The Work Behind the Work: Capacity Building Grants Support 9 Local Nonprofits
TOLEDO, Ohio — September 8, 2026 — Great programs need great organizations behind them. To help build that strength from the inside out, nine nonprofits across Northwest Ohio, spanning Allen, Lucas, Putnam, Sandusky, and Wood counties were collectively awarded $131,503 from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation through their 2026 Capacity Building grants.
Unlike the Foundation's program-focused grant pathways, the Capacity Building cycle is designed to strengthen the internal infrastructure that allows organizations to do their best work — funding things like staffing capacity, technology and equipment upgrades, board development, and strategic consulting rather than direct program costs.
"Strong programs are only as strong as the organizations that run them," said Mike Deetsch, executive director of the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation. "These grants aren't about funding a single event or service — they're about giving our partners the internal tools, systems, and people power to grow stronger for years to come."
Partners Building for the Future
This year's Capacity Building cohort reflects the varied ways nonprofits strengthen themselves from within — from land trust infrastructure to staff training to fundraising systems. We're proud to invest in these nine organizations:
BG Save Our Neighborhoods Group: Grant funds will help BG SONG transition from a volunteer-led advocacy group into a fully incorporated Community Land Trust, covering legal and consulting support to draft ground-lease agreements and governance structures, a community stakeholder planning event, and seed funding toward the organization's first property acquisition in Bowling Green.
Broadway Corridor Coalition: Funding will support an organizational capacity assessment to evaluate the BCC's feasibility and sustainability with a consultant providing recommendations on staffing, governance, and partnerships to help the volunteer-led organization plan its next chapter.
Children's Developmental Center of Lima, Inc.: Funding will support autism-focused professional development for the organization's full team of six staff, marketing consulting to boost community visibility and fundraising, and updated technology to streamline family communication and data collection.
Liberty Center of Sandusky County, Inc.: This grant will fund a professional consultant to lead a strategic planning process strengthening the shelter's financial foundation and modernizing its homeless services, including a facilitated focus group of former clients to inform program redesign.
Marketplace for All People: This grant will fund new pantry shelving, refrigeration, and storage systems to expand food distribution capacity, alongside a cloud-based client database and tablets that will modernize case management and reduce reliance on paper records.
Toledo GROWs, Inc.: Funding will free up staff and intern time for growing and harvesting by outsourcing routine lawn care, while new greenhouse ventilation, fencing, and equipment expand usable farmland and improve growing conditions on the organization's urban farm.
Toledo Lead Resource Center: Grant funds will support a new part-time Mission Advancement Support Specialist to take on scheduling, donor communications, marketing, and administrative coordination — freeing the Executive Director to focus on fundraising, partnerships, and expanding lead-safe housing outreach.
United Way of Putnam County, Inc.: Grant funds will add dedicated event-planning and community development capacity, allowing the organization's single part-time Executive Director to focus on programs while a new role builds fundraising events, donor relationships, and long-term revenue strategies.
Urban Wholistics: This investment will expand the organization's part-time development role, fund a new donor CRM system, and provide board fundraising training — building a stronger, more sustainable development infrastructure to match the organization's recent growth.
