Ottawa County Community Foundation Now Accepting Grant Applications
The Ottawa County Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for the 2026–27 grant cycle, with submissions due Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
OCCF grants support special projects in the areas of education, health and social services, economic development, natural resources, and the arts. Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in or serving Ottawa County.
Last year, the Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling more than $108,000 to local nonprofit organizations. According to OCCF Grants Chair Mary Coffee, $90,000 of that total was awarded to 34 nonprofits through the annual community grants cycle. Additional grants supported initiatives such as skilled trades training for high school students, science field trips to Stone Laboratory for each Ottawa County school district, dyslexia training for schoolteachers, the Top Ten Scholarship Banquet, and Rapid Response assistance for nonprofits experiencing increased demand or special hardships.
Put-in-Bay Nonprofits Funded in the Previous Grant Cycle
Several Put-in-Bay–based organizations were among those receiving OCCF funding last year, including:
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Lake Erie Islands Conservancy — Preservation of historic agricultural buildings and installation of interpretive signage
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Lake Erie Islands Nature & Wildlife Center — Development of a display highlighting migratory bird pathways and sounds
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Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau — Redesign of the Chamber’s member portal
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The Perry Group — Printing of event flyers and marketing materials
Community Grant applications must be submitted through an online portal accessible via ottawaccf.org/grants. OCCF uses the Greater Toledo Community Foundation’s (GTCF) grant portal; applicants must select the Ottawa County Community Foundation listing to access the login page. First-time applicants must create an account, while returning applicants may log in using existing credentials.
The Ottawa County Community Foundation was established in 1999 to improve quality of life throughout Ottawa County. The Foundation administers more than 100 donor-established funds totaling approximately $13 million in assets and has distributed more than $8.5 million in grants and scholarships since its inception.
Organizations with questions regarding the grant application process may contact Grants Chair Mary Coffee at coffee.occf@gmail.com or 419-341-7400.
