Small Grants for
Black-Led Nonprofits
The Black-Led Nonprofits Small Grants Process is an annual funding opportunity for small, Black-Led organizations. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the Black community in Stark and/or Carroll Counties through programs serving families with young children provided by small, Black-Led nonprofits.
The application period for the 2025-2026 cycle is
April 1 - April 30, 2025.
Committee Members:
United Way is grateful to the Committee Members who developed and implemented this funding opportunity.
Richard Bennett, Vera Burton, NaSheka Combs-Lemon, Tasha Catron, Cleo Lucas, Alisha Davidson, Justin Frazier, Matt Esterle, Andrea Ramsey, Matthew Parnell, John Ramos II, Tammi Ramos, Lucas Tindell, Christian Turner, and Jamar Williams.
Special thanks to our Committee Co-chairs Vera Burton and Tasha Catron for their leadership
2024-25 Recipients
The Black-Led Nonprofits Committee and United Way of Greater Stark County are pleased to announce the recipients of the
2024-2025 Black-Led Nonprofits Small Grants.
4Kidz Korner Non-Profit Corporation
A.S.P.I.R.E. Today Inc.
Ekaza-Bridging The Gap
Leila Green Alliance of Black School Educators
Family Empowerment Ministries Inc.
Stark Community Support Network
Tiqvah Hands of Hope
Funded Programs
Early childhood education and home visiting
Parent/caregiver skills training
Mentoring or afterschool programs including social emotional component
School or community-based prevention
Funding eligibility
- Attend the April 1, 2025, in-person Application Training from 10am to 12pm. Register HERE to attend.
- Be a nonprofit led by either a Black CEO/President or Board of Directors comprised of 51%+ Black members.
- Be a nonprofit with a two-year history of primarily serving the Black community in Stark and/or Carroll County.
- As an organization, have less than a combined total of $500,000 in annual revenue or assets.
- To be eligible to apply for funding, organizations must be incorporated as a non-profit organization by the state of Ohio and have tax status under IRS code 501c3.
Funding Available
Focus
Funds will be directed to programs that align with United Way's Investment Priorities: To prevent or lessen the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) during early childhood among those who live under the federal poverty level.
United Way will accept applications for programs that support:
- Early childhood education
- Food assistance
- Health care
- Home visiting
- Homeless/domestic violence shelter
- Legal support
- Material goods (clothing, diapers, hygiene, etc.)
- Mentoring or afterschool programs including a social-emotional component
- Parent/caregiver skills training
- Rent/utility assistance
- Safety
- School or community-based violence prevention
- Transportation
Use of Funds
Funds may be used to support personnel, program materials, staff training, space rental or other facility costs, program evaluation or other resources. Funds cannot be used for capital expenses or other-than-nominal participant incentives.
Application evaluation and award
Reporting requirements
All funded programs must provide an annual summary of the impact of the grant including indicators/outcomes, demographics and an essential budget that shows where funds were spent. They must also agree to check-ins every 90 days with members of the Black-Led Nonprofits Committee and United Way staff during the grant period.
For more information contact LaFlovia Ginanni, Committee Member at [email protected].