Dayton Foundation: Greenlight Grants

Dayton Foundation: Greenlight Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Dayton Foundation
Amount: US $500 - US $7,500
Last Updated: January 17, 2026

Summary

The Dayton Foundation's Greenlight Grants offer quick funding opportunities for local nonprofits in Greater Dayton, ranging from $500 to $7,500. These grants are designed for time-sensitive projects that enhance community services, including capacity-building and special initiatives. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities that demonstrate collaboration and a commitment to diversity. The foundation prioritizes efforts that address unmet community needs and foster efficient resource use.

Overview

Grantmaking Policy The Dayton Foundation awards grants to help your organization help others in Greater Dayton. Grants for public charitable purposes are awarded to a full spectrum of 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organizations - from social services and the arts, to health and the environment - based upon worthy community efforts and the greatest community need. The programs we consider for support are located primarily in Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble and Warren (north) counties. Greenlight Grants Greenlight Grants are small, quick grants awarded to local, nonprofit organizations in need of funding for projects, program expansions, capital improvements or capacity building. They assist time-sensitive projects that make a significant difference in the outcome of a project. Greenlight Grants are not for ongoing operations. This competitive grant opportunity is designed to fund qualified grant requests from $500 - $7,500.The size and number of grant awards are directly related to the amount of money available each year and the restrictions donors have placed upon the uses of certain funds. What We FundCapacity-Building Grants The Dayton Foundation’s discretionary grants support projects that provide for more efficient use of community resources; promote coordination, cooperation and sharing among organizations; and reduce the duplication of services in our community. Through this process, we aim to strengthen not-for-profit agencies and institutions by reducing operating costs, increasing public financial support and/or improving internal management. Our goal is to help build organizational capacity so that the charity can work more efficiently and effectively and raise more dollars. Examples of Funded Grants: Strategic marketing studies Community needs assessments Impact studies Software for development/fundraising programs Capital Campaign or Capital Improvement Grants To help organizations expand services and capacity. Examples of Capital Campaign or Improvement Grants: Capital campaign projects, including the purchase of real estate, construction, renovation and furnishings (Please note: A feasibility study for the capital campaign must have been completed for a nonprofit organization to be eligible to receive a discretionary grant.)Hard goods, such as special equipment, a bus or a walk-in cooler (Please note: There is a special van/bus policy that must be reviewed by the applicant. The policy can be found here).Office relocation expensesTechnology upgrades (Discretionary grants do not fund computer hardware, such as desktop computers or printers.) Special Projects or Program Expansion Grants Grants may be awarded to fund new projects or initiatives, or provide seed funding for strategic growth or an expansion of an existing project or initiative to help an organization test or demonstrate new approaches and techniques for solving important community problems. They also may be awarded to help established organizations launch new projects for special purposes that could be representing a unique and unduplicated opportunity and meeting a significant community need, or to promote volunteer participation and citizen involvement in community affairs. Examples of Special Projects or Program Expansion Grants: Opening of an additional adult literacy education site New afterschool reading program for children and parents Strategic growth plan and implementation Urban redevelopment of community and education garden New nature preschool programming Creation of health education and services for at-risk populations

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible for a grant, your organization must:be recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, according to the Internal Revenue Code (established for at least two years and have a track record of sustainability) or have a fiscal agent with such statusbenefit the citizens in the Dayton Region, (Montgomery, Miami, Greene, Darke, Preble and Warren (north) counties),address needs that are not met fully by existing organizational or community resources; demonstrate systemic collaboration; and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in organizational strategic plans, policies or other documents, such as an equity statement.

Ineligibility

Organizations with an open Greenlight Grant or open Dayton Foundation Discretionary Grant are not eligible to apply for a new grant until the final report has been submitted and the grant has been closed.If a Greenlight Grant is denied, the organization may not apply for the same project again.What We Generally Do Not Fund:Projects that are narrowly focused in geography, impact and number of participants General organizational operations and ongoing programs IndividualsScientific, medical or academic research projects Operational deficits or reduced or lost funding Sectarian activities of religious organizations Scholarships and travel grants Annual fundraising drives, ceremonies, conferences, workshops, special or one-time events Public or private schools Endowment funds Art exhibits Cultural arts productions, with the exception of funding costs associated with creating original works Economic development projects Hospitals and universities for internal programs Matching grants (unless local dollars are needed to fulfill a condition for a state or federal grant) Multi-year or large-dollar requests (unless they are Grants Committee and Governing Board initiatives)Publications, including books, reports and/or research papers