The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio concentrates giving in the Cincinnati area on economic recovery and workforce advancement, with a dual emphasis on short-term COVID-19 relief for small and Black-owned businesses and targeted investments in career training and technical education providers. Most grants are modest, rapid-response awards to local entrepreneurs and service providers, while a smaller number of larger awards support training organizations that advance job readiness and placement.
A $94,200 award to Pacific Educational Group Inc. stands out in the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio Inc.’s recent giving and points to a funder that pairs workforce development with fast-response support for local businesses. In 2023, the foundation funded career training providers, early learning centers, and a wide cluster of Cincinnati-based small businesses and service firms, including restaurants, construction companies, and personal service operators. That mix shows a practical approach to economic stability: one set of grants supports job readiness and technical training, while another helps businesses manage disruption and recovery. The grant list also shows how local the work is. Most awards go to organizations in Cincinnati, and the foundation’s recent pattern includes repeated support for career training and COVID-19 relief. Larger grants are reserved for training organizations, while many smaller awards are directed to community-based businesses and childcare providers. The result is a grant profile centered on employment pathways, neighborhood enterprise, and short-term stabilization within Greater Southwestern Ohio.
In career training, the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio Inc. gave $94,200 to Pacific Educational Group Inc. and $42,780 to 1st Choice Career Center, showing support for organizations that help people build job skills and enter the workforce. It also awarded $20,000 to Southern Ohio Technical Institute Inc. for the same purpose. A second thread is COVID-19 relief. Grants of $22,000 to Leyla House Learning Center Inc. and $20,000 to Magnificent Morsels Catering LLC show that the foundation used this category for both childcare and small business stabilization. Many Cincinnati recipients in the list were restaurants, caterers, contractors, and other local service providers. General living assistance appears as well, including a $14,528 grant to Duke Energy. Across these categories, the foundation mixes direct relief with support for training and community-based service providers.
Typical grants are small to mid-sized, with a p25 of $7,165, a median of $12,000, and a p75 of $15,000. The recent list also includes one much larger award at $94,200, which suggests a split between routine local support and bigger investments in training providers. The foundation is a public charity, and its grantmaking appears to be programmatic rather than via individual aid or program-related investments. The 2023 grant list points to active, recurring local support across the year rather than a single one-time distribution.
$1.8M
$10.5M
$10.8M
$11.6M
Most grants fall between $7K and $15K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Distributed, locally focused giving: many small-to-mid sized (mostly $15k–$94k) one-off or single-year grants concentrated on emergency business relief, with a handful of larger grants to repeat or institutional grantees in career training and technical education.
Notable grantees: Pacific Educational Group Inc, 1st Choice Career Center, Southern Ohio Technical Institute Inc, Champion Community Services, Leyla House Learning Center Inc
The foundation gives almost entirely in Ohio: 95% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Its geographic scope is local, and the recent grant list is heavily concentrated in Cincinnati. That said, the top award went outside Ohio to Oakland, California, where Pacific Educational Group Inc. received $94,200. Other named locations in the list include Charlotte, North Carolina, for Duke Energy, but the dominant pattern remains Cincinnati-area giving.
The recent grants favor career training providers, small businesses receiving COVID-19 relief, and community-based early learning centers. Examples include 1st Choice Career Center, Southern Ohio Technical Institute Inc., Leyla House Learning Center Inc., and many Cincinnati-based businesses in restaurants, construction, personal services, and childcare.
Typical awards are modest. The grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $7,165, a median of $12,000, and a p75 of $15,000. Most recent grants cluster around that range, with a smaller number of larger awards for training organizations.
Most giving stays in Ohio, with 95% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The list is especially concentrated in Cincinnati, which appears repeatedly across career training, COVID-19 relief, and early learning grants.
