2024 Community Grant Awards
Marion Community Foundation has approved $557,000 in Community Grants to 38 local organizations, with a major focus on programs for teens in Marion County, announced Jody Demo-Hodgins, chair of the Board of Directors. Awarded following a competitive application process, these grant dollars support a wide range of programs serving the people of the Marion community from mental health to food insecurity to public concerts.
Approximately 40 percent of the 2024 Community Grants awards are going to programs that will directly serve and benefit Marion’s kids, largely directed towards teen-specific programs.
The 2024 Community Grants recipients include:
COMMUNITY
Friends of Caledonia – Caledonia Festival
LaRue Community Alliance – LaRue Community Center Park Development and Renovations
Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau – Storytelling 201
Marion Concert Band – Summer Concerts in the Park
Marion Women’s Club – Stopping the Flood: Protecting the Foundation of the Historic Women’s Club Home for the Future
Palace Cultural Arts Association – Spotlight on the Palace!
The Peace and Freedom Committee – One year of celebrating freedom, resilience & equity.
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities – Early Intervention Family Support Grant
MARCA Industries, Inc. – Empowering Abilities: Expanding Work Opportunities with Advanced Production Equipment
Recreation Unlimited Foundation – Camper Scholarship Funding for Youth and Adults with Disabilities and Health Concerns specifically from Marion County
Wings of an Angel – Specialized Equipment for Special Children
ECONOMIC SECURITY
American Red Cross East Central Ohio – Marion County Red Cross Resilient Communities Project
Buckeye Ridge Habitat for Humanity, Inc. – Workforce Under Construction
Cancer Coalition of North Central Ohio – Smiles for Hope
Cents for Shoes – Cents for Shoes
LifeCare Alliance – Marion County Meals-on-Wheels
Luke 3:11 Ministries – Lumpy Loads of Laundry Program and Supplemental Support
Marion County Council on Aging – Fresh Produce Deliveries & Community Meals
Marion Matters, Inc. – Community Program Expansion
Marion Shelter Program, Inc. – Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter
Marion Victim Assistance Program – Marion Victim Assistance Program
Mobile Meals of Marion County, Inc. – Marion Community Foundation Meal Assistance Program
Y-Men’s Service Club – Wheelchair Ramp Construction
MARION’S KIDS
Boys & Girls Club of Marion County – Character & Leadership Program
Explore-It-Torium operated by MARCA Industries, Inc. – Sensory Updates Throughout Children’s Museum
Hope for Health – Girls Matter
Let’s Read 20 – Author visit with Let’s Read 20 Marion! day
Marion City Police MPACT – Marion Police and Community Together
Marion County Sheriff’s Office – Project S.E.R.V.E.
Marion Family YMCA – Marion Mentors 2024-2025 School Year
Marion Family YMCA – YMCA Rec and Resource Center
Marion Technical College – Teacher Manufacturing Boot Camp
Mid-Ohio Fine Art Society – MOFAS Youth Outreach Program
Tri-Rivers Career Center – ‘Expect To Be Amazing’; Summer Camp 2025
Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites – Laddie Boy Mystery Club
MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION
Marion Municipal Court – Cross-Fit Program
Marion First Church of the Nazarene – Celebrate Recovery Program
NAMI Marion and Crawford Counties – NAMI MCC Youth and Young Adult Initiative
Third Street Family Health Services – Dave’s House ramp & fascia repair
Third Street Family Health Services – MACC Building Roof
Awards are recommended by a volunteer committee of community members who review each application in detail, with the goal of advancing a community which is generous, educated, healthy, collaborative, and vibrant. Grants are recommended by the Grants Committee and approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The committee, in addition to Demo-Hodgins, includes Dr. Kathy Clark, Dr. Henry Heinzmann, Tom Schifer, Kevin Smith, Matt Primmer, and Nicolle Willis.
Marion Community Foundation’s Community Grants are made possible by the following charitable endowments: Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Community Fund, Dan & Terri Tobin Fund, Randy & Sandra Winland Fund, Forever Remembered Fund, Health Care Fund, Granger Family Fund, Kenny Martin Charitable Fund, Rick & Nancie Poorman Fund, Russell & Jerlene Rosebrough Fund, Henry Heinzmann Fund, Conway Family Charitable Fund, Ron & Effie Laipply Family Fund, Paul & Susan Ludwig Fund, Donald & Barbara Everly Family Fund, Maurice & Jeanne Cornell Fund, John D. O’Shea & Kathleen E. O’Shea Fund, Founders’ Fund, Chester & Mildred Roberts Fund, and anonymous funds.
Marion Community Foundation, established in 1998, has offices at 504 S. State St. in Marion. Office hours are weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff may be reached by calling 740-387-9704. Additional information is available on the GRANTS and NEWS tabs of this website.
Learn more about our other grants programs:
TEACH Grants Program
Racial Equity & Justice Grants Program
Field of Interest Grants
