Grants & Scholarships

Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund Scholarship

Lakota Fund

Power of the Purse

Scholarship Opportunities

Youth in Philanthropy

Community Grants Fund

Christine Humphreys Impact Grant

About the Grant

Grant deadline & details for the 2023 Christine Humphreys Impact Grant will be available in spring.

For questions, please reach out to karen.gibbs@northerncincinnati.foundation

 

2022 Humphreys Grant Recipients

Luke 5 Adventures
$20,000

Three Valley Conservation Trust 
$30,000

athlete

Lakota families looking for assistance with their children's athletic fees are encouraged to apply for grant consideration. A fund at the Foundation has been established by private donations to cover half of the athletic fee assessed to students participating in sports within Lakota Schools. 

This scholarship opportunity is for students in grades 7-12.  Families interested in submitting an application for consideration must submit an application (linked below) to the Foundation. A limited number of scholarships are available. Only one scholarship per student will be awarded in a school year.

APPLY ONLINE

APPLICATION FORM

Paper applications can be submitted to:

Northern Cincinnati Foundation
Attn: Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund
8897 Cincinnati Dayton Rd. 
West Chester, OH 45069

OR emailed to:
karen.gibbs@northerncincinnati.foundation

 

Deadlines:

FALL SPORTS

September 8th

WINTER SPORTS

November 15th

SPRING SPORTS

March 15th

 

Christine Humphreys

The Christine Humphreys Impact Grant was established in 2017 by a generous legacy gift left to the Northern Cincinnati Foundation by Ms. Humphreys upon her passing. She wanted to support parks, pets, and quality of life initiatives in area, and we are honored to be able to carry out Ms. Humphreys' legacy in support of the causes that were closest to her heart. The Christine Humphreys Impact Grant will be awarded annually by the Foundation's board of directors to support projects and programs in northern Cincinnati that align with the funding priorities listed below.

Grant proposals may be for any amount up to $40,000. 

Parks

  • Restore or improve existing parks and green spaces.

  • Create new parks or green spaces.

  • Engage citizens with the outdoors by supporting good stewardship and appreciation.

Pets

  • Support no-kill animal shelters and foster programs.

  • Promote pet health through spay/neuter campaigns, medical equipment and supply purchases, emergency medical services, and education programs.

  • Create community dog parks.

Quality of Life

  • Increase citizen access to amenities such as libraries, arts organizations, entertainment, etc.

  • Encourage community health & wellness

  • Support economic development and sustainability.

 

Eligibility & Restrictions

  • 501c3 nonprofit, or other charitable class, as determined by the IRS

  • Services must be provided to communities in the northern Cincinnati region - generally, the area north of SR 562 and south of SR 63

  • Applicants may not have received a Christine Humphreys Grant within the past 2 years

  • Proposals must align with the stated grant priorities. 

We cannot fund:

  • Operational deficits or debt reduction

  • Endowments funds or scholarships

  • Annual appeals, membership drives, or fundraising campaigns

  • Sponsorship for events

  • Partisan political advocacy or for lobbying purposes

  • Programs or projects that result in duplication of services - collaborative grants at encouraged!

  • Organizations or projects that use grant funds to make grants to other organizations

  • Raffles, bingo or gambling-related activities

 

Lakota Schools logo

The Lakota Fund is a simple way to supplement educational opportunities for students and faculty. Lakota faculty may submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn at anytime throughout the year. All requested resources must be used to enhance the student’s educational experience.

If pondering whether a resource is eligible, simply ask yourself, “Would my students write genuine thank-you notes?” If so, the project is probably eligible. Resource(s) funded through Lakota Fund are considered "property of the classroom." As long as you teach at the same school, you should have control over the resource(s) for which you received funding. If you change schools, the resource(s) must stay.

The Lakota Fund also values furthering education for our faculty and staff to continually bring the latest educational techniques for our students. Workshop fees, books, guest speakers, science projects, student leadership opportunities, etc. may be funded by the Lakota Fund.