No. Workforce development is a major theme, but the foundation also funds COVID-19 relief for local businesses and childcare providers, plus general living assistance. The recent grants include support for early learning centers, restaurants, technical institutes, and a utility-related basic-needs grant to Duke Energy.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREATER CINCINNATI & NORTHERN KENTUCKY AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER | CINCINNATI, OH | $225,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES |
| CINCINNATI USA REGIONAL CHAMBER FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $200,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES |
| MORTAR CINCINNATI | CINCINNATI, OH | $200,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES |
| LIGHTSHIP FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $150,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES |
| GREATER CINCINNATI MICROENTERPRISE INITIATIVE | CINCINNATI, OH | $125,796 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES |
| HOITY TOITY LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $75,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| WEST END SPORTS BAR AND GRILL LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $75,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| WATER LILY LEARNING CENTER EAST LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $75,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| JUST Q'IN BBQ | CINCINNATI, OH | $75,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| SWEET JAZZ TREATS LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $70,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| HERITAGE HILL LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $60,400 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| SWEET MAE'S COOKIE COMPANY LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $58,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| KAIKER DEVELOPMENT LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| SOUTHERN OHIO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $45,000 | 2026 | CAREER TRAINING ASSISTANCE |
| PATA ROJA TAQUERIA | CINCINNATI, OH | $36,570 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| CORA'S CAKERY | NEWPORT, KY | $25,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| 6 N THE MORNIN' LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,472 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| DUKE ENERGY | CHARLOTTE, NC | $12,956 | 2026 | GENERAL LIVING ASSISTANCE TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS |
| VIDIA'S CLOSET | CENTERVILLE, OH | $10,500 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| FIRST PRIORITY URGENT CARE LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| CPM ENTERPRISES LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| PGS BOYS TRANSPORTATION LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| RICH TASTE CATERING SERVICE LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| JM ENTERPRISE | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| HAUL MASTERS LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| PITCHER'S HOSPITALITY LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| TASTY BIRD MARKET | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| TACO STREET COMPANY 2 LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| ILLY'S PIZZA | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| PEACE BE STEELE TRUCKING LLP | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| AFTER5 LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| PICK & ROLL DRIVE-THRU | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| NEW DIRECTION LEARNING CENTER INC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| DC CARRIERS | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| EMERALD SPARKS LTD | MIDDLETOWN, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| NOW AND ZEN DIY STUDIO | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| HESS ADVANCED SOLUTIONS LLC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| OLD SYCAMORE SQUARE LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| RICHMOND FOOT & ANKLE CLINIC | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| NAASIAHA SIMON & ASSOCIATES | FAIRBORN, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT |
| ZOLA HOLDINGS LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $8,000 | 2026 | RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES |
| SYSTEM CYCLE SUPPLY | SPRINGBORO, OH | $6,680 | 2026 | SUPPORT TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS |
| PACIFIC EDUCATIONAL GROUP INC | OAKLAND, CA | $94,200 | 2023 | CAREER TRAINING |
| 1ST CHOICE CAREER CENTER | CINCINNATI, OH | $42,780 | 2023 | CAREER TRAINING |
| LEYLA HOUSE LEARNING CENTER INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $22,000 | 2023 | COVID-19 RELIEF |
| SOUTHERN OHIO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2023 | CAREER TRAINING |
| MAGNIFICENT MORSELS CATERING LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2023 | COVID-19 RELIEF |
| JUST COOKIN' CATERING LLC | CINCINNATI, OH | $17,000 | 2023 | COVID-19 RELIEF |
| THE KATALYST GROUP | CINCINNATI, OH | $17,000 | 2023 | COVID-19 RELIEF |
| D2 LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SERVICES INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $17,000 | 2023 | COVID-19 RELIEF |
GREATER CINCINNATI & NORTHERN KENTUCKY AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER
$225,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES
MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES
MORTAR CINCINNATI
$200,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES
MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES
GREATER CINCINNATI MICROENTERPRISE INITIATIVE
$125,796MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GROWTH SUPPORT INITIATIVES
HOITY TOITY LLC
$75,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
WEST END SPORTS BAR AND GRILL LLC
$75,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
WATER LILY LEARNING CENTER EAST LLC
$75,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
JUST Q'IN BBQ
$75,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
SWEET JAZZ TREATS LLC
$70,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
HERITAGE HILL LLC
$60,400RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
SWEET MAE'S COOKIE COMPANY LLC
$58,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
KAIKER DEVELOPMENT LLC
$50,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
SOUTHERN OHIO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC
$45,000CAREER TRAINING ASSISTANCE
PATA ROJA TAQUERIA
$36,570RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
CORA'S CAKERY
$25,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
6 N THE MORNIN' LLC
$20,472RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
DUKE ENERGY
$12,956GENERAL LIVING ASSISTANCE TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
VIDIA'S CLOSET
$10,500MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
FIRST PRIORITY URGENT CARE LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
CPM ENTERPRISES LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
PGS BOYS TRANSPORTATION LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
RICH TASTE CATERING SERVICE LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
JM ENTERPRISE
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
HAUL MASTERS LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
PITCHER'S HOSPITALITY LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
TASTY BIRD MARKET
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
TACO STREET COMPANY 2 LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
ILLY'S PIZZA
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
PEACE BE STEELE TRUCKING LLP
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
AFTER5 LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
PICK & ROLL DRIVE-THRU
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
NEW DIRECTION LEARNING CENTER INC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
DC CARRIERS
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
EMERALD SPARKS LTD
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
NOW AND ZEN DIY STUDIO
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
HESS ADVANCED SOLUTIONS LLC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
OLD SYCAMORE SQUARE LLC
$10,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
RICHMOND FOOT & ANKLE CLINIC
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
NAASIAHA SIMON & ASSOCIATES
$10,000MINORITY BUSINESS RELIEF SUPPORT
ZOLA HOLDINGS LLC
$8,000RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES INTO COMMERCIAL SPACES
SYSTEM CYCLE SUPPLY
$6,680SUPPORT TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
PACIFIC EDUCATIONAL GROUP INC
$94,200CAREER TRAINING
1ST CHOICE CAREER CENTER
$42,780CAREER TRAINING
LEYLA HOUSE LEARNING CENTER INC
$22,000COVID-19 RELIEF
SOUTHERN OHIO TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC
$20,000CAREER TRAINING
MAGNIFICENT MORSELS CATERING LLC
$20,000COVID-19 RELIEF
JUST COOKIN' CATERING LLC
$17,000COVID-19 RELIEF
THE KATALYST GROUP
$17,000COVID-19 RELIEF
D2 LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SERVICES INC
$17,000COVID-19 RELIEF