OVERVIEW: The GAR Foundation supports early childhood and K-16 education, economic and workforce development, basic needs, arts and culture and nonprofit sector advancement in Ohio.
IP TAKE: The GAR Foundation says its goal is to help its “nonprofit partners breathe a little easier” with multi-year grants. Its programs can provide grantees with operating, program, or capital support. Most grant sizes tend to be modest; however, established, returning grantees can see support that’s significantly larger. This is a transparent funder that lists its past grants in a database, searchable by year and focus area. It is accessible too and has a clear application process and FAQ. Foundation staff welcome questions via the online contact form.
PROFILE: Established in 1967, the GAR Foundation is a private foundation based in Akron, Ohio. This is the foundation of Galen and Ruth Roush. With his brother, Galen Roush co-founded Roadway Express in 1930, which became the largest long-haul trucking company in the U.S. The Roushes were deeply committed to their local community and wished to carry on their legacy of giving after they passed. The foundation aims to “help Akron become smarter, stronger, and more vibrant.” It funds local efforts for early childhood and K-16 education, economic and workforce development, basic needs, arts and culture and nonprofit sector advancement.
The GAR Foundation’s priorities follow local research and take a cross-sector approach to high-priority issues around Akron.
Current grant opportunities include:
Grants for Nonprofits provide operating or program funding for organizations serving communities in Akron, Ohio and Summit County in the areas of Early Childhood through Higher Education, Economic and Community Development, Arts and Culture, and Basic Needs.
Capital Grants are grants of up to $50,000 to help nonprofits acquire or construct new buildings and renovate or expand existing buildings.
Educator Initiative Grants support projects in K-12 classrooms.
Grants for Early Childhood and K-12 Education
The foundation supports Education in early childhood and K-16 classrooms throughout Summit County. Its early childhood focus area works to ensure that local children are prepared for kindergarten by supporting “high-quality, culturally relevant childcare and PreK initiatives.” The K-16 focus area supports projects that create a healthy learning environment for Akron Public Schools students, promote College and Career Academies, and increase retention at local universities.
While most education support flows from the Grants for Nonprofits program, there is also an Educator Initiative Grant that helps to fund “teacher-initiated, classroom-based projects” in public, private, parochial, and not-for-profit charter schools in Summit County.
Individual classrooms can apply for up to $5,000
Teaching teams of multiple classrooms can apply for up to $10,000
Learn more about this funder’s local education giving on the grants awarded page of the foundation’s website.
Grants for Work and Economic Development, and Community Development
GAR supports Economic, Workforce, and Community Development in Akron primarily through its Grants for Nonprofits program. Funding the economic development focus area primarily goes to efforts to decrease poverty and increase median household income for local families. Community development support goes to community engagement and neighborhood planning projects that help residents identify with and feel pride in the places they live.
The foundation supports human services organizations through its Basic Needs strategy area and Grants for Nonprofits program. These grants support local nonprofits focused on providing essential services for people in crisis, addressing food insecurity, and helping immigrants and refugees thrive.
A searchable list of recent community and economic development grantees is available on the foundation’s grants awarded page.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The GAR Foundation’s funds Arts & Culture organizations and projects through its Grants for Nonprofits program. Grants in this strategy area go to local arts groups that reinforce the uniqueness of Akron’s cultural identity, especially those that contribute to the advancement of the Akron/Summit Cultural Plan.
Grantseekers can learn about previous arts grantees on the grants awarded page of the foundation’s website.
Important Grant Details
Grants typically range between about $5,000 and $300,000, although they have gone as high as $2 million for select organizations. The most common amount is $15,000. The foundation awarded over $7 million in grants in a recent year and held more than $176.5 million in assets. Grantmaking focuses on the city of Akron and Summit County, Ohio.
This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry for its Grants for Nonprofits program.
Grantseekers should submit LOIs via online system by established dates in April, July and November.
Review the Application Questions, Organization Budget Template, and Arts & Culture Form documents before submitting a full application.
Deadlines for full applications vary by grant program.
Direct general questions to the staff at info@garfdn.org or 330-576-2926.
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