gardner Fund of The Dayton Foundation will provide grants for the care and aid of deserving seniors in need residing within the City of Middletown. The Dayton Foundation will issue an annual Request for Proposals to senior-serving organizations in the Middletown area, and will award up to $14,000.

Application Period is Currently Closed
For more information, please contact Tania Arseculeratne, senior community engagement officer for The Dayton Foundation, at (937) 225-9966.

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The Fund for Higher Education

Former NCR chairman Robert S. Oelman established The Fund for Higher Education at The Dayton Foundation in 1988 to permanently endow funding for projects that will improve the quality of and access to higher education in the Dayton Region. The Dayton Foundation issues an RFP to area colleges and universities for projects that will increase the range of higher educational services to students in the region, or which offer the promise of substantially improving the quality of these services. Grants up to $12,000 will be awarded depending upon the earnings generated by the fund.

Application Period is Currently Closed
This grant is awarded to select colleges and universities. Please contact Tania Arseculeratne, senior community engagement officer for The Dayton Foundation, at (937) 225-9966 to determine if your school is eligible.

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The Robert and Helen Harmony Fund for Needy Children

This fund was established at The Dayton Foundation in 1993 by Robert and Helen Harmony for the purpose of providing quality camping opportunities for children in Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Darke, Miami, Preble, Butler or Warren counties in Ohio, who otherwise would not be able to attend camp because of financial need. In order to receive Harmony campership funds, a camp must be a resident camp and offer a broad range of nature and recreational programs (as opposed to nature camps only) utilizing properly trained staff. Medical/specialty camps offering residential programs for children also are encouraged to apply. Eligible camps must be accredited for the camping season by the American Camping Association or by a comparable accrediting agency. Awards are made annually.

Application Period is Currently Closed
For more information, please contact Tania Arseculeratne, senior community engagement officer for The Dayton Foundation, at (937) 225-9966.

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Huber Heights Foundation

Projects and activities supported by the Huber Heights Foundation must benefit residents of the greater Huber Heights area. Applicants must be recognized as tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Huber Heights Foundation, a fund of The Dayton Foundation, generally makes grants to support start-up or new projects in the areas of the arts and humanities, education and youth, conservation and the environment, health and social services and citizenship. These projects or programs are ones that are not currently being addressed by existing organizations, or they are special efforts by existing organizations to undertake unique activities or projects.

Application Period is Currently Closed
The Huber Heights Foundation has one grant cycle per year. For more information or inquiries about the grant process, click here or contact Lucy Baker at (937) 225-9960.

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Rike Family Scholarship Fund

The Rike family established this fund at The Dayton Foundation in 1987 to make awards to one or more private K-8 schools in the Greater Dayton Region. Awards are made on a biennial basis and cover a period of two school years. The size of awards varies from $1,500 to $1,900 annually. Applicants must be a private school, accredited by the State of Ohio and offer a general course of studies within Montgomery or Greene counties.

Application Period is Currently Closed

The fund opens bi-annually, during odd years. For more information, please contact Amber Smith, Donor Services team lead for The Dayton Foundation, at (937) 225-9946.

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The Vandalia-Butler Foundation

Nonprofit organizations that benefit citizens in the Vandalia-Butler community may apply to the Vandalia-Butler Foundation. The Vandalia-Butler Foundation is a fund of The Dayton Foundation. To be eligible for a grant, an organization must be recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, be nondiscriminatory and address needs that are not met fully by existing organizational or community resources.

Application Period is Currently Closed
For more information and an application, click here.

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The VISIONS Endowment Fund

The VISIONS Endowment Fund accepts grant requests from any teacher or staff member in the Vandalia-Butler City School System for a project or program for the students in a particular school or classroom. No request is “too large” or “too small.” Grant applications may be received at any time during the year. The committee reviews grant requests in September, January and April. Funds are disbursed shortly after the committee meets.

Now Accepting Applications (Deadline: Rolling Application)
For more information, click here.

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