On December 12, 2023, the Northwest Dayton Community Investment Fund announced eight organizations will receive a total of $637,015 in funding to implement projects in support of the resident-led Power of Place plan. First launched in 2021, as part of the Northwest Dayton Partnership and funded by $1.45 million from Blue Meridian Partners, the Community Investment Fund is a model for trust-based philanthropy. It serves as a tangible example of the good that is possible by placing the power of philanthropy in the hands of the neighbors who will benefit from the proposed programs. Because of the success in the first round, The Dayton Foundation led a fundraising effort to launch a second round of funding.
The call for applications for the second round opened on August 1, 2023. Dozens of organizations participated in information sessions and relied on the guidance of Learn to Earn Dayton staff to develop strong proposals. There were 21 eligible proposals submitted by the September 15, 2023, deadline with a total request of more than $1.6 million.
Because the interest far exceeded the funds available for distribution, the Community Review Panel of six Northwest Dayton community members carefully considered each proposal. The Community Review Panel met numerous times throughout the fall, considering how the proposed projects align with the Power of Place plan to advance outcomes in the priority areas of K-12 Education, Housing, Early Childhood Education, and Community + Culture.
Based on community review and selection criteria, the Review Panel chose eight proposals for funding, totaling $637,015 in investment. Because Learn to Earn Dayton serves as the administrative coordinator for the Community Investment Fund, the review panel's recommendation was presented to the Learn to Earn Board of Directors for final endorsement.
Consistent with Learn to Earn Dayton’s commitment to support capacity-building for individuals and organizations serving northwest Dayton, a series of technical assistance workshops will be provided to help organizations focus on establishing measurable outcomes, evaluation and metrics systems, and continuous improvement processes.
The awarded organizations came together for their first meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, where they met one another, shared project plans, and set their own priorities for the capacity building and professional development that will be provided over the course of the year-long grant period.
Thank you to everyone who has made this project a reality!
Community Review Panel:
Rachel Cochran, Emily Gomez, Jerome Haney, Audrey Logan, Dedra Porter, Lauretta Williams
Organizations receiving funding include:
Abundant Life Christ Centered Ministries
Dayton Equity Center
Grace Urban Development
Hatch Architects
Spectrum New Beginnings
Tops Advantage
Valens Solutions
Youth House
Thank you to the following partners who generously donated to center the philanthropic power for decision making to the residents who live in Northwest Dayton.
The Dayton Foundation | Mathile Family Foundation | Jeff and Ellen Ireland Fund | CareSource Foundation | Kettering Foundation | Charles D. Berry Foundation | Ms. Valerie A. Lemmie | Harry W. & Margaret Moore Foundation | Tait Foundation
About Learn to Earn Dayton
Learn to Earn Dayton fosters the success of all Montgomery County children from birth until
they graduate from college or earn a high-quality credential. Our big goal is for 60 percent of Montgomery County's working-age adults to have a 2-year or 4-year college degree or a high-quality credential.
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