To serve as a leader and advocate for strategic philanthropy, partnering with donors to anchor a permanent and growing endowment and making investments in the Mahoning Valley that improve the quality of life for all residents.
Focus Areas
Health and Human ServicesEducationArts & CultureCommunity Well-BeingWomen & GirlsYouth
Funding Style
program-specific / project-based fundingrestricted (programmatic) supportdirect service / program implementationtime-limited / single-purpose grants
About Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley
The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley pairs donor-advised endowment building with place-based grantmaking across Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Its recent grants show a consistent pattern of program support to institutions that shape local life, including Youngstown State University Foundation and the City of Youngstown. The foundation also backs community-serving intermediaries such as the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley and the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, signaling a mix of civic, educational, and cultural priorities.
Education appears alongside community well-being in the largest recent awards, while health and human services show up through recurring support for regional providers. The foundation’s portfolio also includes support for women and girls, youth, arts and culture, and scholarships, with grant programs that range from general operating-style program support to targeted opportunities tied to specific funds. Several of the largest awards in the recent list go to organizations in Youngstown, Warren, and nearby communities, reinforcing its focus on the Mahoning Valley as a defined service area rather than a broad statewide or national grantmaker.
What Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley Funds
Education is one of the clearest through lines in the grant record. The foundation gave $317,215 to Youngstown State University Foundation in 2025 and $264,800 in 2024 for program support, showing recurring investment in a local higher-education institution. In K-12 and youth-serving work, it awarded $102,000 to Western Reserve Health Education Inc in Warren and $76,000 to Inspiring Minds in Warren.
Arts and culture also appear in the recent grants table. The Mahoning Valley Historical Society received $141,750 in 2024 and $135,860 in 2025, while Youngstown Symphony Society received $103,250 in 2025. Community infrastructure and direct services are represented by $125,000 grants to the City of Youngstown in 2023, 2024, and 2025, plus $85,000 to Compass Family and Community Services in Youngstown.
Health-related giving includes $103,000 to Ohio Living Holdings Dba Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025.
How Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley Gives
Typical grant sizes cluster in the five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $11,000, and the 75th percentile is $21,300. Recent grants show both recurring support and one-off awards. Some organizations appear in multiple years, including Youngstown State University Foundation, the City of Youngstown, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, and Ohio Living Holdings Dba Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice. The foundation uses program support across its recent grants and offers several grant opportunities through a portal, with some fund-specific programs accepting unsolicited applications while others do not.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.6M
Total Assets
$50.1M
Total Revenue
$7.4M
Total Expenses
$5.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $21K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$21K
Geographic Reach
Local11 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
CASEY KRELL
Deep Analysis
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Where Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley Makes Grants
Giving is overwhelmingly local: 98% of grants go to recipients in Ohio, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. The strongest city concentration is in Youngstown, with repeated grants also landing in Warren, Boardman, and Canfield. The footprint extends into nearby communities such as Poland Village and, through some grants, beyond Ohio to Washington, DC; New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; and San Francisco, California. The pattern still centers on Mahoning County, Trumbull County, and the wider Mahoning Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions About Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley
What kinds of organizations does the foundation support?
Recent grants go to universities, cities, historical and arts groups, health and human service providers, schools, and community organizations. The foundation’s stated focus areas include Health and Human Services, Education, Arts & Culture, Community Well-Being, Women & Girls, and Youth.
What is the typical grant size?
Its grants are usually in the five-figure range. The 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $11,000, and the 75th percentile is $21,300.
Does the foundation make repeat grants to the same organizations?
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Youngstown State University Foundation, the City of Youngstown, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, and Ohio Living Holdings Dba Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice.
How localized is its giving?
It is highly localized. Ninety-eight percent of grants go to recipients in Ohio, and the recent grant list is concentrated in Youngstown, Warren, Boardman, and Canfield, with the overall geographic scope described as local.
How are applications handled for grant opportunities?
The foundation maintains an online grant portal for many opportunities. Some programs accept unsolicited applications, including the General Grant, Food Access Emergency Grants, and Fund for Women & Girls opportunities, while others do not, such as scholarships and several named fund programs.
Who can apply: Math teachers at K–12 schools in Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties may apply under the name of their district. Applicants need the district EIN and permission from the superintendent, treasurer, or another authorized district administrator. Funds are paid to the district, not the individual teacher.
Deadline: Applications due September 30, 2026; notification in late October.
Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $10K
Ohio Living Lifelong Learning & Senior Support Funds
Senior educationLifelong learningAging in place+1 more
Who can apply: Organizations proposing projects that provide education or learning opportunities for seniors in Mahoning County, or help older adults living in Mahoning County age in place.
Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $10K
William Swanston Charitable Fund
Child health and wellnessMental and behavioral healthAccess to care+9 more
Who can apply: Applicants should propose innovative work benefiting children in Mahoning or Trumbull counties. Strong proposals include measurable outcomes, people with direct experience involved in planning and implementation, cross-sector partners, and strategies addressing underlying social and economic challenges.
Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley Emergency Grants
Social safety netBasic needsVulnerable communities+3 more
Who can apply: Eligible nonprofit organizations must demonstrate a time-sensitive, unforeseen need involving unexpected public funding loss or an unplanned emergency. Requests cannot cover routine budget shortfalls or repairs caused by deferred maintenance. Priority is given to organizations with an existing CFMV grantee relationship.
Deadline: No deadlines; requests may be made at any time.
Social safety netVulnerable communitiesAdvocacy+2 more
Who can apply: Funding needs must arise from unexpected circumstances, including cuts in federal funding. Priority is given to organizations with an existing relationship with CFMV as a grantee. Requests must demonstrate urgency, explain why the situation could not reasonably have been predicted, and outline a strategy for preventing similar emergencies or replacing lost support.
Deadline: No deadlines; requests may be made at any time.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
