NKY Funders' Grants Partners Announce 2019 Semifinalists
34 NONPROFITS MOVE FORWARD IN PITCH COMPETITION PROCESS
Dozens of local nonprofits are one step closer to winning more than $110,000 from the eight local foundations presenting the 2019 NKY Funders’ Grants.
The following organizations will compete in the semifinal pitch round on September 24, listed with the sponsoring foundation:
Addiction Services (Greater Cincinnati Foundation): Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, Transitions, Inc.
Arts, Culture, and Humanities (Elsa Sule Foundation): Falcon Theater, i.imagine, Kentucky Humanities Council, Pones, and World Affairs Council - Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
Early Childhood (United Way of Greater Cincinnati): 4C for Children, Children, Inc., New Perceptions, Prevent Child Abuse KY, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank
Health and Wellness (Durr Foundation): Bluegrass Care Navigators, Kentucky Senior Citizens, Master Provisions, Northern Kentucky Education Council, Welcome House
Health and Wellness (Horizon Community Funds): Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions, NKU Research Foundation, Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center, Pink Ribbon Girls, Women’s Crisis Center
K-12 Programming (Dater Foundation): Catholic Charities, Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre, Crayons to Computers, Friends of the Boone County Arboretum, The Carnegie
Reducing Barriers to Employment (Butler Foundation): Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission, Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, St. Vincent de Paul Northern Kentucky, SQUARE1, Tattoo Removal Ink
“This year brought another tremendously strong group of applicants,” said Horizon Community Funds President Nancy Grayson. “I am sure each funder had some tough decisions to make, as we did. We are excited to hear this year’s pitches, and to continue to grow our impact in Northern Kentucky.”
The semifinalist round of pitches will be used to select two finalists from each focus area for a total of 14 finalists. The finalists will then make their final pitch on Tuesday, October 29 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. at the St. Elizabeth Training & Education Center in Erlanger. The community is invited to attend this event and help determine the popular vote winners. Tickets are $15 and are available at https://2019nkyfundersgrants.eventbrite.com.
“The work being done by our semifinalists is vital not only to the individuals served but also to the entire Northern Kentucky community,” said Scripps Howard Foundation President and CEO Liz Carter. “This is an incredible group of organizations and the Scripps Howard Foundation is pleased to join with fellow funders and Horizon Community Fund to ‘Give light. Change lives.’ of Northern Kentuckians.”
Based on pitches made at the October 29 event, partners will select a first-place winner to receive $7,500, and a second-place winner to receive $5,000 in each focus area. A popular vote at the event will determine an additional $7,500 first-place award and $5,000 second-place award for two of the ten finalists.
“The Greater Cincinnati Foundation is proud to be part of the NKY Funders’ Grants and appreciated the applications received in the Addiction Services category,” said Rickell Smith, Director of Community Strategies at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. “We applaud the Northern Kentucky organizations that do this important work every day for the individuals and families in our region.”
The funders were also able to make a mid-process modification to the focus areas upon receiving an overwhelming amount of applicants in the Health and Wellness category. The Early Childhood and Early Childhood Literacy categories were collapsed, with United Way of Greater Cincinnati overseeing those applicants. This allowed the Scripps Foundation to take over the popular vote so that the R.C. Durr Foundation could randomly split the Health and Wellness applications with Horizon Community Funds.
“The R. C. Durr Foundation was happy to do a quick two-step with the Scripps Foundation when we found out how overwhelming the response was in the Health and Wellness category,” said Jean Mize, Assistant to the President at the Durr Foundation. “While none of the pitchers will be actually dancing, they will definitely have to be on their toes because the competition is fierce.”
”The semifinalists stand to gain more than a monetary award through this process,” said Barbara Schaefer, Executive Director of the Butler Foundation. “They also earn visibility, and a chance to engage some new donors and volunteers with a well-rehearsed ‘pitch.’ This event creates a real synergy.”
