Community Responsive Grants
Community Responsive Grants support organizations with data-informed programs, collaborative action, and capacity-building work to address Stark County’s evolving needs and create lasting community value.
Funder: Stark Community Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (applications) | November 2026 (next Board consideration)
Funding Amounts: Typical requests: $2,500–$50,000; grassroots organizations without 501(c)(3) status: up to $3,000
Summary: Supports organizations responding to Stark County’s evolving needs through data-informed programs and collaborative community action.
Key Information: Projects must benefit Stark County, its people and organizations, even when applicants are based elsewhere.
Description
Stark Community Foundation’s Community Responsive Grants support organizations addressing Stark County’s evolving needs and opportunities. Part of the Foundation’s competitive grantmaking, the program uses data demonstrating community needs to guide funding decisions and shape impactful programs. Its priorities include aligning grantmaking with philanthropic services, promoting data-informed research, and creating strategic collaboratives to address community challenges.
The Foundation considers the strength of local support, organizational sustainability, and a project’s enduring community value. Capacity-building projects, such as marketing, training and strategic planning, may receive support when appropriate for the organization and its programs. The Foundation identifies the 2023 Stark County Community Assessment and a data workshop as resources for its data-driven approach.
