GO! Grants Opportunities

To support organizations, we award competitive grants from the Foundation's unrestricted and field of interest funds, as well as from our affiliated Supporting Foundations.
If your 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit is seeking funding for programs, a variety of funding opportunities exist to participate in the competitive grantmaking program of The Columbus Foundation and Supporting Foundations. We invite you to explore these opportunities below for more extensive details on each application process.

The Columbus Foundation

Supporting Foundations

The Columbus Foundation supports opportunities to achieve the highest quality of life. Giving Strength is a framework for our grantmaking. The approach focuses on four grant opportunities:

Fund for Innovative Operations addresses significant needs of local organizations through grants supporting continuous improvement, capacity-building, and arts and cultural efforts.
Fund for Capital Improvements supports projects building for the future.
Fund for Targeted Needs addresses: basic needs, disadvantaged children, mental retardation and developmental disabilities (traditional grants program); and more narrow and specific grant programs (small grants program and specialized grants program).
Community Improvement Project supports a concentrated initiative to advance progress over a longer term in an identified area of community need. Details to be released.

The majority of Supporting Foundations make grants at the recommendation of the Trustees and do not accept grant applications. The following Supporting Foundations have a competitive grantmaking process that is tailored to each foundation:

Central Benefits Health Care Foundation offers a competitive Request for Proposal application process for projects that address preventative healthcare issues for indigent children and adults.
Columbus Youth Foundation funds recreational programs benefiting urban youth.
Paul G. Duke Foundation makes grants primarily in Miami County for programs benefiting children and families.
Ingram-White Castle Foundation grants focus on education and critical human needs.
Limited Brands Foundation supports programs that empower women, nurture and mentor children, and improve education.
Siemer Family Foundation supports programs that focus on education, literacy, and serving underprivileged families.

Seeking support for your program?

Submit a Letter of Intent or a Full Proposal to The Columbus Foundation, Ingram-White Castle Foundation, or Columbus Youth Foundation by accessing our online grant application system.

Need help with marketing your organization’s PowerPhilanthropy portrait?
Visit our nonprofit toolkit section.