The funders have updated the program to include increased first- and second- place prizes in each focus area and for the popular vote, and a prize for semifinalists that do not proceed to final round. Additionally, they have expanded the timeline to allow more time for the process.
“We are excited to learn more about our semifinalists and their programs to enrich the lives of youth through communication, environmental education, artistic expression and awareness,” said Beth Broomall, Grants Coordinator at the Dater Foundation.
“United Way is on a mission to unite communities to change lives so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” said Amanda Greenwell, Director of the NKY Area Center of United Way of Greater Cincinnati. “Research tells us that children who participate in high-quality early childhood experiences are more likely to be ready for kindergarten, graduate high school, have better health and higher earning potential ultimately breaking the cycle of poverty.”
NKY Funders’ Grants is an ongoing program that convenes foundations and funders around mini-grant competitions for nonprofits that serve Northern Kentucky. The timeline for the 2019 NKY Funders’ Grants is below, and more information can be found at www.horizonfunds.org/nky-funders-grants.
“We do better when we collaborate and do good together,” said Ruth Klette, Trustee at The Elsa Sule Foundation. “Stay tuned for more announcements, and mark your calendars for October 29!”
More information about the 2019 partners can be found below.
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About The Butler Foundation
The Butler Foundation helps Northern Kentuckians in need, as directly as possible. Established by Corporex CEO Bill Butler and his wife, Sue, it is a private foundation that supports direct service charities, provides “Helping Hands” hardship grants, and awards “Butler Scholar” funds to select high schools and colleges in Northern Kentucky.
About The Charles H. Dater Foundation
The Charles H. Dater Foundation makes grants to non-profit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area to carry out programs and projects that benefit young people and focus in the areas of arts/culture, education, healthcare, social services and other community needs. Since its founding in 1985, the Foundation has made over 2,900 grants totaling more than $45 million. Learn more at http://daterfoundation.org.
About The R.C. Durr Foundation
R.C. Durr (1919-2007) was a successful entrepreneur, a life-long resident of Northern Kentucky, and a generous, though quiet philanthropist who had an abiding compassion for the less fortunate. In keeping with his legacy of commitment and caring, the R.C. Durr Foundation is dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of its benefactor by providing philanthropic support to improve the quality of life of the larger Northern Kentucky region and its people, with a particular emphasis on education, social services and community development.
About the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
The region’s community foundation since 1963, Greater Cincinnati Foundation connects people with purpose in an eight-county region in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. GCF is leading the charge toward a more vibrant Greater Cincinnati for everyone – now, and for generations to come.
About Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky
Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky is a qualified public charitable 501(c)(3) organization established as a community foundation in 2017 by Northern Kentucky leaders. Its mission is to unite resources to raise the quality of life for all people in the Northern Kentucky community. Learn more at www.horizonfunds.org.
About The Scripps Howard Foundation
The Scripps Howard Foundation supports philanthropic causes important to The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) and the communities it serves, with a special emphasis on excellence in journalism. At the crossroads of the classroom and the newsroom, the Foundation is a leader in supporting journalism education, scholarships, internships, minority recruitment and development, literacy and First Amendment causes. The Scripps Howard Awards stand as one of the industry’s top honors for outstanding journalism. The Foundation improves lives and helps build thriving communities. It partners with Scripps brands to create awareness of local issues and supports impactful organizations to drive solutions.
About The Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation
The Elsa Heisel Sule Foundation is an independent Private Foundation established by Elsa Sule in 2004. The Foundation advances the philanthropic aspirations of Elsa by investing funds to “provide opportunities in education, community and the arts” to 501c3 organizations which provide programs in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The Sule Foundation board and staff practice engaged philanthropy. Please find more information at www.ElsaSuleFoundation.org.
About United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Success By 6®
Success By 6® is a regional movement that ensures every child can succeed in school and life by providing knowledge, resources and connections for decision makers and influencers in a child’s early life. We envision a community where all children are prepared for kindergarten and their parents/caregivers embrace their role in the success of their child and family.
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