The Community Foundation of Lorain County aims to support non-profit organizations serving Lorain County through grants from over 400 endowment funds. Established in 1980, it strives to encourage philanthropy, including among young people with the Youth Fund started in 1998, which engages local students in philanthropic efforts to make a meaningful difference in their community.
The African American Community Fund aims to improve the quality of life for African Americans in Lorain County by supporting tax-exempt organizations and public agencies that undertake projects beneficial to this demographic. The Fund expresses a particular interest in aiding the most disadvantaged within the community. Grant programs, typically spanning one year, require applicants to engage in preliminary discussions with program staff. Priority is given to programs focused on neighborhood revitalization within the African American community, capacity building for nonprofits serving African Americans, education (elementary or secondary), and public safety initiatives aimed at crime and violence prevention. The Fund prefers proposals that involve collaborative problem-solving, enhance organizational capacity, show potential for systemic change, or reflect community-wide efforts. Proposals outside these areas might still be considered if they align closely with the Fund's programmatic interests.