Boots on the Ground Fund Awarded $836,000 to 38 Nonprofits
Cincinnati (April 14, 2025) — Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF), in partnership with the City of Cincinnati, has awarded $836,000 in Boots on the Ground Fund grants to 38 local nonprofits. These funds, $650,000 of which were provided by the city, strengthen the capacity of small, community-based organizations with a programming focus on housing, food and healthcare access, gun violence prevention, workforce and youth development, mental health, and substance use services.
Valuing the power of lived experience, GCF engaged a diverse group of community members in the review process. Each of these grants, up to $25,000, signals a thoughtful and targeted investment in grassroots organizations that are rooted in community.
“The organizations receiving funding will gain greater capacity to build upon established and trusted relationships to drive impactful outcomes,” said City of Cincinnati 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.”
The funded projects include building outdoor classrooms, providing nutritious meals, increasing access to mental health support, tutoring to improve literacy and math skills, and more.
“We’ve seen firsthand that when access and opportunity are available to all, our entire community benefits,” explained Adison Nelson, senior director, 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 inception in 2022, the Boots on the Ground Fund has granted $1,444,620 to support 72 nonprofit organizations. See the full list of grantees: https://www.gcfdn.org/recentgrants/
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Media Contact
| Felicity Tao | Mollie Lair Director of Communications City of Cincinnati 513-787-8880 mollie.lair@cincinnati-oh.gov |
About Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Greater Cincinnati Foundation is the region’s leading community foundation, serving an eight-county region in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Through trusted partnerships and thoughtful stewardship of community assets, GCF builds a more vibrant, opportunity-rich, and equitable region for everyone – now, and for generations to come.
