2025 Awards Total $567,000
Marion Community Foundation has approved $567,131 in Community Grants to 45 local organizations, with an emphasis — for the second year in a row — on programs for youth and teens in Marion County, announced Jody Demo-Hodgins, chair of the Foundation’s Grants Committee. The committee’s funding decisions reflect a strategic focus on addressing the community’s most immediate and foundational needs, particularly in areas showing a critical increased demand.
The Community Grants program is a competitive, application-based grants program offered annually by Marion Community Foundation for more than 25 years. This year’s grant cycle received 77 applications totaling $1.9 million in requests.
HIGHEST PRIORITY: MARION’S KIDS
The Marion’s Kids category received the largest share of funding, totaling one-fifth of the overall awards granted —$123,545. This investment supports programs that build confidence, ensure safe spaces, and connect education to local career pathways:
Future Readiness: The Boys and Girls Club of Marion County was funded for its Future Ready Youth program, which provides mentorship and hands-on career exploration to prepare young people for college, military service, entrepreneurship, or the workforce.
Safe Engagement & Wellness: Multiple grants supported essential youth spaces, including funding for The YMCA’s Rec, which provides free access just for teens in the heart of downtown.
Life Skills & Self-Sufficiency: The Salvation Army received funding for its Level Up! Life Skills Academy, an engaging program empowering children and parents with practical skills like budgeting and cooking, while fostering social-emotional growth and leadership to help break generational poverty.
Career Exposure: Tri-Rivers Career Center received funding for its “Expect To Be Amazing” Summer Camp, introducing middle school students to various career technical programs and connecting them directly to future educational choices in the local workforce.
SUPPORTING FOUNDATIONAL STABILITY
Beyond youth, the Foundation placed significant value on organizations addressing foundational stability, food security, and recovery:
Food Security and Access: Grants were awarded to multiple organizations to fight food insecurity, including the Salvation Army’s FreshStart Food & Care program, LifeCare Alliance’s Meals-on-Wheels, and the Marion County Council on Aging’s Senior Fresh Produce Deliveries and Community Meals program, ensuring nutritious meals and essential hygiene items reach vulnerable seniors and families.
Emergency Shelter and Stabilization: The Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter (HoOHS) received funding to provide emergency shelter services, helping to stabilize, equip, and empower men, women, and families from Marion and surrounding counties to achieve sustainable self-sufficiency.
Financial Stability: Organizations like Marion Matters, Inc. received funding to support their programs, classes, and navigation assistance, offering a holistic approach to addressing generational and situational poverty by providing tools and support to create self-sufficiency.
Recovery and Mental Health: Celebrate Recovery at MarionNaz was funded for its faith-based recovery program, which provides meals, support groups, and a healing environment for individuals and families struggling with addiction and mental health challenges.
Additionally, the following organizations received a 2025 Community Grant:
ARTS
Marion Arts Legacy Alliance, Marion Open Drum & Bugle Corps event 2025
Marion Concert Band, Summer in the Park concert series
Palace Cultural Arts Association, theatrical lighting updates for the Palace Theatre
Presidents Band Club, residency program with Bobby Floyd and the Marion City Schools
BASIC NEEDS
American Red Cross East Central Ohio, Marion County Red Cross Resilient Communities Project
Cents for Shoes
Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter
Luke 3:11 Ministries, Lumpy Loads of Laundry
Marion Adolescent Pregnancy Program, emergency assistance funds for families in crisis
Salvation Army, Strengthening Marion’s Resilience: Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services
Y-Men’s Service Club, Wheelchair Ramp Project
COMMUNITY
Friends of Caledonia, Caledonia Festival of the Square
Huber Machinery Museum, Huber Museum advertising and publications
Marion County Historical Society, Safeguarding History: Digitizing the Past
Marion Family YMCA, New starting blocks at the Marion Family YMCA natatorium
Peace and Freedom Committee, The Peace and Freedom Committee: one year of celebrating freedom, resilience & equity, supporting the 2026 MLK Day Breakfast and Youth Oratory and Art Contests; Hats Off to You Ladies Luncheon; and Juneteenth activities.
