The Ralph R and Grace B Jones Foundation concentrates its giving locally in Wooster/Wayne County, Ohio, supporting community arts organizations and youth recreation. Its grants are directed toward sustaining local cultural institutions (theater and arts center) and community-led youth sports initiatives, often routed through the local community foundation. The foundation makes relatively few, large grants and shows repeated support to the same intermediaries and arts groups, indicating long-term, place-based commitments.
A $150,000 capital project grant to Downtown Arts Theater Inc set the tone for the Ralph R and Grace B Jones Foundation’s recent giving: large, place-based awards aimed at institutions that shape daily life in Wooster and Wayne County. The foundation’s support reaches arts, youth recreation, housing-related work, health and social service initiatives, and community projects, but it does so through a small number of local organizations and intermediaries. In the recent grants list, Wayne Center for the Arts received both a $125,000 general-purpose grant in 2025 and earlier support, showing repeat funding for cultural institutions rather than one-time gifts. Wayne County Community Foundation also appears as a recurring recipient and channel for several pledges, including youth baseball, hospice, Habitat, and other community efforts. The pattern is straightforward: the Ralph R and Grace B Jones Foundation uses substantial grants to back specific local priorities, often through familiar Wooster-based partners that can distribute funds or manage campaigns. That structure points to a foundation focused on sustaining established community organizations and targeted projects within its local footprint.
Arts organizations are a clear priority. The Ralph R and Grace B Jones Foundation gave $150,000 to Downtown Arts Theater Inc for a capital project and $125,000 to Wayne Center for the Arts for general purpose support. Youth recreation also appears in the grant list: Wayne County Community Foundation received $100,000 for the Wooster Youth Baseball pledge, and Montessori School of Wooster received $20,000 for a playground donation. Housing and community development show up through $50,000 and $33,500 gifts to Wayne County Community Foundation for Habitat pledges, followed by a $31,933 general-purpose grant to Habitat for Humanity in Wayne County. The foundation also backed health and service work through a $75,000 hospice pledge and a $100,000 grant tied to a wall of fame, a humane society capital campaign, and a mental health residential center.
Typical grant size is $2,625 at the 25th percentile, $7,500 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile, though the recent list also includes much larger project and pledge grants. The pattern suggests a foundation that combines many smaller awards with a smaller number of significant commitments. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Central Christian Church, Wayne Center for the Arts, College of Wooster, Montessori School of Wooster, and Wayne County Community Foundation. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grants shown are local and entirely within Ohio, with repeated use of the community foundation as a funding vehicle for pledges and community projects.
$460K
$7.8M
$301K
$536K
Most grants fall between $3K and $20K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Concentrated, large grants to a small number of local organizations with repeat funding (multiple grants to the Wayne County Community Foundation and to local arts organizations); place-based, sustaining support rather than broad or national giving.
Notable grantees: Wayne County Community Foundation, Downtown Arts Theater Inc, Wayne Center for the Arts
All of the recent grants shown go to Ohio recipients, and the top giving state is OH. Wooster is the central recipient city, with grants also landing in Medina and Moreland Hills. The largest concentration is in Wooster-based organizations such as arts groups, schools, churches, and community nonprofits. The list also includes one grant to Western Reserve Land Conservancy in Moreland Hills and one to Community Action Wayne Medina in Medina, showing a local-but-broader county footprint within the state.
The recent grants point to arts institutions, youth recreation, housing-related work, hospice, mental health services, humane society capital work, education, and community projects. Examples include funding for a theater capital project, an arts center, youth baseball, Habitat for Humanity, and a hospice pledge.
Among the grant-size statistics provided, the 25th percentile is $2,625, the median is $7,500, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. Recent awards also include much larger commitments, such as $150,000 and $125,000.
The grant recipient distribution is entirely in the US, and 100% of the grants shown go to recipients in Ohio. The top giving state is OH, and the recent grants list shows Ohio cities such as Wooster, Medina, and Moreland Hills.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once across the recent grants list, including Central Christian Church, Wayne Center for the Arts, College of Wooster, Montessori School of Wooster, and Wayne County Community Foundation. That points to recurring support rather than one-time giving only.
