Columbus launches program to help fund non-profits

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An initiative started by a Columbus City Council member will give local nonprofits the opportunity to be coached and taught how to get better results when it comes to applying for grants.

The Getting Grant Ready Academy is an effort by the city that could put local nonprofits and organizations on a path toward greatness.

City council member Nancy Day-Achauer believes the new program will give nonprofits and organizations skill sets that can help them be more effective when it comes to fundraising, and applying for and receiving grants.

"Teaching them about how to create an impactful mission statement and vision statement, how to describe what your organized organization does that both provides data and also inspires people to want to support that programming," Day-Achauer said.

All applicants must be in the human services or the youth programming sector and based in Columbus. If selected, those organizations will have a one-year membership with the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County. Some, like Just As I Am founder Angel Smoot, have already applied.

"One of the reasons why I applied for the program is knowledge is power," Smoot said. "Now that I'm a nonprofit and I'm getting in the nonprofit sector, or I've been in a sector for like four years, I find it a little bit more difficult, even with helping children.”

The hope is that this program will be a lifeline for struggling and new nonprofits to get their footing by learning essential information.

"We need these nonprofits to be successful, to help people, to enable them to thrive," Day-Achauer said.

Applications, which are open, will close on Aug. 26. Click here to apply.