Columbus Announces 2026 Nonprofit Grants

Columbus Announces 2026 Nonprofit Grants

Published on March 23, 2026

For Immediate Release
March 23, 2026

Contact:
T.R. Massey, [email protected] or 614-645-6456

City of Columbus Announces Grants for Youth Programming, Community Stability

COLUMBUS, Ohio-The City of Columbus today announced competitive grant investments supporting nonprofit organizations that provide summer youth programming and critical services for families across Columbus and Franklin County.

A total of nearly $17.5 million will support 214 nonprofit organizations through Summer Youth Program Grants and the city's Elevate! initiative.

"Columbus is a growing city, and with that growth comes responsibility," said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. "At a time of real uncertainty across the nation, we will continue to support our residents and strengthen the organizations serving our communities. These investments empower our nonprofit partners to continue meeting the needs of our neighbors."

Summer Youth Program Grants

This year, a total of 206 organizations submitted eligible grant applications to the city, representing an overall funding request of $24,882,267. The competitive application review process narrowed that field to 105 nonprofit organizations that were selected to receive grant awards representing an overall investment of $7,490,499. Programming opportunities for young people across Columbus support initiatives focused on academic engagement, career readiness, youth development, violence prevention and summer activities.

In 2025, Columbus Recreation and Parks programs recorded more than 21,000 summer camp registrations, served more than 205,000 meals and engaged tens of thousands of young people through afterschool programming, sports leagues and outreach activities.

The Summer Youth Program Grants have been a key part of Mayor Ginther's youth engagement strategy since 2020, helping ensure that young people across Columbus have access to safe spaces, mentorship and opportunities to learn and grow during the summer months.

The Summer Youth Program Grants complement youth programming offered by City of Columbus departments, including the Department of Building and Zoning Services, Department of Neighborhoods, CelebrateOne, Office of Education and the Office of Violence Prevention.

The largest share of funding for internal youth programming goes to the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department which also administers the Summer Youth Program Grants.

Elevate! Grants

Administered by the city's Department of Development, a total of $10 million in 2026 Elevate! grants support 109 nonprofit organizations serving households with limited incomes across Columbus and Franklin County. Mayor Ginther and Columbus City Council worked collaboratively to identify timely and strategic solutions to ensure $1 million was restored to the program during the budget negotiating process, bringing the program back to its original funding allocation.

The grants provide flexible organization-level funding for nonprofits to sustain and expand programs as demand for services continues to grow. It is the latest phase of the city's Elevate! initiative, a competitive grant program focused on strengthening the capacity of established nonprofits serving Columbus and Franklin County households with incomes below the ALICE threshold, a measure that identifies families who earn more than the federal poverty level but still struggle to afford basic necessities such as housing, child care, food and transportation.

The Elevate! application period opened in May and closed in June 2025, generating 189 applications. Funding decisions were based on each application's relative performance in the city's first-ever applicant-led peer review, allowing for scaled awards rather than requiring full funding of requested amounts. The top 10 recipients received the maximum $200,000 award, and 35% of all awardees received their full eligible allocation. Thirty-nine organizations are new Elevate! recipients, alongside continued investment in trusted community partners.

To view the full list of funded organizations click here

About the City of Columbus

Columbus is the 15th largest city in the United States and one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the Midwest. With a diverse economy and strong neighborhoods, Columbus is nationally recognized for its affordability, quality of life and proactive approach to fostering growth to benefit all residents. Under Mayor Andrew J. Ginther's leadership, Columbus is building an equitable and prosperous future as America's Opportunity City.

• Media Releases