Requests are approved through Lakota Local Schools first, then forwarded to the Foundation for funding. Grant amounts are considered on a case by case basis. We encourage you to seek other grant opportunities to supplement your project if it is more than is able to be awarded through the Lakota Fund

If you are awarded a grant, you will be required to submit feedback on the impact of your project, thank-you letters or photographs of your project. Also, we ask that grant recipients share the news of your grant award at your building staff meetings and PTO meetings. A follow-up report is required 30 days after your project is completed.

The Lakota Fund does not fund salaries or college tuition. Your project must be implemented within one year your project was approved. 

Giving to the Lakota Fund

If you are a Lakota Schools Employee, we encourage your support of the Lakota Fund. 98% of every dollar raised for the Lakota Fund goes to support grant opportunities.  If you would like to make a donation through Payroll Deduction (for as little as $2 a pay period/ $24 a year) click here for the form.

Contributions to the Lakota Fund also make great appreciation gifts, retirement gifts, etc. for Lakota employees. 

How to Apply

Please contact Kim Melzer at Lakota Local Schools for application instructions. 

Power of Purse logo

The Power of the Purse (POP) Fund is a women's giving circle dedicated to strengthening the community by providing grant funds to non-profit organizations serving the interests of women & children in the northern Cincinnati region. Members of POP work to educate and inspire others, and promote philanthropy among women in their communities. 

Follow POP on social media for the latest updates!
Facebook: Power of the Purse - Northern Cincinnati Foundation
Instagram: powerofthepurse_ncf

 

grant awardee
HOPEful Pastures

The Northern Cincinnati Foundation board and staff are in the process of reviewing the Community Grants Fund process as part of a strategic plan update in 2023. Please check back in spring for more information.

If you are part of an organization seeking grant funding, please reach out to karen.gibbs@northerncincinnati.foundation 

The Northern Cincinnati Foundation offers scholarship opportunities for local high school seniors pursuing post-secondary education. Additional opportunities with more limited eligibility are available for current & incoming high school students attending tuition-based private schools, as well as adults returning to school.

Scholarships applications for the 2023/2024 school year will begin to be posted in early January. Additional opportunities will be released as they become available.

The deadline for most scholarships is 11:59 PM on Wednesday, March 1st.  
If a scholarship has a different deadline, it will be listed next to the application link. 

POP Summer Event 

Please join us for the Power of the Purse Summer 2023 Event on Tuesday, August 8th at EDGE Teen Center! The evening will feature dinner and drinks, our popular Designer Purse Raffle, and presentations by the 2023 grant applicant finalists. RSVP by Friday, August 4th!

Register online: https://popsummer23.eventbrite.com

2022 Community Grant Awards

Free Throws for Kids
$5,000

GMV Young Lives
$1,800

Hope's Closet
$10,000

H.O.P.E.full Pastures Theraputic Farm
$10,500

May We Help
$10,000

Parachute Butler County CASA
$1,700

Women Walking West
$2,000

Scholarship FAQs

How do I apply?
All applications must be submitted through SmarterSelect. The links below will direct you to each scholarship's application on SmarterSelect and you will be prompted to create an account upon first login. You will use this same account if you apply for other Foundation scholarships thereafter. If you are applying for multiple Foundation scholarships, MOST of your information will copy through each application. However, please carefully review every scholarship application. Some will require an additional letter of recommendation, and most have unique essay/short answer sections.

When will I know if I received a scholarship?
All applicants will be notified in writing via mail or email of the selection committees' decisions in April or May. Recipients also may be recognized at their school's Senior Awards Ceremony. Some scholarships have an interview component for finalists, as well. You will be contacted for an interview if this applies.

If I am selected for a scholarship, how do I receive the funds?
Scholarship checks are mailed directly to the recipient's college or university (or high school, for parochial school scholarships) to be credited toward tuition. If selected for a scholarship you will receive next-step instructions to receive your award.

I need to renew an existing multi-year scholarship. Where do I do that?
If you are the recipient of a renewable scholarship, please contact karen.gibbs@northerncincinnati.foundation for a link to submit your renewal application. 

