Discretionary Grants - How to Apply

We award grants to a full spectrum of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations – from social service to the arts to health and the environment – based upon worthy community efforts and the greatest community need. Generally grants are awarded to help launch new projects not addressed by existing organizations or to support special efforts of already-established not-for-profit organizations in the Dayton Region. The programs we consider for discretionary support are located primarily in Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble and Warren (north) counties.

The Dayton Foundation has designed a streamlined process to help you apply for a discretionary grant. Please review the following grant guidelines and application procedures. The size and number of grants awarded varies for each grant cycle. This is directly related to the amount of money available and the restrictions our donors place upon the use of certain funds. Additionally, grant awards typically do not exceed 25 percent of a project’s total budget and/or $75,000.

See a listing of recent discretionary grantees and how they are making a difference in Greater Dayton.

STEPS TO APPLY

1. Ensure that your organization is eligible to apply for a Dayton Foundation discretionary grant.

2. Watch the Foundation’s Virtual Grant Orientation to learn more about our grant process. Organizations are NOT required to attend a Grants Orientation in order to apply for a grant. 

3. Review the Foundation’s guidelines for discretionary grants.

4. Review the Foundation’s policy for Letters of Intent for Vehicle Purchases.

5. If your organization does not have an audit, please download and review the Audit Exemption Policy and complete the Audit Exemption Form.

6. Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). The LOI provides the Foundation with an overview of your funding request.

7. We have added a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Form as a required document to our Discretionary Grants application process. If selected, the link to complete the form will be emailed to you with the full application. As a reference, review the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Form here.

Please Note: If your organization has received a discretionary grant from The Dayton Foundation, you must submit a final report on how the grant was used and have it approved by the Foundation’s Community Engagement Department two weeks prior to the LOI deadline before you are eligible to apply for a new grant.

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Whom to Contact for More Information

If you have questions about our grantmaking process, please contact Tania Arseculeratne, senior community engagement officer, at (937) 225-9966.

GRANT SCHEDULE

The Dayton Foundation offers two discretionary grant cycles per year. All applicants are encouraged to attend a discretionary grants orientation.

• • What:

  • When?

• • Letters of Intent Due
  • January 6, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. - PASSED
• • Full Grant Application Due
    (Invitation only)
  • March 17, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. - PASSED
• • Grants Program Orientation
    (Virtual only)
  • A pre-recorded session will be available on the Foundation’s Grants Program Orientation page.
• • Letters of Intent Due
  • July 7, 2023 by 4:00 p.m.
• • Full Grant Application Due
    (Invitation only)
  • September 29, 2023 by 4:00 p.m.
• • Grants Program Orientation
    (Virtual only)
  • A pre-recorded session is available on the Foundation’s Grants Program Orientation page.

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