Equity and Access Initiative

In response to events across the nation and within Toledo, the Foundation created the Equity & Access Initiative to proactively address the concerns raised by communities that are disproportionately impacted by inequity and lack of access in the Greater Toledo area.

Grants Awarded to Date

Greater Toledo Community Foundation has invested a total of $651,160
through the community-driven Equity & Access Initiative

• Toledo DEI Webinar Series - active response to the community's request to provide access to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training for nonprofit staff members, board members and volunteers. 436 individuals attended. Series conducted in partnership with: Philanthropy Ohio, Racial Equity Institute, ThirdSpace Action Lab and Rev. John Jones.
• African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio was awarded a $16,000 grant to support a series of interviews between five top local law enforcement officials and five intuitive rising young African American leaders, called “Voices”.
• Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Inc. was awarded a $47,850 grant to support a pilot leadership track and professional development program in collaboration with Issue Box Theatre, Toledo Opera and The University of Toledo School of Social Justice.
• Believe Center was awarded $15,000 to defray costs to train and employ minority umpires and coaches to increase opportunities for youth sports.
• Cherry Street Mission Ministries was awarded $25,000 to support vocational training and coaching for immigrants and refugees in collaboration with Water for Ishmael.
• Equality Toledo was awarded $15,000 to support and expand the Rainbow Education program that addresses implicit bias towards the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Families for Fitness was awarded $15,000 to support capacity building tools an professional development training.
• Families for Fitness was awarded a $20,000 grant to strengthen capacity building and evaluation planning strategies in collaboration with New Leaf Group.
• GreaterGenerations was awarded $30,000 to support youth-focused work experience opportunities in collaboration with CityPark League Resource Group.
• GreaterGenerations was awarded a $14,000 grant to support local youth employment and leadership development.
• Hope’s Landing was awarded $15,000 support workforce development training and employment stipends for women who have survived human trafficking or domestic violence.
• Inclusive for Women, Inc. dba Women of Toledo was awarded $15,000 to support a special recognition event that aims to address networking gaps of women-owned businesses.
• Ivy Entrepreneur Institute, Inc. was awarded $15,000 to support personalized coaching and networking opportunities for local minority start-up business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Ivy Entrepreneur Institute, Inc. was awarded a $14,000 grant to support a cohort designed for local women or minority-owned entrepreneur businesses.
• Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County was awarded a $14,000 grant to support development of Haitian immigrant resources and cultural orientation resources.
• Jumpstart was awarded a $50,000 grant to increase access to capital for minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in collaboration with Economic and Community Development Institute, Inc.
• Justice for Migrant Women was awarded a $14,000 grant to support the training of two local rural migrants in collective action to increase active mobilization through advocacy.
• La Conexion was awarded $15,000 to support consultant-led sessions to strengthen donor relations and board development.
• Maumee Bay Club was awarded $20,000 to support a specialized organizational-level cohort format professional development training in collaboration with National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Beta Gamma Chapter, New Leaf Group, Inc., New Life Church of God in Christ, Toledo Urban Youth Sports League and Toledo Elite Student Athletics.
• Midstory was awarded $14,300 to create a visual series that highlights the voices of local Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to address discrimination.
• Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council was awarded a $10,000 grant to increase corporate supplier diversity programs and events in Toledo.
• Open Arms Transformation Living was awarded a $14,000 grant to support capacity building.
• Poohs Kidz Coats was awarded $14,360 to support capacity building and professional development training.
• Reinvest Toledo was awarded $15,000 to elevate advocacy resources through a series of community building opportunities in collaboration with neighborhood leaders.
• Reinvest Toledo was awarded $15,000 to support the education and recruitment of residents from low voter turnout zip codes to increase voter turnout.
• St. Martin de Porres Parish was awarded $40,000 to launch a resident-driven leadership training program and a job-readiness program for the Englewood neighborhood in collaboration with Community Reinvestment Coalition and Robinson Community Hub.
• The Movement Team Lucas County was awarded $25,000 to support targeted community building to address emerging needs in collaboration with Lucas County Children Services.
• The Program, Inc. was awarded $20,000 to collaborate with Junior Achievement of Northwest Ohio to provide professional soft skill training and job readiness led by industry professionals.
• The University Church was awarded $15,450 to support an advocacy and empowerment program for Rogers High School to address systemic barriers through collective action.
• The University of Toledo Foundation was awarded $25,000 to pilot a program that aims to increase the success rate of minority students completing their freshman year of college.
• Wilbur A. Williams Community Life and Technology Center was awarded a $5,330 grant in support of virtual board development training.
• YWCA of Northwest Ohio was awarded a $15,000 grant to increase access for local businesses to implicit bias and racism training through a virtual platform.