Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into summer youth programming grant agreements with the following registered 501c3 nonprofit organizations for the listed amount. The total combined amount distributed to the 104 listed organizations shall be $7,406,499.00.
These grant awards will be used to expand quality summer programming for youth residing within the City of Columbus geographical boundaries. Funding will support local, registered 501c3 non-profit organizations in providing programming that will fulfill one or more of the following outcomes: improving academic performance and health and wellbeing; enhancing career readiness and workplace skills; and promoting the understanding and use of non-violent conflict resolution skills. The term of these grant agreements will begin on May 1, 2026, and will end on October 31, 2026. All grants shall be paid to awardees in advance.
Grantees and Award Amounts:
100 Black Men of Central Ohio Inc $50,000.00
A Tribe for Jazz $50,000.00
ACTORS THEATRE OF COLUMBUS $15,000.00
Advanced Technology Education $24,200.00
African American Male Wellness Walk $175,000.00
All THAT - Teens Hopeful About Tomorrow $196,250.00
Always With Us Charities $58,000.00
Asian American Community Services $42,000.00
Better Way Ministries $20,000.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio Inc $210,000.00
Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus Inc $150,000.00
Capital City Young Aviators $45,695.00
Central Community House of Columbus Inc $45,000.00
CHRIST CATHEDRAL CHURCH $52,000.00
City of Refuge GoodLife Foundation $115,000.00
Classic For Columbus, Inc. $30,000.00
Clintonville Beechwold Community Resources Center $108,768.00
Columbus Housing Partnership Inc $14,000.00
Columbus Literacy Council $100,000.00
Community Arts Project Inc $75,000.00
Community for New Direction $150,000.00
Community of Caring Development Foundation $39,499.00
Community Refugee & Immigration Services $13,500.00
Directions for Youth & Families $100,000.00
Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio dba Elevatedd $30,000.00
Eckerd Youth Alternatives Inc $40,000.00
EPIC Youth $75,000.00
Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services $163,612.00
FAMILY ADOLESCENT & CHILD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES (FACCES) $85,000.00
Femergy $75,000.00
Final Third Foundation $49,000.00
Franklin County Historical Society/COSI $40,000.00
Gladden Community House $35,000.00
Godman Guild Association $40,000.00
Greenleaf Job Training Services Inc $10,500.00
Heart 4 Kids $50,000.00
Highland Youth Garden Inc $35,000.00
Horizon Science Academy Columbus $50,000.00
I Know I Can $102,610.00
Impact Community Action $35,000.00
Jaded Unprotected Volatile Youth Services Inc $60,000.00
Jazz Arts Group $8,000.00
Kaleidoscope Youth Center $75,000.00
Lead Mentor & Grow Inc $72,000.00
Lead With Purpose $45,800.00
Leaders Emerging and Developing Corporation $33,847.00
Legacies United Foundation $94,500.00
Legacy Youth Sports Academy $111,250.00
Linden Block Party 614 $50,000.00
Look Ma No Hands $37,000.00
Lower Lights Ministries $30,000.00
Makerspace Central $18,932.00
Maroon Arts Group $65,000.00
Mid-Ohio Board for an Independent Living Environment $59,000.00
Minority Mental Health Alliance $100,000.00
Momentum-Excellence, Inc $14,250.00
NATIONAL SKILLED TRADES NETWORK $40,000.00
Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation $100,000.00
NCBC Human Services Corporation $82,500.00
Neighborhood Athletics $100,000.00
Neighborhood Design Center $65,000.00
New Birth Christian Ministries Inc $100,000.00
North Columbus Drop Back In $50,000.00
Ohio Black Expo $17,000.00
Ohio Hispanic Coalition $180,000.00
Ours Brothers Keepers $90,000.00
P2I Global Foundation $48,800.00
PAST Foundation $74,520.00
Proyecto Mariposas $53,500.00
Pyramid Community Development Corp $130,000.00
Remember Us Urban Legends Inc $75,000.00
R.E.S.E.T. Tomorrow $100,000.00
Rickenbacker Woods Technology Museum & Historic Park $77,098.00
Saint Mary School Inc $50,000.00
Schealthness Inc $65,740.00
See Brilliance $75,000.00
Somali Community Association of Ohio $70,000.00
Sonlight Community Services $65,000.00
South of Main Futures $80,000.00
Southern Ohio PGA Golf Foundation $5,000.00
St Stephen Community Services Inc $115,379.00
St Vincent Family Services $40,000.00
Sudanese American Community Development $40,000.00
Tech Corps Ohio $65,000.00
The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio $100,000.00
The Buckeye Ranch Inc $19,000.00
The Center for Healthy Families Inc $160,000.00
The Columbus Urban League $200,000.00
The Dick and Jane Project dba We Amplify Voices $125,000.00
The Flyt Foundation Inc $100,000.00
The Hardy Center Inc $75,350.00
The Ohio State University Foundation $75,000.00
The Young Women’s Christian Association $98,000.00
The Willie & Vivian Gaddis Foundation $75,000.00
Think Make Live Youth $52,560.00
Trades of Faith Incorporated $140,000.00
Urban Lacrosse Academy $25,000.00
Urban Resurrection CDC $60,000.00
urban Strings columbus $76,869.00
What Would Marcus Do $40,000.00
Women Just Like Me $15,970.00
WrightChoice Mentoring $60,000.00
Young Mens Christian Association $80,000.00
Youth Mind Builders $105,000.00
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to ensure that the funding is in place and that the expanded quality summer programming for youth will commence in May 2026.