Other questions or concerns?
Contact karen.gibbs@northerncincinnati.foundation or call 513.682.8061

Youth in Philanthropy group

Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) is a program designed to introduce local high school students to philanthropy and community development. The program provides hands-on experience that benefits both the participating students and local charities. Students work in the community to raise money, build endowment funds, and make grants to non-profit organizations improving the lives of youth in our community. Engaging youth in philanthropy is an opportunity to prepare young people to be active, lifelong community citizens.

YIP awards small grants (up to $3,000) to support programs working to improve the lives of youth in the West Chester/Liberty Township area. Grants are reviewed by YIP members and awarded in late spring, at the end of each school year. 

Youth in Philanthropy accepts applications for new members in April/May. Applicants must be entering grades 9-12, live or attend school in West Chester of Liberty Township, and be able to make (at minimum) a twice-monthly commitment to attend YIP meetings and be an active participant of YIP. 

Follow Youth in Philanthropy on Facebook  and Twitter  to stay up to date!

 

Join Power of the Purse

Submit your $100 tax-deductible membership donation online
https://www.northerncincinnati.foundation/donate?org=POP2023dues

Or by check, made payable to Northern Cincinnati Foundation. Please include POP dues in the memo.
8897 Cincinnati Dayton Rd.
West Chester, OH 45069

 

2023 Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN TO LAKOTA GRADUATING SENIORS 

 

SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN TO OTHER GRADUATING SENIORS

 

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FENWICK HS STUDENTS

  • Greg Lemmel Scholarship
    $1000 (renewable for 4 years)
    students graduating from St. Susanna Elementary and attending Bishop Fenwick High School 
  • Kyle Babcock Scholarship
    $2000
    students who will attend, or are currently attending, Bishop Fenwick High School

 

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ADULTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL

  • Please check back for availability of adult education scholarships. (IE: students who took a gap year, adults returning to school or changing careers, etc.) 
POP 2023
FOY photo

2022 Power of the Purse Grant Recipient

FOCUS ON YOUTH

 

Save the Date for our 2023 Events

March 7, 2023 – Women’s Day Event

May 9, 2023 – Spring Meeting/ Grant Applicant Review 

August 8, 2023 – Summer Meeting/ Grant Finalist Presentations

December 5, 2023 – Holiday Gala/ Presentation of the $10,000 Grant

Goals

  1. Make a difference among women in the community by promoting volunteerism and philanthropy through our pooled resources.
  2. Encourage community among ourselves and those we serve
  3. Educate and increase awareness of local needs
  4. Encourage self-sufficiency and well-being among those in need
  5. Build a network that is a catalyst for positive change

 

Grants

Power of the Purse accepts grant requests for new or existing projects that focus of meeting the basic needs of food, shelter, or health care for women or children in northern Cincinnati. 

The POP Membership will review all proposals in April. Following a vote by the POP Membership, the top three organizations will be invited to present their proposal at the POP Summer Meeting.  The grant recipient will be announced at the Annual Grant Gala in December. 

 

Past Grantees:

2022 - Focus On Youth

2021 - Family Promise

2020 - EDGE Teen Center

2019 - Sleep in Heavenly Peace

2018 - PARACHUTE: Butler County Casa

2017- Family Promise of Butler County

2016 - Companions on a Journey Grief Support

2015 - Warm Welcomes Foster Care Outreach

 

Grant Requirements:

Eligible organizations must be a registered 501c3 organization. Grant Applicants must complete a grant application and provide both a financial program and organizational budget on or before the grant deadline.  One hundred percent of programming and services must be provided to residents in northern Cincinnati region, and focus primarily on meeting the basic needs of woman and families.  An organization that has received a POP Grant may not apply for 3 years.

 

Membership Rights and Responsibilities

Annual dues are $100 and may be paid in one or two installments. Young professional memberships (age 21-26) are available for $50/year

All Power of the Purse Members are invited to attend all events (Woman’s Day, April meeting, August meeting and the Annual Gala in December) and any other Power of the Purse fundraising and/or networking events. Members are expected to fulfill any pledges made to the fund and to further the mission of the Power of the Purse by encouraging others to participate.

 

Contact

Karen Gibbs, Vice President, karen.gibbs@northerncincinnati.foundation or 513.682.8061