Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau
The Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, which operates as Visit Canton, is a public charity based in Canton, Ohio. It promotes travel to Stark County and supports tourism-related activity intended to attract visitors and generate economic impact in the region.
Key facts about Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau
In short: Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau gave $597K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), mostly in Ohio. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 47-4985751
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $596,695
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- Average grant
- $33,150
- Median grant
- $17,192
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (3 of 18, 2024)
- Total assets
- $7,488,208
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Apply through the relevant grant program’s application process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 Cultural Tourism Grants deadline is March 20, 2026.
- Next open deadline
- December 31, 2026 (Event Support Grants)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$7.5M
+12.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$597K
+25.5% YoY
Grant Count
18
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
+67.3% YoY
Is Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 18 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The bureau’s mission is to attract and engage visitors, serve and educate regional tourism partners, and generate economic growth through travel and tourism development. Its 2024 filing describes work to attract and guide visitors, support tourism industry partners, and participate in regional economic development discussions.
Its grant programs support events, arts and cultural programming, and marketing initiatives that aim to draw visitors from outside Stark County and increase visitor spending. Recipients in 2024 included ArtsinStark, whose stated mission is to use the arts to advance community goals including economic development and tourism, and Massillon Museum, which describes itself as a cultural hub where art and history come together. Other recipients included the Canton Museum of Art, which describes its role as engaging, educating, entertaining, and enriching visitors and the community; the National First Ladies’ Library, whose mission is to educate the public about the contributions of America’s First Ladies; and the National Football Museum, whose stated mission concerns collecting, preserving, studying, and interpreting the history of professional football.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing reports 18 grants totaling $596,695. Grant amounts ranged from $5,115 to $166,339, with a median of $17,192. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio. Separately, the organization stated in its 2024 filing that it invested over $860,000 in cultural tourism and event support grants.
The largest reported 2024 grants included $166,339 to ArtsinStark and $131,782 to Massillon Museum, both for arts and cultural tourism; $52,003 to the Canton Museum of Art for a major exhibition grant and arts and cultural tourism; and $34,650 to the National First Ladies’ Library for arts and cultural tourism.
For 2026, Event Support Grants offer awards of up to $10,000 per event through a competitive process, throughout the calendar year while funds are available. Eligible events must have at least 125 Stark County hotel room nights and/or 400 day visitors from outside the county, be held in Stark County, and take place in 2026. Applications must be submitted at least 90 days before the event.
The 2026 Cultural Tourism Grants program, run with ArtsinStark, plans to invest up to $200,000. Awards may be up to $20,000 per project, with a maximum of $20,000 per organization per cycle. Projects must focus on arts and cultural events, programming, or marketing initiatives; attract new guests from outside Stark County; and be completed in 2026. Applications must be submitted at least 90 days before project execution. The program is competitive, and applicants may apply for multiple projects, subject to the organization-wide award cap.
Review Cycle
The listed 2026 Cultural Tourism Grants deadline is **March 20, 2026**. The Event Support Grants deadline is **December 31, 2026**, with applications accepted throughout the calendar year and due at least 90 days before the event.
How to Apply
Apply through the relevant grant program’s application process. Applications are reviewed competitively; eligibility and review processes may change by cycle. Grant funds cannot pay for Visit Canton Official Travel Guide advertising or VisitCanton.com sponsored content, though those expenses may count toward the required 50% marketing match if the plan also includes qualifying out-of-county marketing expenses.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau
Ready to take the next step with Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The bureau’s work and grant programs focus on Stark County, Ohio. Its website describes event support as intended to increase visitation and visitor spending in Stark County; the 2024 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Ohio recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $475K (2023) to $1.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $597K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Arts in Stark ($166K). Together the top 10 received $528K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 85 (88%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arts in Stark Canton, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $166,339 |
| Massillon Museum Massillon, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $131,782 |
| Canton Museum of Art Canton, OH | Major Exhibition Grant and Arts & Cultural Tourism | $52,003 |
| National First Ladies' Library Canton, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $34,650 |
| Canton Symphony Orchestra Asso Caton, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $34,300 |
| National Football Museum Canton, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $30,000 |
| Canton Ballet Canton, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $24,250 |
| Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps North Canton, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $20,000 |
| Dressler Pub Group Canton, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $20,000 |
| McKinley Presidential Library & Museum Canton, OH | Arts & Cultural Tourism | $14,383 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,488,208 | $4,080,878 | $4,095,286 | $596,695 | 18 |
| 2023 | $6,635,149 | $4,078,466 | $3,181,262 | $475,476 | 24 |
| 2022 | $5,126,753 | $3,704,773 | $3,282,201 | $665,403 | 16 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,488,208 | $6,635,149 | $5,126,753 |
| Revenue | $4,080,878 | $4,078,466 | $3,704,773 |
| Expenses | $4,095,286 | $3,181,262 | $3,282,201 |
| Net Investment Income | $127,750 | $132,456 | $83,787 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Allyson Bussey as President, Derek Gordon as Treasurer, Susie Steiner as Vice Chair, Chris Nichols as Chairman, and Ed Murray as Secretary. It also lists Anne Graffice, Barb Abbott, Clayton Popic, Dan Dehoff, and David Lee as directors.
The bureau’s staff listing identifies Allyson Bussey as President & CEO and Rosie Kurtz as Comptroller.
Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau is led by Allyson Bussey, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 18 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Allyson Bussey
President
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$114K (2020) → $167K (2024)
Chris Nichols
Chairman
Secretary → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Graffice
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barb Abbott
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ren Camacho
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Swaldo
Director
Past Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Groom
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Horrigan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clayton Popic
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Dehoff
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Lee
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Miller
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Shimko
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maureen Ater
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen MacKenzie
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susie Steiner
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derek Gordon
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Murray
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Alexandra Coon (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Daniel Dehoff (2020–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Ray Hexamer (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Renee Powell (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert Mullen (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Barbara Abbott (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: David Whitehall (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Renato Camacho (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Susan Monteleone (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Christa Koxy (2023) — Director
- Former: Edward Murray (2020–2022) — Chairman
- Former: Seth Coblentz (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Gerald Mastroianni (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: John Lodgson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Robert Fonte (2021) — Director
- Former: Bob Fonte (2020) — Director
- Former: Joe Daleiden (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Marion Coblentz (2020) — Director
- Former: Robb Hankins (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $167K, to Allyson Bussey (President).
Contact
Mailing address: 401 Market Avenue N, Canton, OH 44702
Phone: (330) 454-1439
Website: https://visitcanton.com
Frequently asked questions about Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau
How much does Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau give each year?
Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau gave $597K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $475K across 24 grants.
What is Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau's typical grant size?
Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau's median grant in 2024 was $17,192, and its average grant was $33,150, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau that year got $16K on average.
Where does Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau give grants?
Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Canton, OH (12 grants) and Massillon, OH (2 grants).
Does Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts & Cultural Tourism" (17 grants).
Who are Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau's largest grantees?
Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau's largest 2024 grantees include Arts in Stark ($166,339), Massillon Museum ($131,782) and Canton Museum of Art ($52,003), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau?
Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.1M.
What does Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau fund?
The bureau’s mission is to attract and engage visitors, serve and educate regional tourism partners, and generate economic growth through travel and tourism development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau?
Apply through the relevant grant program’s application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau's EIN?
Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4985751. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau by hand.
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Stark County Convention & Visitors' Bureau down — hundreds of funders to go?