Prospect Park Commission, Installation of a new Curva Spinner and new Disc Golf Basket Signage for the Disc Golf Course.
St. Mary Church-Avanzar Juntos, Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration honoring the traditions, history, art, mustic, food, and languages of Hispanic and Latino cultures.
DISABILITIES
Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio, Summer Learning Academy – Marion
Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Family & Sibling Support Groups
Recreation Unlimited Foundation, Camper Scholarship Funding for Marion County
Wings of an Angel, Special Equipment for Special Children
EDUCATION
Marion Public Library Let’s Read 20, History comes to life through books during the America 250 celebration year
Marion Technical College, Investing in Marion’s Future: Eliminating Tuition Barriers for Pandemic-Impacted Graduates
FAMILIES
Marion Family YMCA, Safety Around Water Pilot
Marion Matters, Inc., Marion Matters Program & Agency Support
Marion Victim Assistance Program, Marion Victim Assistance Program
Salvation Army, Level Up! Life Skills Academy
FOOD SECURITY
Lifecare Alliance,Meals-on-Wheels and senior dining centers in Marion County
Marion City Schools, Students Catch 3 Breaks 2025-26 School Year
Marion County Council on Aging, Senior fresh produce deliveries and community meals
Mobile Meals of Marion County, Meal Assistance Program
Salvation Army, FreshStart Food & Care
St. John Lutheran Church (Windfall), Bread for All People
St. Vincent de Paul Center of Marion, Feeding Marion
HEALTHCARE
Grace Clinics of Ohio-Marion, Safety Net Free Healthcare Facility Expansion
Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission (OHCAC), United Community Rx Program
Shining a Light on Pediatric Cancer, Shining a Light on Pediatric Cancer
MARION’S KIDS
Boys and Girls Club of Marion County, Pathways to Full Potential – Future Ready Youth
City of Marion, Increasing Rec Center Access
Logos Christian Ministries, Building Gaps, Breaking Barriers
Marion Area Boxing Club
Marion Family YMCA, Rec and Resources Center programs and operations
Mid-Ohio Fine Art Society, Youth Outreach Program
MPACT – Mairon City Police, MPACT Program
SERVE Program – Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Project SERVE: Support, Empower, Respect, Volunteer, Engage
Tri-Rivers Career Center, Expect to Be Amazing Summer Camp 2026
Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites, Laddie Boy Mystery Club
MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION
Marion First Church of the Nazarene, Celebrate Recovery Program
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, Grant Gates, Heidi Jones, Matt Primmer, Tom Schifer, Erin Slater, Kevin Smith, and Nicolle Willis.
The Community Grants Committee wishes to thank all applicants for their dedication to Marion County. Marion Community Foundation remains committed to working collaboratively with all organizations to address community needs.
Marion Community Foundation’s Community Grants are made possible by the following charitable endowments: Robert M. & Dorothy C. Wopat Community Fund and the Healthcare Fund, as well as the following unrestricted funds: A. Merle Hamilton Fund, Chester & Mildred Roberts Fund, Conway Charitable Family Fund, Daniel V. & Terri A. Tobin Fund, Dick & Dorothy Taylor Fund, Donald & Barbara Everly Family Fund, Forever Remembered Charitable Fund, Founders’ Fund, Granger Family Fund, Henry Heinzmann Fund, John D. O’Shea & Kathleen E. O’Shea Family Fund, Kenny Martin Charitable Fund, Maurice & Jeanne Cornell Memorial Fund, O Fund, Paul & Susan Ludwig Charitable Fund, Randy & Sandra Winland Fund, Richard & Marjory Grigsby Fund, Rich & Nancie Poorman Fund, Ron & Effie Laipply Family Fund, and Russell & Jerlene Rosebrough Fund.
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.
Learn more about our other grants programs:
TEACH Grants Program
Racial Equity & Justice Grants Program
Field of Interest Grants
