Protecting Stark's Future

Stark Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Stark County, in partnership with the Center for Community Solutions, released Protecting Stark’s Future: A Call to Coordinate Child Poverty Strategies in late 2020. Rooted in research, the report outlines why Stark County stakeholders need to intentionally work together to collaborate and coordinate efforts and target resources to reduce child poverty. As we drilled down into our community’s data, it became apparent that every issue of concern was related to poverty. In particular, the high child poverty rates in our community demand our increased and continued attention.

Read and download Protecting Stark's Future »

Funding Opportunity

In partnership with United Way of Greater Stark County, the Foundation’s Protecting Stark’s Future initiative supports collaborative community-based solutions to reduce child poverty at the neighborhood level. In 2021, nearly $430,000 in inaugural Protecting Stark’s Future grants were awarded to 12 organizations.

Through a request for proposals (RFP) process, we hope to continue to solicit the best ideas from organizations that partner together on imaginative solutions to address child poverty at the neighborhood level. Tax-exempt private agencies, 501(c)(3) organizations (that are recognized as public charities) and government entities located within Stark County or directly benefiting Stark County are eligible to apply for funding for one-year planning or pilot grants up to $15,000 per project and one-to-three-year implementation grants up to $100,000 per project. Selected projects must consider at least one recommendation from the 2020 study, focus on one (or more) specific neighborhood and embrace multiple community partners.

Timeline

May 9, 2022: Updated RFP Released
June 1, 2022: Application Opens
July 1, 2022: Application Deadline
August 2022: Announcement of Awards

Apply online through our Grant Portal.

Resources

Protecting Stark’s Future Report
Protecting Stark’s Future Webinar
Stark County Data Webinar and Webinar Slides

For More Information

For more information, contact Amy Krebs, vice president of grants and community initiatives, at akrebs@starkcf.org or 234-458-2912.