Columbus Recreation and Parks Foundation logo
Foundation Annual Grants for Community CentersRecreation GrantsGrants for Youth Programs

Funding Amount

$500 - $15,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Adopt a Center

Overview: The Adopt a Center program creates direct, meaningful connections between donors, businesses, and community centers that need support most. It enables supporters to direct resources to specific centers, ensuring support reaches neighborhoods facing significant economic challenges.

Geographic Scope: Columbus, Ohio (26 of 29 community centers serve high-poverty neighborhoods)

Program Goals:

  • Family Gathering Place: Host holiday arts and crafts activities

  • Critical Resources: Provide toys, warm clothing, hygiene items, and important information during holidays

  • Holiday Meals: Provide food and 6,500+ meals during the holidays

    • Background: Columbus Recreation & Parks operates 29 community centers serving residents across the city. The vast majority are located in neighborhoods where residents face significant economic challenges.

    Support Options: Three ways to participate:
    1. Financial Donation: Direct gifts supporting meals, warm clothing, hygiene items, and toys (tax-deductible)
    2. In-Kind Support: Donate toys, hygiene items, and warm clothing
    3. Center Sponsorship: Become an official sponsor with recognition and engagement opportunities

    Sponsorship Tiers:

  • Presenting Sponsor ($15,000): Naming rights, premier event visibility, annual report feature, board acknowledgment

  • Angel Sponsor ($10,000): Prominent signage, website recognition, event invitation, annual impact report

  • Celebration Sponsor ($5,000): Center signage, website listing, event invitation, quarterly updates

  • Festive Sponsor ($2,500): Website recognition, center acknowledgment, annual impact update

  • Holiday Sponsor ($1,000): Website listing, center acknowledgment

  • Jolly Sponsor ($750): Website listing, digital acknowledgment

  • Merry Sponsor ($500): Entry-level community center sponsorship, website listing

    • How to Apply

    How to Get Involved

    Financial Donation:
    1. Make a direct financial gift
    2. Support goes toward meals, warm clothing, hygiene items, and toys
    3. All gifts are tax-deductible

    In-Kind Support:
    1. Donate toys, hygiene items, and warm clothing
    2. Contact the Foundation to learn about current in-kind needs at specific centers

    Adopt a Center Sponsorship:
    1. Select a sponsorship tier ($500 - $15,000)
    2. Receive recognition and engagement opportunities
    3. Establish direct connection to the community center
    4. View sponsorship tier details for specific benefits

    Contact: Use the contact information on the website to discuss in-kind donations or sponsorship opportunities.

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    What Columbus Recreation and Parks Foundation actually gave

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024

    Grants in 2024
    2
    Total given
    $541K
    Median grant
    $270K
    Range
    $26K–$515K
    • By dollars: Ohio 100%. Top recipient cities: Columbus, OH.

    Example grants

    • City of Columbus · Columbus, OH

      $515K

    • Comunnity for New Direction · Columbus, OH

      $26K

    IRS Form 990-PF, 2024. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    community-centersrecreationyouth-programs

    Categories

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