The mission of the Richland County Foundation is to improve and enhance the quality of life in Richland County through strategic philanthropy and community leadership.
Richland County Foundation’s grantmaking shows a strong tilt toward capital work and community facilities, with its largest recent award going to the City of Mansfield for Sterkel Park / Trail. That same pattern appears across several years and organizations, including repeated support for NECIC, Renaissance Performing Arts, and Buckeye Imagination Museum. The foundation also backs schools, health providers, housing-related work, and local arts organizations, using a mix of operating support, capital funding, and program support. Its mission centers on improving quality of life in Richland County through strategic philanthropy and community leadership, and the recent grants reflect that local mandate in practical terms. In 2025, it gave $680,424 to Renaissance Performing Arts for general support, while another major award went to the YMCA of North Central Ohio for programs / capital. The foundation also funds named community programs that serve county residents directly, including scholarship funds, youth activities, and teacher grants. Across the recent grants list, Mansfield recipients appear frequently, but the portfolio is not limited to one sector; it includes education, human services, environment, economic development, and arts and culture.
In arts and culture, the foundation has supported major local institutions through grants such as $231,835 to Richland Academy of the Arts Inc for campaign/support and $217,823 to Mansfield Art Center for general support. It also backed Renaissance Performing Arts with several large awards for general support, showing ongoing attention to cultural programming in Mansfield. In education, Mansfield City Schools received funding for education programs, and the foundation’s teacher-focused grant programs point to a direct role in classroom support. Community health and housing needs also appear in the grant record: Third Street Family Health Services received capital improvements support, and Wayfinders Ohio Inc was funded for general / rehousing work. On the youth side, the foundation has funded summer activities and school-based enrichment, aligning with its local community-serving mission.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $20,250, with the 25th percentile at $9,919 and the 75th percentile at $77,752. The recent list also includes a small number of seven-figure capital awards, which pulls the distribution upward. Giving is local and heavily concentrated in Ohio, with 90% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. The recent grants show repeat support across years for several organizations, especially in capital and operating categories, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation accepts unsolicited applications for multiple named programs, including scholarship funds, Teacher Assistance Program grants, Summertime Kids Grants, and Richland Gives participation.
$7.1M
$228.4M
$20.4M
$10M
Most grants fall between $10K and $78K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$78K
About 90% of grants go to recipients in DC.
ALLURA WATSON
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Grantmaking is concentrated in Richland County communities, especially Mansfield, which appears repeatedly across the recent grants list. Other Ohio locations show up as well, including Columbus and Canton, but the grant record is overwhelmingly in-state, with 90% of grants going to Ohio recipients. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Within the county, funding reaches a mix of civic, cultural, education, health, and housing organizations.
Yes. It administers multiple college scholarship funds and a separate scholarships program for Richland County students pursuing four-year college degrees, career technical training, and specialized fields of study. The foundation also uses a single streamlined application to consider applicants for multiple scholarships.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF MANSFIELD | MANSFIELD, OH | $1,207,462 | 2025 | STERKAL PARK / TRAIL |
| NECIC INC | MANSFIELD, OH | $926,604 | 2025 | CAPITAL / SUPPORT |
| RENAISSANCE PERFORMING ARTS | MANSFIELD, OH | $680,424 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO | MANSFIELD, OH | $518,574 | 2025 | PROGRAMS / CAPITAL |
| MANSFIELD LEASED HOUSING CORPORATION | MANSFIELD, OH | $300,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| BUCKEYE COUNCIL BSA INC | CANTON, OH | $281,910 | 2025 | AKEYLA WASHROOMS |
| TAKING ROOT FARMS | MANSFIELD, OH | $246,866 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| RICHLAND ACADEMY OF THE ARTS INC | MANSFIELD, OH | $231,835 | 2025 | CAMPAIGN/SUPPORT |
| MANSFIELD ART CENTER | MANSFIELD, OH | $217,823 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MANSFIELD CITY SCHOOLS | MANSFIELD, OH | $191,895 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| RICHLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MANSFIELD, OH | $126,000 | 2025 | OAK HILL TERRACE |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - MANSFIE | MANSFIELD, OH | $95,063 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS/ SUPPOR |
| UNITED WAY OF RICHLAND COUNTY | MANSFIELD, OH | $89,401 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | MANSFIELD, OH | $87,049 | 2025 | SUPPORT / PROGRAMS |
| OHIO DISTRICT 5 AREA AGENCY ON AGIN | ONTARIO, OH | $86,332 | 2025 | SECURITY SYSTEM |
| KINGWOOD CENTER GARDENS | MANSFIELD, OH | $85,821 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IDEA WORKS | MANSFIELD, OH | $75,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RICHLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROU | MANSFIELD, OH | $73,974 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOWNTOWN MANSFIELD INC | MANSFIELD, OH | $69,659 | 2025 | RISING SUPPORT |
| OHIO BIRD SANCTUARY | MANSFIELD, OH | $67,974 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | MANSFIELD, OH | $66,092 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DISCOVERY SCHOOL | MANSFIELD, OH | $65,765 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OHIO HEALTH FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $65,529 | 2025 | SANE CAMERAS/CAPITAL |
| WAYFINDERS OHIO INC | MANSFIELD, OH | $60,704 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RAEMELTON THERAPEUTIC EQUEST CENTE | MANSFIELD, OH | $53,213 | 2025 | SPONSORSHIP & GEN |
| BUCKEYE IMAGINATION MUSEUM | MANSFIELD, OH | $52,200 | 2025 | 2ND FLOOR EXHIBIT |
| TRAPSHOOTING HALL OF FAME | SPARTA, IL | $52,185 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S DYSLEXIA CENTER | DUBLIN, OH | $52,185 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OHIO FEDERATION OF SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS | REYNOLDSBURG, OH | $50,976 | 2025 | OUTREACH SERVICES |
| FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH | MANSFIELD, OH | $47,387 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THIRD STREET FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES | MANSFIELD, OH | $47,293 | 2025 | SERVICE SUPPORT |
| THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER | MANSFIELD, OH | $44,529 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MID-OHIO GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES INC | MANSFIELD, OH | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA CHILDCARE RESOURCES & REFERRAL | MANSFIELD, OH | $34,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MID-OHIO EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER | MANSFIELD, OH | $31,496 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT |
| LUCAS LOCAL SCHOOLS | LUCAS, OH | $30,563 | 2025 | EDUCATION SUPPLIES |
| MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION | INDEPENDENCE, OH | $28,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $26,667 | 2025 | BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS |
| GLIMMERGLASS FESTIVAL | COOPERSTOWN, NY | $23,333 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF OSTEGO COUNTY INC | SPRINGFIELD CENTER, NY | $21,667 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FRIENDLY HOUSE ASSOCIATION | MANSFIELD, OH | $20,691 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FENIMORE ART MUSEUM | COOPERSTOWN, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | YOUTH PROGRAMMING |
| ISLAND SAFE HARBOR ANIMAL SANCTUARY | MARBLEHEAD, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK | CLEVELAND, OH | $20,000 | 2025 | HUNGER RELIEF |
| RICHLAND COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | MANSFIELD, OH | $17,257 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NUHOP CENTER FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING | PERRYSVILLE, OH | $15,667 | 2025 | EDUCATION/RENNOVATIO |
| 4 LEAF ROVER | POWELL, OH | $15,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASHLAND COUNTY PARK DISTRIC | ASHLAND, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | COOKE WILDLIFE PARK |
| ST JUDE'S CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UPSTATE HOME FOR CHILDREN FOUNDATIO | ONEONTA, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL EDUCATION |