Wayne County Community Foundation appears as a recurring recipient and as a channel for multiple pledges and community initiatives. In the recent list, it received funding connected to Wooster Youth Baseball, hospice, Habitat, and a grant combining a wall of fame, humane society capital campaign, and mental health residential center.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAYNE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | WOOSTER, OH | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WOOSTER, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | WALL OF FAME, HUMANE SOCIETY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN & MENTAL HEALTH RESIDENTAL CENTER |
| DOWNTOWN ARTS THEATER INC | WOOSTER, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH | WOOSTER, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | PLEDGE |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WOOSTER | WOOSTER, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | PLAYGROUND DONATION |
| COLLEGE OF WOOSTER | WOOSTER, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE VILLAGE NETWORK | WOOSTER, OH | $16,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNITED WAY OF WAYNE AND HOLMES CO | WOOSTER, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OVERHEAD |
| TRANSFORMATIONAL HOUSING | JEFFERSON CITY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | JOHN BLOSSER MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTION |
| PEOPLE TO PEOPLE | WOOSTER, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BEN OTT | WOOSTER, OH | $7,500 | 2025 | TEACHER OF THE YEAR |
| JEFF DEHAAN | WOOSTER, OH | $7,500 | 2025 | TEACHER OF THE YEAR |
| GREAT DECISIONS | WOOSTER, OH | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WOOSTER | WOOSTER, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OHIO LIGHT OPERA | WOOSTER, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ONEEIGHTY INC | WOOSTER, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOOD BANK | OKRON, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SERVING WOMEN IN GHANA | WOOSTER, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WAYNE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | WOOSTER, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COLLEGE OF WOOSTER | WOOSTER, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | JOHN COOK ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP |
| BUCKEYE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS | CANTON, OH | $4,500 | 2025 | PLEDGE |
| LEARN N PLAY | WOOSTER, OH | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MAIN STREET WOOSTER | WOOSTER, OH | $2,500 | 2025 | BUTTERFLY ALLEY |
| NAMI OF WAYNEHOLMES COUNTIES | WOOSTER, OH | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WOOSTER FIREWORKS FUND | WOOSTER, OH | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| KILLBUCK WATERSHED LAND TRUST | WOOSTER, OH | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER INC | WOOSTER, OH | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CITY OF WOOSTER | WOOSTER, OH | $1,000 | 2025 | TREE PLANTING PROJECT |
| MONDAY NIGHT MILE | WOOSTER, OH | $750 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WOOSTER CITY SCHOOLS | WOOSTER, OH | $500 | 2025 | WALL OF FAME PROJECT |
| DOWNTOWN ARTS THEATER INC | WOOSTER, OH | $150,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL PROJECT |
| WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WOOSTER, OH | $33,500 | 2024 | HABITAT PLEDGE |
| COLLEGE OF WOOSTER | WOOSTER, OH | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH | WOOSTER, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | PLEDGE |
| WAYNE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | WOOSTER, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY ACTION WAYNE MEDINA | MEDINA, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN WAYNE COUNTY | WOOSTER, OH | $10,346 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GREAT DECISIONS OF WAYNE COUNTY | WOOSTER, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNITED WAY OF WAYNE & HOL | WOOSTER, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OVERHEAD |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WOOSTER | WOOSTER, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BRADLEY R OVER | WOOSTER, OH | $7,500 | 2024 | STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR |
| ROBERT J VENEY | WOOSTER, OH | $7,500 | 2024 | TEACHER OF THE YEAR |
| SERVING WOMEN IN GHANA | WOOSTER, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OHIO LIGHT OPERA | WOOSTER, OH | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BUCKEYE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS | CANTON, OH | $4,500 | 2024 | PLEDGE |
| WOOSTER CITY SCHOOLS | WOOSTER, OH | $4,300 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LEARN N PLAY | WOOSTER, OH | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NAMI OF WAYNE HOLMES COUNTIES | WOOSTER, OH | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PEOPLE TO PEOPLE | WOOSTER, OH | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ONEEIGHTY INC | WOOSTER, OH | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$100,000WALL OF FAME, HUMANE SOCIETY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN & MENTAL HEALTH RESIDENTAL CENTER
DOWNTOWN ARTS THEATER INC
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$25,000PLEDGE
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WOOSTER
$20,000PLAYGROUND DONATION
GENERAL PURPOSE
THE VILLAGE NETWORK
$16,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TRANSFORMATIONAL HOUSING
$10,000JOHN BLOSSER MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTION
BEN OTT
$7,500TEACHER OF THE YEAR
JEFF DEHAAN
$7,500TEACHER OF THE YEAR
GREAT DECISIONS
$6,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WOOSTER
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
OHIO LIGHT OPERA
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SERVING WOMEN IN GHANA
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WAYNE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BUCKEYE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS
$4,500PLEDGE
LEARN N PLAY
$3,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MAIN STREET WOOSTER
$2,500BUTTERFLY ALLEY
NAMI OF WAYNEHOLMES COUNTIES
$2,500GENERAL PURPOSE
WOOSTER FIREWORKS FUND
$1,500GENERAL PURPOSE
KILLBUCK WATERSHED LAND TRUST
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER INC
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CITY OF WOOSTER
$1,000TREE PLANTING PROJECT
MONDAY NIGHT MILE
$750GENERAL PURPOSE
WOOSTER CITY SCHOOLS
$500WALL OF FAME PROJECT
DOWNTOWN ARTS THEATER INC
$150,000CAPITAL PROJECT
WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$33,500HABITAT PLEDGE
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$25,000PLEDGE
COMMUNITY ACTION WAYNE MEDINA
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN WAYNE COUNTY
$10,346GENERAL PURPOSE
GREAT DECISIONS OF WAYNE COUNTY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNITED WAY OF WAYNE & HOL
$10,000GENERAL OVERHEAD
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WOOSTER
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BRADLEY R OVER
$7,500STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR
ROBERT J VENEY
$7,500TEACHER OF THE YEAR
SERVING WOMEN IN GHANA
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
OHIO LIGHT OPERA
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BUCKEYE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS
$4,500PLEDGE
WOOSTER CITY SCHOOLS
$4,300GENERAL PURPOSE
LEARN N PLAY
$3,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NAMI OF WAYNE HOLMES COUNTIES
$2,500GENERAL PURPOSE