Making a Lasting Impact in the Salem Area
The Foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that are currently registered as a State of Ohio charitable organization with the State of Ohio Attorney General’s office. Grant applicants must serve people in the Salem area, have an IRS 501(c)(3) designation, and support the areas of arts and humanities, health and human services, public and community services, and education. Grants are provided through endowment funds and support a broad range of needs.
Application For Financial Assistance
The Salem Community Foundation is currently accepting Grant Applications for Financial Assistance.
Please call Brittany Maniscalco, Chief Operating Officer, at the Salem Community Foundation office at 330-332-4021 before filling out the required Grant Application.
Grant Deadlines
- Due date is December 1, 2025 for the January 2026 Board Meeting.
- Due date is March 1, 2026 for the April 2026 Board Meeting.
- Due date is June 1, 2026 for the July 2026 Board Meeting.
- Due date is September 1, 2026 for the October 2026 Board Meeting.
Grants Awarded
Kent State Salem Scholarships
- Students must be pursuing an associate or first bachelor degree to receive the Kent State Salem Campus Tuition Grant.
- Salem Campus students receive a 20% tuition grant award if they are permanent residents in Salem City, West Branch, South Range, United and Leetonia Village School Districts.
- The deadline to apply for the SCF Tuition Grant Program for Spring 2026 is January 30, 2026.
- Tuition Grant Application: https://www.kent.edu/columbiana/salem-community-foundation-tuition-grant
- Since 2004, over 2,800 students have received the Salem Community Foundation’s Kent State Salem Campus Tuition Grant!
- Since the Tuition Grant began in 1998, over $1.3 million has been awarded to Salem Campus students!
Making A Difference
Grants 2025
| Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Salem Community Pantry | $10,000 |
| Boy Scout Troop 3 | $837.16 |
| Kent State Columbiana Rising Scholars Program | $25,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio | $2,000 |
| Salem Parks and Recreation Department | $25,000 |
| The Salvation Army Salem Corps | $16,800 |
| United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County | $40,000 |
| The Brightside Project | $28,000 |
| Salem Junior Baseball League | $50,000 |
| Burchfield Homestead Society | $23,170 |
| City of Salem – Fire Department | $15,000 |
Grants 2024
| Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
| American Heart Association | $6,000 |
| The Burchfield Homestead Society | $5,000 |
| Columbiana County Humane Society | $34,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio | $3,000 |
| Salem Community Pantry | $20,000 |
| Salem Firefighters Local 283 | $9,000 |
| Salem Parks and Recreation Department | $15,264 |
| Salem Police Department K-9 Unit | $16,255 |
| Salem Quaker City Band | $870 |
| Salem World War Memorial Building Association | $12,637 |
| The Brightside Project | $63,500 |
| United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County | $40,000 |
Grants 2023
| Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
| The Brightside Project “Back To School Clothing and Shoe Project” | $20,000 |
| Kent State Columbiana Rising Scholars Program | $25,000 |
| The ROC of Salem | $30,000 |
| Salem Community Pantry | $39,914 |
| Piranha Aquatics | $20,497 |
| OhioCAN (Nina’s Closet) | $2,539 |
| American Heart Association | $12,500 |
| United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County | $40,000 |
| Junior Achievement | $3,000 |
| Salem Historical Society | $7,000 |
| Community Book Grant | $6,000 |
| Youth In Philanthropy | $12,000 |
| Banquet in Salem | $3,000 |
Funding Information
The Salem Community Foundation is interested in funding organizations that can demonstrate that they have planned their projects with respect to the community’s overall needs.
Priority is given to projects that:
- Reach a broad segment of the community that utilizes innovative programs aimed at meeting community needs
- Encourage efforts to promote, coordinate, and cooperate with other organizations to provide for more efficient use of community resources and avoid duplication of services
- Assist organization’s whose needs are not currently being met
- Enhance or improve an organization’s self-sufficiency or efficiency
- Encourage matching gifts from the community members and / or other organizations
- Reflect a Salem community-wide effort of assisting the disadvantaged or disabled through self-help activities
- Need the last dollar to make the organization’s vision become a reality
The Salem Community Foundation does not, unless designated by the donor, usually make grants:
- To individuals
- For religious purposes
- To support operating budgets of established organizations or programs
- To reduce budget deficits
- For endowments
- For conferences, scholarly research, or projects that are normally the responsibility of the organization
- To federal agencies
- To an organization which has not yet been determined to be tax-exempt