The Dale and Alyce Sheely Foundation primarily funds local Christian congregations and faith-based social service organizations, complemented by support for basic needs providers and at least one regional cultural institution. Grants are overwhelmingly for general operating support and often repeat to the same churches, suggesting a preference for sustaining local ministry and emergency/social service capacity. The foundation’s giving is geographically concentrated in Ohio (Columbus/Akron/Boardman area) and prioritizes direct-service organizations that deliver food, shelter, and spiritual care.
Relatively concentrated: a few large grants (~$36,000) to major relief and social service organizations plus many smaller, repeat operating grants to local churches and ministries. Emphasis on unrestricted/general operating support, recurring support to the same congregations, and local/regional impact rather than one-off project funding.
The Dale and Alyce Sheely Foundation’s recent giving is defined by repeated support for local churches and faith-based service providers, including $36,000 general operating grants to Rescue Mission in Columbus, The Salvation Army, and Samaritan's Purse. That pattern points to a funder that favors organizations delivering direct ministry, shelter, food assistance, and practical care rather than project-specific work. General operating support is the dominant format across the recent grants list, and the same types of institutions appear year after year, especially Protestant congregations in Ohio. The foundation also extends support beyond congregations to a small number of community-serving nonprofits. Akron Childrens Museum received a $36,000 general operating grant in 2025, showing that the portfolio is not limited strictly to church ministries. Second Harvest Food Bank in Columbus also appears among the largest recent awards, reinforcing the foundation’s interest in basic-needs capacity. Smaller grants in the list go to individual churches across Ohio and neighboring states, but the overall picture is of a grantmaker that sustains local organizations through unrestricted operating dollars.
In congregational support, the foundation gave $6,000 to First United Methodist Church in New Philadelphia and $6,000 to First Christian Church in Columbus, both for general operating support. The recent list also includes $4,000 grants to First United Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Zion Lutheran Church in Homerville, Calvary Baptist Church in Salem, and Good Hope Lutheran Church in Youngstown, showing a strong emphasis on small- to mid-sized Protestant churches. For food security and emergency assistance, Second Harvest Food Bank in Columbus received $36,000, while Rescue Mission in Columbus received the same amount for general operating support. These grants fit alongside broader relief-oriented giving to faith-based aid organizations such as The Salvation Army and Samaritan's Purse. The foundation also supported Akron Childrens Museum with $36,000, indicating some room for regional cultural or family-serving institutions within an otherwise ministry-centered portfolio.
Typical grant size is tightly clustered: the p25 is $1,000, the median is $2,000, and the p75 is $2,000. That means many awards sit at the lower end, while a small set of $36,000 grants anchors the upper end of the recent list. The foundation’s grants are overwhelmingly general operating support, not project grants. Recipients also appear to repeat across years and across similar institution types, especially churches and rescue or relief organizations. The foundation is a private foundation, not an individual giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals.
$968K
$18.5M
$1.8M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $1K and $2K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$2K
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Notable grantees: Rescue Mission, Samaritan's Purse, The Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, Akron Children's Museum
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Ohio: 90% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Ohio is also the top state by grant count. Columbus appears repeatedly, including awards to Rescue Mission, Second Harvest Food Bank, First Christian Church, First United Presbyterian Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, and Grace Lutheran Church. Youngstown-area recipients also show up often, along with nearby places such as Akron, New Philadelphia, Salem, and Warren. Outside Ohio, the recent list includes recipients in Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, and Oklahoma, but those are much less frequent.
It most often supports local Christian congregations and faith-based social service organizations. The recent grants list also includes basic-needs providers such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Rescue Mission, plus a regional cultural institution, Akron Childrens Museum. Nearly all awards are for general operating support.
The typical award is small: the p25 is $1,000, the median is $2,000, and the p75 is $2,000. The foundation also makes a handful of much larger $36,000 grants, but most grants cluster around the low-thousands range.
Yes. Ohio accounts for 90% of grants, and it is also the top state by grant count. Columbus, Youngstown, Akron, New Philadelphia, Salem, and Warren appear repeatedly among recipient locations.
The recent grants are overwhelmingly listed as general operating support. That pattern appears across churches, rescue ministries, food assistance organizations, and the Akron Childrens Museum, suggesting a preference for core operating capacity rather than project-specific funding.
Yes. The giving pattern shows repeated support to the same kinds of organizations, especially churches and rescue or relief ministries. The recent list also includes multiple grants in different years to First United Methodist Church in New Philadelphia, which reflects a recurring relationship rather than one-off support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEIGHBORHOOD DEGREE | VISALIA, CA | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CTR | AKRON, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RESCUE MISSION OF MAHONING VALLEY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE BRIGHTSIDE PROJECT | SALEM, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOUTH RANGE COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY AND CHURCH | NORTH LIMA, OH | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| URSULINE SISTERS OF YOUNGSTOWN | CANFIELD, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH | SALEM, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD | BEAVER FALLS, PA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH | HOMERVILLE, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST PAULS LUTHERAN CHURCH | LEETONIA, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD | POLAND, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GOOD HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FIRST FREE METHODIST CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WEDGEWOOD PARK EVANGELICAL CHURCH | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MT ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | ROGERS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST MICHAEL CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST JOHN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| STRUTHERS CHURCH OF CHRIST | STRUTHERS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST JUDE PARISH | COLUMBIANA, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VICTORY CHURCH OF COITSVILLE | LOWELLVILLE, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST DOMINIC'S CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SALEM | SALEM, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| POLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | POLAND, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST JACOB'S UNITED CHURCH | LEETONIA, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AUSTINTOWN COMMUNITY CHURCH | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOCIETY OF ST PAUL | CANFIELD, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEW GALILEE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE | NEW GALILE, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| IMACULATE HEART OF MARY | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WORD IN ACTION MINISTRY | CAMPBELL, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GREENFORD LUTHERAN CHURCH | GREENFORD, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JERUSALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH | COLUMBIANA, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LAKE MOUNT CHURCH OF CHRIST | NEW WATERFORD, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| OLD HOLY TRINITY SERBIAN ORTHODOX | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| STRUTHERS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | STRUTHERS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | COLUMBUS, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CANFIELD CHRISTIAN CHURCH | CANFIELD, OH | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING |
NEIGHBORHOOD DEGREE
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING
THE SALVATION ARMY
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CTR
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
GENERAL OPERATING
SOUTH RANGE COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY AND CHURCH
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING
URSULINE SISTERS OF YOUNGSTOWN
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
ST PAULS LUTHERAN CHURCH
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
GOOD HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH
$2,000GENERAL OPERATING
FIRST FREE METHODIST CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
WEDGEWOOD PARK EVANGELICAL CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
MT ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
ST MICHAEL CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
ST JOHN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
STRUTHERS CHURCH OF CHRIST
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
ST JUDE PARISH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
VICTORY CHURCH OF COITSVILLE
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
ST DOMINIC'S CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SALEM
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
POLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
ST JACOB'S UNITED CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
AUSTINTOWN COMMUNITY CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
SOCIETY OF ST PAUL
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
NEW GALILEE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
IMACULATE HEART OF MARY
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
WORD IN ACTION MINISTRY
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
GREENFORD LUTHERAN CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
JERUSALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
LAKE MOUNT CHURCH OF CHRIST
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
OLD HOLY TRINITY SERBIAN ORTHODOX
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
STRUTHERS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING
CANFIELD CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING