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A large share of Stark Community Foundation’s recent grantmaking is built around repeated support for local institutions in Canton and nearby Stark County communities, including seven-figure awards to Boys & Girls Club of Massillon and ArtsinStark across multiple years. The foundation also shows a clear pattern of backing organizations that anchor community life: human services, education, arts and culture, and public benefit groups appear throughout the recent grants list. Among the biggest awards are $3,805,065 to Boys & Girls Club of Massillon in 2023 and $1,598,460 to Osnaburg Local Schools in 2024, alongside sustained support for groups such as United Way of Greater Stark County and Buckeye Council Boy Scouts of America. Its current program menu reflects that mix, with scholarship funding, neighborhood revitalization, childhood poverty reduction, and health and wellness grants all running alongside discretionary community grants. The foundation functions as a community foundation with multiple supporting funds and competitive programs, combining donor-created scholarship management with place-based grantmaking and administered foundation grants.
Education is a major theme in the foundation’s work. Recent grants include $1,598,460 to Osnaburg Local Schools for education, $620,984 to Neomed Foundation for education, and $388,776 to Walsh University for education. Scholarship support is also a defined part of its program structure through a general scholarship application that matches students to more than 100 donor-created scholarship funds. The foundation also funds health and basic needs. It awarded $509,370 to Commquest Services Inc for human services and $390,796 to YWCA - Canton for human services, while a separate administered program supports health and wellness in Greater Massillon and Stark County. Arts and culture is another visible area, with grants to ArtsinStark, John H and Evelyn L Ashton Preservation Association Inc, and Canton Classic Car Museum. Public benefit and community development also appear through support for Stark Economic Development Board and local neighborhood revitalization programs.
Typical grant size sits at $8,500 at the 25th percentile, $17,341 at the median, and $50,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows several large, recurring awards to the same organizations across 2023 to 2025, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. It operates as a mixed community foundation, with donor-advised and supporting-foundation style grantmaking alongside competitive programs. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including the Community Charitable Fund, SummerTime Kids, neighborhood partnership grants, and the general scholarship application. The community charitable fund awards are listed at $12,000 to $35,000.
$14.6M
$406M
$38.5M
$22M
Most grants fall between $9K and $51K, with a median of $17K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$17K
75th Percentile
$51K
MARK J SAMOLCZYK
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Grantmaking is concentrated in Stark County and nearby Ohio communities, with 85% of grants going to recipients in Ohio. Canton appears most often in the recent grants list, followed by Massillon, North Canton, Carrollton, East Canton, and Rootstown. Outside Ohio, named recipient locations are Baltimore, Maryland, through grants to Lutheran World Relief. The overall recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 746 grants in the United States.
The foundation funds education and scholarships, human services, arts and culture, health and wellness, neighborhood revitalization, and youth programs. Its active programs also include a neighborhood partnership program, a childhood poverty initiative, and a general scholarship application tied to more than 100 scholarship funds.
Yes. It manages 100+ scholarship funds and runs a centralized General Scholarship Application that matches students to the scholarships they qualify for. The scholarship programs serve students in Stark County and Carroll County and make direct scholarship payments to eligible students.
The typical grant size is $8,500 at the 25th percentile, $17,341 at the median, and $50,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards, including multi-million-dollar grants to local organizations.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including the Stark County Neighborhood Partnership Program, Protecting Stark’s Future, the General Scholarship Program, Health Foundation of Greater Massillon Grants, the Community Charitable Fund, and SummerTime Kids.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Stark Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Local nonprofit organizations addressing community needs in Stark County (eligible organizations participate in competitive discretionary grant cycles).
Deadline: Two competitive cycles per year (October and May cycles); specific dates vary by year.
Who can apply: Primarily makes grants to IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charities, educational institutions, and government entities serving Stark County women and children.
