The Dayton Foundation
The Dayton Foundation is a public charity based in Dayton, Ohio, established in 1921. It manages charitable funds and awards grants, including competitive grants for nonprofit organizations serving Greater Dayton.
The Dayton Foundation at a glance
In short: The Dayton Foundation gave $32.6M across 589 grants in 2025 (avg $55K), mostly in Ohio. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $32,633,022
- -4.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 589
- +18.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $55,404
- -19.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,550
- Total assets
- $771,164,625
- +18.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (140 of 586, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Dayton Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Organizations should review eligibility and grant guidelines, view the discretionary-grants orientation, and submit an application through the Foundation’s grants application portal. A courtesy worksheet is available to help prepare responses. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits established for at least two years with a track record of sustainability, benefit residents in the Greater Dayton region, demonstrate a commitment to creating opportunities and access for all, show systemic collaboration, and address needs not fully met by existing resources. Applicants must also have submitted final reports for any prior Greenlight or discretionary grants. The Foundation generally does not fund general operations, ongoing programs, operating deficits or lost funding, individuals, scholarships, travel, religious or sectarian causes, fundraising drives, special or one-time events, political activities, public or private schools, endowments, or internal programs at hospitals and universities. Discretionary-grant recipients must submit a final report on use of the grant.
- Review Cycle
- The listed 2026 discretionary-grant deadlines are January 5 and June 29, which have passed, and October 2, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. The listed Greenlight Grants deadline is December 1, 2026, by 4:00 p.m.
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 discretionary-grant deadlines are January 5 and June 29, which have passed, and October 2, 2026, by…
- Contact
Mailing address: 1401 S Main Street Suite 100, Dayton, OH 45409
Phone: (937) 222-0410
Website: https://daytonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
70 open opportunities from The Dayton Foundation
African-American Community Foundation - Charles and Pat Meadows Scholarship Grant
The Dayton Foundation
Amount
Up to US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
African-American Community Foundation - CJ McLin, Jr. Scholarship Grant
The Dayton Foundation
Amount
US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
African-American Community Foundation - Colbert Family Scholarship Grant
The Dayton Foundation
Amount
Up to US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Dayton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Area Agency on Aging PSA 2 ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $9.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($109,249), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
2,477 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,957 grants of 2,477 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation says its discretionary programs primarily consider work in Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble, and northern Warren counties. In filing year 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio; the next-largest state shares were Michigan at 2%, and Florida, New York, and Tennessee at 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 589 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Dayton Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 140 of 586 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $66K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $17K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $22.0M (2019) to $48.3M (2023). In 2025 it made 589 grants totaling $32.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Area Agency on Aging PSA 2 Dayton, OH | Comcare census deficit, caredirector licenses & development, and addnaide software application | $2,035,560 |
| University of Dayton Dayton, OH | Various Projects | $1,098,984 |
| Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Dayton, OH | Various Projects | $1,041,899 |
| Dayton History Dayton, OH | Various Projects | $958,774 |
| County Corp Dayton, OH | To support the construction of the first 5 homes | $875,000 |
| Oakwood City School District Dayton, OH | Various Projects | $742,186 |
| Dayton Children's Hospital Foundation Dayton, OH | Various Projects | $739,704 |
| Learn to Earn Dayton Dayton, OH | Various Projects | $584,052 |
| Montgomery County Law Enforcement Memorial Association Dayton, OH | Memorial Project | $570,000 |
| Friends of Aullwood Inc Dayton, OH | Unrestricted, Education Program | $551,343 |
Ready to take the next step with The Dayton Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $771,164,625 | $131,240,042 | $51,461,325 | $32,633,022 | 589 | $36,462,545 |
| 2024 | $649,636,891 | $65,553,692 | $49,661,162 | $34,032,548 | 497 | $25,817,318 |
| 2023 | $583,453,329 | $59,281,429 | $71,402,673 | $48,271,927 | 462 | $17,573,943 |
| 2022 | $550,779,259 | $86,220,290 | $42,041,360 | $30,495,213 | 462 | $30,769,992 |
| 2021 | $614,105,736 | $82,530,515 | $37,224,989 | $26,152,622 | 467 | $35,390,622 |
| 2020 | $476,689,140 | $65,647,739 | $45,981,976 | $28,714,922 | 430 | $17,250,122 |
| 2019 | $459,671,477 | $67,221,580 | $30,696,789 | $21,991,392 | 369 | $20,310,311 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to operate exclusively for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its website describes competitive grants supporting arts and culture, health, education, human services, and other community-building efforts. Its discretionary grants can support capacity building, capital improvements, special projects, and program expansions.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. The Area Agency on Aging Planning and Service Area 2 says it works to improve quality of life for older adults through advocacy and a network of services. Dayton History describes its work as preserving and sharing the history of Dayton, Montgomery County, and the Miami Valley, including through educational experiences. County Corp says it works to improve the Greater Dayton–Montgomery County community through affordable housing and economic programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 589 itemized grants totaling $32,633,022. Grants ranged from $5,047 to $2,035,560, with a median grant of $14,550. The largest listed awards included $2,035,560 to Area Agency on Aging PSA 2 for ComCare census deficit, CareDirector licenses and development, and an Addnaide software application; $1,098,984 to the University of Dayton for various projects; $1,041,899 to Dayton Performing Arts Alliance for various projects; $958,774 to Dayton History for various projects; and $875,000 to County Corp to support construction of the first five homes.
