MANSFIELD – The Richland County Foundation Board of Trustees approved $1,200,179 in grants to nonprofit organizations during its October meeting.

The Board awarded the Richland Academy of the Arts (RAA) a grant for its Empower the Arts Capital Campaign. The RAA wants to raise $3.7M to renovate and modernize its buildings located at 75 North Walnut Street in Mansfield. The project will include a change to a centralized dance area, updates and expansions to the martial arts studio, multi-purpose music space, and visual/fine arts space, expansion of the performance areas, and renovation of an administrative wing.

The Board of Trustees awarded nine scholarships to students attending a career technical education school. The Scholarship Committee implemented a rolling deadline for CTE scholarships to meet various enrollment deadlines. In aligning with Ohio’s Attainment Goal, the Foundation wants to help fill the gap between job openings and certified employees as well as lead the way to support workforce development through CTE scholarships.

The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor-advised funds which allows individuals and families the opportunity to make grant suggestions to favorite charities. Donor Advised Funds are a flexible and convenient alternative to a private foundation. It is also a way to keep charitable contributions anonymous, at the preference of the donor. The Board of Trustees approved grants from donor-advised funds to meet emerging needs at the following organizations:

4 Leaf Rover

Ashland County Park District

Buckeye Imagination Museum

Catholic Charities

CHAP

City of Mansfield

Domestic Violence Shelter

First Congregational Church

Friends of the Richland County Park District

Habitat for Humanity

Idea Works

Island Safe Harbor Sanctuary

Kingwood Center Gardens

Madison Local Schools

Make a Wish Foundation

Mansfield City Schools Mansfield Playhouse

Mansfield Rotary Club Foundation

Mary McLeod-Bethune Intervention and Enrichment Center

Mid-Ohio Civic Opera

Mid-Ohio Guardianship Services, Inc.

Music Karate Empowerment Academy

My Dog Shelter Friends

NAMI Richland County

North Central State College Foundation

North End Community Improvement Collaborative Inc.

Ohio Bird Sanctuary

Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging

Ohio Genealogical Society

OhioHealth Foundation

Renaissance Theatre

Richland Academy of the Arts

Richland Astronomical Society

Richland Community Development Group

Richland Pregnancy Services

Richland Soil & Water Conservation District

Rocky Mountain Conservancy

Sacred Heart Catholic School

Safe Harbor Ohio

Shelby Diaper Pantry

St. Paul Outreach

St. Peter’s School

Taking Root Farms

The Mansfield Art Center

The Visual Bucket List Foundation

Third Street Family Health Services

YMCA of North Central Ohio

About the Richland County Foundation The Richland County Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3, was established in 1945 as a way for individuals to pool and invest their gifts for the long-term good of Richland County and its residents.

The Foundation helps people in Richland County give back to their community by investing their gifts wisely so that grants can be made to improve the quality of life for all the county’s citizens. Working together with donors, the Foundation meets important needs today and plans for a strong future. CONTACT: Maura Teynor, chief advancement officer, 419-525-3020 mteynor@rcfoundation.org

Denise Plante