The Youngstown Foundation
100 Federal Plaza East, Suite 101,
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
330-744-0320. youngstownfoundation.org
Lynnette Forde, President
Established in 1918, The Youngstown Foundation is a place of connection, where generosity and community action meet to create powerful improvements on the quality of life.
The Youngstown Foundation connects inspired people to causes they care about most, makes grants to strengthen effective nonprofits, and provides leadership on key community issues to make the city of Youngstown and its surrounding areas better places.
The foundation’s resources comprise endowment and donor advised funds contributed by individuals, businesses and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and a deep commitment to the Mahoning Valley.
The Youngstown Foundation currently manages more than 80 individual funds and has assets of $130 million. A group of volunteer community leaders makes decisions about grant funding.
In recent years, grants from the foundation have ranged from a few thousand dollars to startup nonprofits to well over $1 million to the area’s largest institutions.
“Our size, longevity and reputation enable us to meet a wide variety of needs,” said Lynnette H. Forde, Youngstown Foundation president.
In addition to its grant-related work, the foundation supports three ongoing signature programs.
- Operation Search & Help – Families in Mahoning and Trumbull counties can be reimbursed for expenses related to their children’s diagnosed medical conditions, behavioral health issues and other special needs.
- YSTAR – Qualified Youngstown City School District graduates are eligible for four-year full tuition awards to attend Youngstown State University. YSTAR scholars are also eligible for expense reimbursement for room and board, meals, parking, books and supplies.
- Special Navigator – For children and families with special needs, free information is available to navigate the maze of services available through a regularly maintained database. The service is managed by Help Network of Eastern Ohio.
More information about the foundation, its grant application guidelines and signature programs is available at its website, youngstownfoundation.org.
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