Wean Foundation awards $1.5 million in community investment grants

The Raymond John Wean Foundation has announced on Wednesday that it has approved over $1.5 million in grants for seven Mahoning Valley non-profit organizations.

The grants support the Foundation's priorities of educational opportunity, community revitalization and public and senior civic leadership. 

Additionally, the Board approved another $300,000 to support the equitable compensation of non-profit talent across the grantees.

"We have come to the conclusion that a critical element of non-profit success that is often missing is fair pay. What we also know is the burden of low pay in the non-profit sector falls disproportionately on women and minorities. We don't want non-profits and their workers to survive, we want them to thrive," said Wean Foundation President Jennifer Roller.

A complete list of grant recipients and what they will be used for can be found below.

GRANTS SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY:

- Kent State University Trumbull: To build up its Building Black Leaders program, which provides Black, biracial and multiracial students with personal, professional and academic support.

- Youngstown City School District, Rayne Early College: For programmatic support of its Summer Bridge program for one year.

GRANTS SUPPORTING COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION:

- Boston Avenue Neighborhood Association (BANA): For general operating support over two years including support for someone dedicated to building capacity in marketing, fundraising and outreach.

- Economic Action Group: For general operating support over two years.

- Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership: For general operating support, local organizing and the Strategic Partners Fellowship over one year.

- Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation: For general operating support, organizing and the Strategic Partners fellowship over one year.

GRANTS SUPPORTING PUBLIC AND CIVIL LEADERSHIP:

- Philanthropy Ohio: To support advancing diversity, equity inclusion and belonging and furthering its membership with the philanthropic sector of the Mahoning Valley over one year.