Small Grants for
Black-Led Nonprofits
The Black-Led Nonprofits Small Grants Process is an annual funding opportunity for small, Black-led organizations who are uniquely positioned to address the priorities and disparities in the Black communities in Stark and Carroll Counties.
The application period for the 2025-2026 cycle was
April 1 - April 30, 2025.
Funding eligibility
- Attend an in-person Application Training
- 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 support United Way's investment priorities.
- Primary Priority: To prevent or lessen the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) during early childhood among those who live under the federal poverty level.
- Secondary Priority: To improve household stability of theirs parents/caregivers.
Both priorities only target families living in poverty with young children ages 0-8 and their parents/caregivers.
Programs using the following strategies will be considered:
- 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].
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
Committee Members:
United Way is grateful to the Committee Members who developed and implemented this funding opportunity.
Richard Bennett, Vera M. Burton, Tasha Catron, NaSheka Combs-Lemon, Alisha Davidson, Matthew Esterle, Justin Frazier, LaFlovia Ginanni,
Cleo Lucas, Matthew Parnell, John Ramos II, Tammi Ramos, Andrea Ramsey, Lucas Tindell, Christian Turner, and Jamar Williams.
Special thanks to our Committee Co-chairs Vera Burton and Tasha Catron for their leadership
