The Toledo Rotary Club Foundation offers traditional grants to support charitable and educational initiatives that align with the mission of the Rotary Club of Toledo and Rotary International’s seven areas of focus. These areas include promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and protecting the environment. Approximately 20 grants of up to $10,000 each are awarded annually, with funding preferences given to projects benefiting Toledo or northwest Ohio and those involving collaborations between multiple organizations.

Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Grant applications must address community or international value, align with the Foundation’s focus areas, and comply with the specific committee's guidelines overseeing the proposed project type. Applications are due twice a year, on August 31 and January 31, and organizations may only apply once per fiscal year if declined. Successful grantees cannot reapply for two years from their award date.

The grant application must include a detailed project description, goals, and objectives; an implementation timeline; a target population description; oversight plans; communication strategies; and evaluation criteria. A comprehensive project budget and financial information, including audited or unaudited financial statements, are required, along with organizational background and a list of the board of trustees. Applications are submitted through the Greater Toledo Community Foundation’s online system, and incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.

Applicants whose projects are approved must sign a Grant Agreement and submit progress and final reports, detailing outcomes, challenges, participant numbers, and financial expenditure. Noncompliance with the Grant Agreement terms may result in the forfeiture or return of funds.

The review process involves evaluation by Rotary committees, recommendations by the Foundation Advisory Committee (FAC), and final approval by the Toledo Rotary Club Foundation Board. Organizations may be asked to present their project to a committee or host a site visit. Notification typically occurs near the subsequent application deadline, so applicants should plan project timelines accordingly.

For additional details or to discuss potential submissions, organizations can contact Jaci Bugaj, Executive Director of the Toledo Rotary Club Foundation, at info@toledorotary.org or 419-241-7060.