CITY OF MANSFIELD
$1,207,462STERKAL PARK / TRAIL
NECIC INC
$926,604CAPITAL / SUPPORT
RENAISSANCE PERFORMING ARTS
$680,424GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA OF NORTH CENTRAL OHIO
$518,574PROGRAMS / CAPITAL
MANSFIELD LEASED HOUSING CORPORATION
$300,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
BUCKEYE COUNCIL BSA INC
$281,910AKEYLA WASHROOMS
TAKING ROOT FARMS
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
RICHLAND ACADEMY OF THE ARTS INC
$231,835CAMPAIGN/SUPPORT
MANSFIELD ART CENTER
$217,823GENERAL SUPPORT
MANSFIELD CITY SCHOOLS
$191,895EDUCATION PROGRAMS
RICHLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$126,000OAK HILL TERRACE
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - MANSFIE
$95,063SCHOLARSHIPS/ SUPPOR
UNITED WAY OF RICHLAND COUNTY
$89,401GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$87,049SUPPORT / PROGRAMS
OHIO DISTRICT 5 AREA AGENCY ON AGIN
$86,332SECURITY SYSTEM
KINGWOOD CENTER GARDENS
$85,821GENERAL SUPPORT
IDEA WORKS
$75,500GENERAL SUPPORT
RICHLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROU
$73,974GENERAL SUPPORT
DOWNTOWN MANSFIELD INC
$69,659RISING SUPPORT
OHIO BIRD SANCTUARY
$67,974GENERAL SUPPORT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$66,092GENERAL SUPPORT
DISCOVERY SCHOOL
$65,765GENERAL SUPPORT
OHIO HEALTH FOUNDATION
$65,529SANE CAMERAS/CAPITAL
WAYFINDERS OHIO INC
$60,704GENERAL SUPPORT
RAEMELTON THERAPEUTIC EQUEST CENTE
$53,213SPONSORSHIP & GEN
BUCKEYE IMAGINATION MUSEUM
$52,2002ND FLOOR EXHIBIT
TRAPSHOOTING HALL OF FAME
$52,185GENERAL SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S DYSLEXIA CENTER
$52,185GENERAL SUPPORT
OHIO FEDERATION OF SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
$50,976OUTREACH SERVICES
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
$47,387GENERAL SUPPORT
THIRD STREET FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES
$47,293SERVICE SUPPORT
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER
$44,529GENERAL SUPPORT
MID-OHIO GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES INC
$40,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA CHILDCARE RESOURCES & REFERRAL
$34,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MID-OHIO EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER
$31,496EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
LUCAS LOCAL SCHOOLS
$30,563EDUCATION SUPPLIES
MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION
$28,500GENERAL SUPPORT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO
$26,667BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS
GLIMMERGLASS FESTIVAL
$23,333GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF OSTEGO COUNTY INC
$21,667PROGRAM SUPPORT
FRIENDLY HOUSE ASSOCIATION
$20,691GENERAL SUPPORT
FENIMORE ART MUSEUM
$20,000YOUTH PROGRAMMING
ISLAND SAFE HARBOR ANIMAL SANCTUARY
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK
$20,000HUNGER RELIEF
RICHLAND COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$17,257GENERAL SUPPORT
NUHOP CENTER FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
$15,667EDUCATION/RENNOVATIO
4 LEAF ROVER
$15,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ASHLAND COUNTY PARK DISTRIC
$15,000COOKE WILDLIFE PARK
ST JUDE'S CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UPSTATE HOME FOR CHILDREN FOUNDATIO
$15,000SPECIAL EDUCATION
Current and upcoming funding from Richland County Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: The foundation encourages 501(c)(3) organizations to partner with the Foundation to provide charitable programs to Richland County residents. Applicants should discuss organizational needs with a Community Investment Officer before submitting an application.
Deadline: 2026 deadlines listed: January 4, April 12, August 9, October 11.
Who can apply: Programs and projects in Richland County that empower women and girls. Grant dollars are used for direct programming only; regular staffing, operational costs, and occupancy costs are not covered.
Deadline: Application deadline: September 1. Final report deadline: August 1.
Who can apply: Richland County-based nonprofit organizations must register annually to participate.
Deadline: Registration by October 31; donation period runs November 17 at 7 a.m. through December 2 at 7 p.m. (dates shown in the 2025 announcement).
Who can apply: Applicants seeking support for programs that promote writing, literature appreciation, music, or Ohio history through creative and effective methods.
Deadline: Application deadline: May 1; mid-summer award determinations.
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