The Foundation’s competitive opportunities include Greenlight Grants, described as quarterly grants of $500 to $7,500 for special projects, program expansions, capital improvements, or capacity building. Discretionary grants are awarded three times a year. Requested amounts must be more than $7,500 and up to $75,000; for projects costing less than $300,000, the request may not exceed 25% of the overall project cost.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following governing board members: L. Tony Ortiz, David T. Miller, Art Harlan, Lori Kershner, Rakesh Arora, Valerie Lemmie, Allice McCollum, Martha Shaker, Josh Stuckey, and Thomas J. Becker.
The Dayton Foundation is led by Michael M. Parks, President & Secretary on every filing since 2019; 8 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael M. Parks
President & Secretary
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$505K (2019) → $934K (2025)
Janice L. Culver
Chair Governing Board Member
Governing Board Member → Chair Governing Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbra Stonerock
Community Engagement
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$125K (2019) → $162K (2025)
Chris Smith
Vice President Marketing & Public Rela
Vice President Marketing & Public Relations → Vice President Marketing & Public Rela, 2020
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$102K (2019) → $140K (2025)
Jeanne S. Holihan
Administration Vice President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$125K (2019) → $41K (2025)
Michelle Lovely
Vice President Development & Donor Services
Vice President Development → Vice President Development & Donor Services, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$134K (2019) → $227K (2025)
S. Tracie Boshears
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$65K (2019) → $76K (2025)
Stephen D. Darnell
V.p. Finance
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$127K (2019) → $164K (2025)
Amy Wagner
Senior Vice President of Operations
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$66K (2024) → $218K (2025)
Cassie Barlow
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David T. Miller
Governing Board Member
Chair Governing Board → Chair Governing Board Member, 2024
Chair Governing Board Member → Governing Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George E. Forest
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Vaughn
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Becker
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
L. Tony Ortiz
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rakesh Arora
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allice McCollum
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Art Harlan
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Stuckey
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha Shaker
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Lemmie
Governing Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alonzo Patterson III
Governing Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Kershner
Governing Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: J. Norman Eckstein (2019–2024) — Governing Board Member
- Former: Joseph B. Baldasare (2019–2024) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Marva Cosby (2019–2023) — Governing Board Member
- Former: Anita J. Moore (2019–2022) — Governing Board Member
- Former: James R. Pancoast (2019–2022) — Governing Board Member
- Former: Lisa E. Hanauer (2019–2022) — Governing Board Member
- Former: Maureen A. Lynch (2019–2022) — Governing Board Member
- Former: William L. Gillispie (2019–2022) — Governing Board Member
- Former: Craig J. Brown (2019–2020) — Governing Board Member
- Former: Nan-C Moss Van (2019–2020) — Vice President Scholarship Services
- Former: Ratna Palakodeti (2019–2020) — Governing Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $934K, to Michael M Parks (President/Secretary). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Dayton Foundation
How much does The Dayton Foundation give each year?
The Dayton Foundation gave $32.6M across 589 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $34.0M across 497 grants.
What is The Dayton Foundation's typical grant size?
The Dayton Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $14,550, and its average grant was $55,404, across 589 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Dayton Foundation that year got $24K on average.
Where does The Dayton Foundation give grants?
The Dayton Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dayton, OH (202 grants), Cincinnati, OH (25 grants), Columbus, OH (20 grants) and Kettering, OH (18 grants).
Does The Dayton Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 38% of The Dayton Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (226 of 589) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Various Projects" (162 grants) and "Scholarships" (57 grants).
Who are The Dayton Foundation's largest grantees?
The Dayton Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Area Agency on Aging PSA 2 ($2,035,560), University of Dayton ($1,098,984) and Dayton Performing Arts Alliance ($1,041,899), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($109,249), which are not listed by name. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Dayton Foundation?
The Dayton Foundation reported $771.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $131.2M.
What does The Dayton Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to operate exclusively for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Dayton Foundation?
Organizations should review eligibility and grant guidelines, view the discretionary-grants orientation, and submit an application through the Foundation’s grants application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Dayton Foundation's EIN?
The Dayton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6027287. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Dayton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Dayton Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-dayton-foundation-morg_745eb5d5291b4a16b6de62e3e856b4e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_316027287_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Dayton Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-dayton-foundation-morg_745eb5d5291b4a16b6de62e3e856b4e5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Dayton Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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