The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, in partnership with the City of Cincinnati, has awarded $836,000 in grants to 38 grassroots nonprofits through its Boots on the Ground Fund.
The latest round of funding includes $650,000 provided by the city and supports small community-based organizations focused on critical needs such as housing, food and healthcare access, gun violence prevention, workforce and youth development, mental health and substance use services. Each nonprofit received up to $25,000.
“These organizations will gain greater capacity to build upon established and trusted relationships to drive impactful outcomes,” said Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney. “It’s a core belief of mine that those closest to our community’s greatest needs and opportunities are the ones who can design the solutions necessary to create lasting change.”
Projects funded through the initiative include building outdoor classrooms, providing nutritious meals, improving access to mental health care, and offering tutoring to strengthen literacy and math skills.
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation emphasized community involvement in the grantmaking process by engaging a diverse group of residents to help review applications. The approach underscores GCF’s commitment to lived experience as a valuable lens for identifying effective community-rooted solutions.
“We’ve seen firsthand that when access and opportunity are available to all, our entire community benefits,” said Adison Nelson, senior director of community investments at GCF. “The Boots on the Ground Fund is providing support to grassroots nonprofits that are making a real difference in Greater Cincinnati.”
Since its launch in 2022, the Boots on the Ground Fund has distributed more than $1.4 million to 72 local nonprofits.
View the full list of 2024 grantees: gcfdn.org/recentgrants.
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