Boots on the Ground Fund
The Boots on the Ground Fund supports small Cincinnati nonprofits tackling urgent community challenges like housing, food access, health, youth development, and violence prevention through capacity-building grants.
Funder: Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Full application/proposal deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $25,000 per grant; total pool ~$750,000; typically 30+ grants awarded per cycle.
Summary: Supports small, community-based Cincinnati nonprofits addressing critical needs (housing, food, health, youth, violence prevention) through capacity-building grants.
Key Information: Applicants must have an operating budget under $1M and directly benefit Cincinnati residents; 2025 recipients are ineligible for this round.
Description
The Boots on the Ground Fund, managed by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation in partnership with the City of Cincinnati and additional funders, is designed to strengthen the capacity of small, community-based organizations serving the Cincinnati region. The fund supports organizations with proven experience tackling urgent community challenges—such as homelessness prevention, affordable housing, food access, healthcare, workforce and youth development, youth gun violence reduction, and mental and behavioral health. Grants may be used to support, expand, or strengthen existing programs, launch new initiatives, or build organizational capacity, with a strong emphasis on measurable outcomes, community involvement, and collaboration.