Deadline: Application opens August 24, 2026; deadline October 16, 2026; awards January 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARTSINSTARK | CANTON, OH | $1,076,993 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| NEOMED FOUNDATION | ROOTSTOWN, OH | $620,984 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BUCKEYE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | CANTON, OH | $586,282 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER STARK COUNTY | CANTON, OH | $508,381 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| HALL OF FAME RESORT & ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY | CANTON, OH | $500,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT |
| JOHN H AND EVELYN L ASHTON PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION INC | CARROLLTON, OH | $430,000 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF | BALTIMORE, MD | $410,500 | 2025 | INTERNATIONAL, FOREIGN AFFAIRS |
| WALSH UNIVERSITY | NORTH CANTON, OH | $388,776 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| STARK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD | CANTON, OH | $342,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT |
| STARK COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY | CANTON, OH | $322,839 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS |
| STARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | CANTON, OH | $285,944 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| STARK EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP INC | CANTON, OH | $238,920 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CANTON PALACE THEATRE ASSOCIATION | CANTON, OH | $228,804 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| CANTON STUDENT LOAN FOUNDATION | CANTON, OH | $221,561 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE WILDERNESS CENTER | WILMOT, OH | $213,344 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS |
| MASSILLON PUBLIC LIBRARY | MASSILLON, OH | $203,614 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| YMCA OF CENTRAL STARK COUNTY | CANTON, OH | $195,268 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | CANTON, OH | $191,549 | 2025 | RELIGION RELATED |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF CANTON | CANTON, OH | $191,013 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| CANTON CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM | CANTON, OH | $183,924 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| REFUGE OF HOPE | CANTON, OH | $168,150 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| STARK COUNTY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | CANTON, OH | $155,654 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MALONE UNIVERSITY | CANTON, OH | $152,461 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EAST CENTRAL OHIO | CANTON, OH | $149,347 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| STARK STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION | NORTH CANTON, OH | $148,158 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ICAN INC | CANTON, OH | $146,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| AULTMAN COLLEGE | CANTON, OH | $143,430 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CANTON MUSEUM OF ART | CANTON, OH | $135,162 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CANTON | CANTON, OH | $131,232 | 2025 | RELIGION RELATED |
| AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK | AKRON, OH | $129,615 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| THE AULTMAN FOUNDATION | CANTON, OH | $128,182 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $111,962 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| ST JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH | WAYNESBURG, OH | $109,798 | 2025 | RELIGION RELATED |
| BUCKEYE CAREER CENTER ADULT EDUCATION | NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH | $108,102 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA INC | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $103,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| ZOAR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION | ZOAR, OH | $101,550 | 2025 | PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT |
| NATIONAL FIRST LADIES LIBRARY & MUSEUM | CANTON, OH | $100,396 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LIFECARE FAMILY HEALTH & DENTAL CENTER | CANTON, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| CANTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CANTON, OH | $95,415 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| CANTON CHRISTIAN HOME | CANTON, OH | $93,629 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| CARROLL COUNTY PARKS COMMISSION | CARROLLTON, OH | $90,481 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS |
| OSNABURG LOCAL SCHOOLS | EAST CANTON, OH | $86,217 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MASSILLON | MASSILLON, OH | $85,049 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| BROOKSIDE SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC | CANTON, OH | $79,215 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | CANTON, OH | $77,221 | 2025 | RELIGION RELATED |
| FIRST TEE CANTON | CANTON, OH | $74,750 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| YWCA CANTON | CANTON, OH | $73,901 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CHURCH | CANTON, OH | $73,275 | 2025 | RELIGION RELATED |
| WHISPERING GRACE HORSES | MASSILLON, OH | $72,500 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS |
| NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM INC DBA THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME | CANTON, OH | $70,642 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
HALL OF FAME RESORT & ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
$500,000PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT
JOHN H AND EVELYN L ASHTON PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION INC
ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES
WALSH UNIVERSITY
$388,776EDUCATION
CANTON STUDENT LOAN FOUNDATION
$221,561EDUCATION
MASSILLON PUBLIC LIBRARY
$203,614EDUCATION
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
$191,549RELIGION RELATED
THE SALVATION ARMY OF CANTON
$191,013HUMAN SERVICES
CANTON CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM
$183,924ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES
STARK COUNTY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$155,654EDUCATION
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EAST CENTRAL OHIO
$149,347HUMAN SERVICES
ICAN INC
$146,000HUMAN SERVICES
AULTMAN COLLEGE
$143,430EDUCATION
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CANTON
$131,232RELIGION RELATED
THE AULTMAN FOUNDATION
$128,182HEALTH
ST JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
$109,798RELIGION RELATED
BUCKEYE CAREER CENTER ADULT EDUCATION
$108,102EDUCATION
ZOAR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
$101,550PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT
NATIONAL FIRST LADIES LIBRARY & MUSEUM
$100,396EDUCATION
LIFECARE FAMILY HEALTH & DENTAL CENTER
$100,000HEALTH
CANTON CHRISTIAN HOME
$93,629HEALTH
CARROLL COUNTY PARKS COMMISSION
$90,481ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS
OSNABURG LOCAL SCHOOLS
$86,217EDUCATION
BROOKSIDE SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC
$79,215EDUCATION
CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$77,221RELIGION RELATED
FIRST TEE CANTON
$74,750HUMAN SERVICES
ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CHURCH
$73,275RELIGION RELATED
WHISPERING GRACE HORSES
$72,500ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMALS
NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM INC DBA THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
$70,642ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES
