Erie County Community Foundation

Erie County Community Foundation initiatives focus on fostering community growth, supporting education, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Through grant stories, the Community Foundation showcases the real-world impact of its funding, highlighting successful projects that make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and the broader community

Caryl Crane Youth Theatre provided tuition-free opportunities for nearly 200 students ages 6–18 to shine on stage this season through productions of Beetlejuice, 101 Dalmatians, and Showcase 2025!

These experiences helped students grow their creativity, confidence, and performance skills while bringing live theatre to more than 2,500 community members.

We’re proud to make the arts accessible to all families and continue inspiring the next generation of performers and creators.

2026 Round 2 Grants for Erie County Community Foundation are now open! Applications due by 11:59 pm ET 8/1/26. We encourage projects that collaborate among Erie County organizations, build organizational capacity, and address community needs. Must be a tax-exempt nonprofit to apply. Minimum grant award $1,000, typical range $1,000 - $20,000. Grants are generally awarded for one year only. Projects must serve Erie County residents. Apply today at our website www.eriefoundation.org/nonprofits!

LAST CALL for the next free Lorain County Community College Nonprofits Workshop June 17 at Erie County Community Foundation! Join us at 11:30am for Tips, Tools, & Tech (Pt 2)—A follow-up where you can ask questions, share experiences, and explore use cases. Live demos. Lunch included, registration required, only a few spots left! https://lnkd.in/gMP89WYJ

Community Foundation CEOs from around Ohio convened on Sandusky this week, and Erie County Community Foundation had a wonderful time introducing them to Sandusky, our great Lake Erie, Cedar Point, the State Theatre, and everywhere in between! It was our great honor to host Meghan Cummings, Philanthropy Ohio President & CEO and her team for this summer’s CEO retreat!

Special thanks to Bay Marine Yacht Sales for the unforgettable yacht tour of Sandusky Bay. Thanks also go out to Sandusky State Theatre for accommodating our tour group – the progress is amazing! Greater Sandusky Partnership took us on a very educational walking tour of downtown Sandusky, with so many historic tidbits along the way, and participated in and moderated our panel discussion! Thanks to Colleen Gilson from the City of Sandusky for your hospitality and support of our event and lending your perspective to the panel discussion!

Special thanks to Jordan Sternberg and team at Cedar Point / Six Flags for the truly cool behind the scenes tour of Cedar Point (and for the yummy cookies from the pastry shop – S’Mores Cookies!? Yes, please!).

One week left until the next free Lorain County Community College Nonprofits Workshop June 17 Erie County Community Foundation! Join us at 11:30am for Tips, Tools, & Tech (Pt 2)—A follow-up where you can ask questions, share experiences, and explore use cases. Live demos. Lunch included, registration required https://lnkd.in/gMP89WYJ

Two weeks left until the next free Lorain County Community College Nonprofits Workshop June 17 at Erie County Community Foundation! Join us at 11:30am for Tips, Tools, & Tech (Pt 2)—A follow-up where you can ask questions, share experiences, and explore use cases. Live demos. Lunch included, registration required https://lnkd.in/gMP89WYJ

Here is the second batch of photos from our recent Scholarship Recognition Breakfast. See our earlier post for the other set of photos!

Erie County Community Foundation proudly hosted its Second Annual Scholarship Recognition Breakfast Friday, May 29, 2026 at The Sandusky Yacht Club. We spent the morning recognizing 124 student recipients, who received over $313,000 in scholarships in 2026, and the generous donors who make these scholarships possible. It was a great event, and we look forward to continuing this tradition annually!

Since its founding in 1995, Erie County Community Foundation has awarded nearly 1,600 college and post-secondary education scholarships worth nearly $2.9 million to Erie County high school and college students.

Thanks, Scholarship Award Winners, Parents, Superintendents, Guidance Counselors, Families, and Community Members for attending the event and sharing these honors.

Upcoming Erie County high school seniors interested in applying for scholarships can find complete information and the application at https://lnkd.in/dw8bK9aC or by calling 419.621.9690.

Erie County Community Foundation proudly hosted its Second Annual Scholarship Recognition Breakfast Friday, May 29, 2026 at The Sandusky Yacht Club. We spent the morning recognizing 124 student recipients, who received over $313,000 in scholarships in 2026, and the generous donors who make these scholarships possible. It was a great event, and we look forward to continuing this tradition annually!

Since its founding in 1995, Erie County Community Foundation has awarded nearly 1,600 college and post-secondary education scholarships worth nearly $2.9 million to Erie County high school and college students.

Thanks, Scholarship Award Winners, Parents, Superintendents, Guidance Counselors, Families, and Community Members for attending the event and sharing these honors. We took so many photos we’ll have to break it up into two posts! Here is the first batch!

Upcoming Erie County high school seniors interested in applying for scholarships can find complete information and the application at https://lnkd.in/dw8bK9aC or by calling 419.621.9690.

Erie County Community Foundation initiatives focus on fostering community growth, supporting education, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Through grant stories, the Community Foundation showcases the real-world impact of its funding, highlighting successful projects that make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and the broader community

Advocate Skate Works provided free skateboards, safety gear, and skateboarding instruction to local youth through the Push with Purpose program in partnership with Nehemiah Partners Center. Through skate events, group activities, and mentorship, participants built confidence, resilience, and meaningful community connections.

The program promoted physical fitness, coordination, and balance through lessons for various skill levels while highlighting how skateboarding can relieve stress and support positive mental health.

Advocate Skate Works continues creating access to skateboarding culture and empowering youth through positive community experiences.

Erie County Community Foundation proudly hosted its Third Annual Scholarship Recognition Breakfast Friday, May 29, 2026 at Sandusky Yacht Club. We spent the morning recognizing 124 student recipients, who received over $313,000 in scholarships in 2026, and the generous donors who make these scholarships possible. It was another great event, and we look forward to continuing this tradition annually!

Since 1995, Erie County Community Foundation has awarded approximately 1,500 college and post-secondary education scholarships worth nearly $3 million to Erie County high school and college students.

Thank you, Donors, Scholarship Award Winners, Parents, Superintendents, Guidance Counselors, Families, Volunteers, and Community Members for attending the event and sharing these honors!