Fiscal Impact: $7,406,499.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund 2285 to meet the financial obligations of this contract. ($7,406,499.00)
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into advance pay grant agreements with 104 local registered 501c3 non-profit organizations in support of summer youth programming; to authorize an expenditure in the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($7,406,499.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into advance pay grant agreements with 104 local registered 501c3 non-profit organizations, as listed above, to help fund summer 2026 youth programming in Columbus, totaling $7,406,499.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $7,406,499.00from the Recreation and Parks Operating Fund 2285; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into non-profit grant agreements with the above listed 501c3 organizations so that programming may begin on May 1, 2026; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized to enter into advance pay grant agreements with 104 local registered 501c3 non-profit organizations, as listed below, to help fund summer 2026 youth programming in Columbus, totaling $7,406,499.00, the term of which will begin on May 1, 2026 and end on October 31, 2026.
100 Black Men of Central Ohio Inc $50,000.00
A Tribe for Jazz $50,000.00
ACTORS THEATRE OF COLUMBUS $15,000.00
Advanced Technology Education $24,200.00
African American Male Wellness Walk $175,000.00
All THAT - Teens Hopeful About Tomorrow $196,250.00
Always With Us Charities $58,000.00
Asian American Community Services $42,000.00
Better Way Ministries $20,000.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio Inc $210,000.00
Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus Inc $150,000.00
Capital City Young Aviators $45,695.00
Central Community House of Columbus Inc $45,000.00
CHRIST CATHEDRAL CHURCH $52,000.00
City of Refuge GoodLife Foundation $115,000.00
Classic For Columbus, Inc. $30,000.00
Clintonville Beechwold Community Resources Center $108,768.00
Columbus Housing Partnership Inc $14,000.00
Columbus Literacy Council $100,000.00
Community Arts Project Inc $75,000.00
Community for New Direction $150,000.00
Community of Caring Development Foundation $39,499.00
Community Refugee & Immigration Services $13,500.00
Directions for Youth & Families $100,000.00
Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio dba Elevatedd $30,000.00
Eckerd Youth Alternatives Inc $40,000.00
EPIC Youth $75,000.00
Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services $163,612.00
FAMILY ADOLESCENT & CHILD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES (FACCES) $85,000.00
Femergy $75,000.00
Final Third Foundation $49,000.00
Franklin County Historical Society/COSI $40,000.00
Gladden Community House $35,000.00
Godman Guild Association $40,000.00
Greenleaf Job Training Services Inc $10,500.00
Heart 4 Kids $50,000.00
Highland Youth Garden Inc $35,000.00
Horizon Science Academy Columbus $50,000.00
I Know I Can $102,610.00
Impact Community Action $35,000.00
Jaded Unprotected Volatile Youth Services Inc $60,000.00
Jazz Arts Group $8,000.00
Kaleidoscope Youth Center $75,000.00
Lead Mentor & Grow Inc $72,000.00
Lead With Purpose $45,800.00
Leaders Emerging and Developing Corporation $33,847.00
Legacies United Foundation $94,500.00
Legacy Youth Sports Academy $111,250.00
Linden Block Party 614 $50,000.00
Look Ma No Hands $37,000.00
Lower Lights Ministries $30,000.00
Makerspace Central $18,932.00
Maroon Arts Group $65,000.00
Mid-Ohio Board for an Independent Living Environment $59,000.00
Minority Mental Health Alliance $100,000.00
Momentum-Excellence, Inc $14,250.00
NATIONAL SKILLED TRADES NETWORK $40,000.00
Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation $100,000.00
NCBC Human Services Corporation $82,500.00
Neighborhood Athletics $100,000.00
Neighborhood Design Center $65,000.00
New Birth Christian Ministries Inc $100,000.00
North Columbus Drop Back In $50,000.00
Ohio Black Expo $17,000.00
Ohio Hispanic Coalition $180,000.00
Ours Brothers Keepers $90,000.00
P2I Global Foundation $48,800.00
PAST Foundation $74,520.00
Proyecto Mariposas $53,500.00
Pyramid Community Development Corp $130,000.00
Remember Us Urban Legends Inc $75,000.00
R.E.S.E.T. Tomorrow $100,000.00
Rickenbacker Woods Technology Museum & Historic Park $77,098.00
Saint Mary School Inc $50,000.00
Schealthness Inc $65,740.00
See Brilliance $75,000.00
Somali Community Association of Ohio $70,000.00
Sonlight Community Services $65,000.00
South of Main Futures $80,000.00
Southern Ohio PGA Golf Foundation $5,000.00
St Stephen Community Services Inc $115,379.00
St Vincent Family Services $40,000.00
Sudanese American Community Development $40,000.00
Tech Corps Ohio $65,000.00
The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio $100,000.00
The Buckeye Ranch Inc $19,000.00
The Center for Healthy Families Inc $160,000.00
The Columbus Urban League $200,000.00
The Dick and Jane Project dba We Amplify Voices $125,000.00
The Flyt Foundation Inc $100,000.00
The Hardy Center Inc $75,350.00
The Ohio State University Foundation $75,000.00
The Willie & Vivian Gaddis Foundation $75,000.00
The Young Women’s Christian Association $98,000.00
Think Make Live Youth $52,560.00
Trades of Faith Incorporated $140,000.00
Urban Lacrosse Academy $25,000.00
Urban Resurrection CDC $60,000.00
urban Strings columbus $76,869.00
What Would Marcus Do $40,000.00
Women Just Like Me $15,970.00
WrightChoice Mentoring $60,000.00
Young Mens Christian Association $80,000.00
Youth Mind Builders $105,000.00
SECTION 2. That, for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $7,406,499.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the agreements are awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to the process for awarding not for profit grant agreements.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.