Charitable Funds administered by The Community Foundation
of Shelby County, Ohio

The Community Foundation offers many options for those who wish to provide a gift to their community. Grants from charitable funds support vital community organizations so they can help people in time of need today and in the future.

Gifts to charitable funds are welcome at any time and in any amount. More information on establishing a charitable fund and giving to an existing fund is available.

Community Granting Funds
Community granting funds enable the Foundation’s Board of Trustees to administer a grant program that responds to the ever changing needs of the Shelby County community. Grants are awarded to not-for-profit organizations serving our residents.

  • Founders Fund – awards grants for public charitable uses in the Shelby County area.

Organization Funds
Established by a charitable organization to provide for its ongoing support.

  • Alpha Community Center Foundation
  • Hall of Honor - supports the Sidney City Schools Hall of Honor program. This fund is part of the Sidney City Schools Foundation.
  • Senior Center of Sidney-Shelby County Foundation
  • Shelby County Historical Society Fund

School Funds
Established by a board of education or a group of supporters to hold scholarships and designated use funds which benefit the named school.

  • Botkins Local Schools Foundation
  • Ft. Loramie Education Foundation
  • Hardin-Houston Local School Foundation
  • Russia Local Schools Endowment Fund
  • Sidney City Schools Foundation

Agency Endowment
Enables the investment management of a portion of a charitable organization’s account.

  • Lehman Foundation – supports students and activities of Lehman Catholic High School in Sidney.

Project/Campaign Funds
Accomplishes short-term community projects

  • Ohio Bicentennial Celebration in Shelby County Fund – supports the annual Shelby County Applefest.
  • Sidney Memorial Stadium Fund – established for the construction of a football stadium and supporting athletic facilities.
  • Russia Wellness Facility Fund – receives gifts for the construction of a track and related wellness facilities in Russia, Ohio

Designated Funds
A designated fund is established by a donor to assist his or her favorite charitable organizations or projects which are specified when the fund is created. Grants are awarded to the organization(s) named and no outside requests are accepted.

  • Mary E. Patterson FCCLA & FFA Endowment Fund - Investment return supports activities of the Hardin-Houston Local Schools chapters of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
  • Reese Gross Fund - assists in the purchase of equipment and uniforms for the Sidney Amateur Baseball Commission, the IUTIS program and the Sidney Girls Softball program.

Scholarship Funds
Assists deserving students with the cost of their college education or vocational training.

  • Scott F. Barker Memorial Scholarship Fund - supports scholarships for graduating Sidney High School seniors. This fund is part of the Sidney City Schools Foundation
  • Carol Becker Memorial Scholarship Fund - awards a scholarship to a senior graduating from Botkins High School. Part of the Botkins Local Schools Foundation.
  • Ben-Med Scholarship Fund - provides a scholarship for Fort Loramie High School seniors entering the medical field. Part of the Fort Loramie Education Foundation.
  • Harry and Mary Bennett Scholarship Fund - recognizes Shelby County students enrolling in agriculture or animal husbandry who plan to make farming their lifetime work. Part of the Sidney City Schools Foundation.
  • Edward and Merilyn Borchers Family Foundation - awards two renewable scholarships to Russia Local Schools seniors. Also a Donor Advised Fund.
  • Joe and Mary Borchers Memorial Scholarship Fund - grants scholarships to Fort Loramie High School graduating seniors. Part of the Fort Loramie Education Foundation.
  • Botkins Area Community Fund – provides scholarships to Botkins High School seniors.
  • Botkins Local Schools Student Memorial Scholarship Fund - the fund is building to award scholarships to the school's graduating seniors. Part of the Botkins Local Schools Foundation.
  • Botkins Trojans Scholarship Fund – provides scholarships to graduating seniors at Botkins High School
  • Marty Bowman Football Academic Scholarship Fund - recognizes students who played football for at least 3 years in high school and have a good academic standing. Part of the Sidney City Schools Foundation.
  • Lola Detrick Carmony Scholarship Fund - provides a scholarship award to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average at each public, private and parochial high school in Shelby County.
  • Chase Fultz Memorial Scholarship Fund - awarded to a Botkins High School senior who is a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Part of the Botkins Local Schools Foundation.
  • Vera DoLean Ginn Kiwanis Scholarship Fund -beginning in 2008, will award scholarships to Shelby County graduates entering the field of elementary education.
  • Thomas E. Given Memorial Scholarship Fund - awards a scholarship to a Sidney High School senior. Part of the Sidney City Schools Foundation.
  • Randy Greve Scholarship Fund - awarded to a Botkins High School senior, with preference given to those pursuing  a two-year vocational or technical program. Part of the Botkins Local Schools Foundation.
  • Robert E. Grubbs Foundation - provides awards to Jackson Center High School seniors.
  • IUTIS Club Scholarship Fund - supports scholarships for students who played IUTIS softball for a minimum of four years.
  • Kiwanis Club of Sidney Scholarship Fund - established to hold and administer the scholarship endowment of the Sidney Noon Kiwanis Club.
  • Lahrmer Family Scholarship Fund - beginning in 2008, will award a scholarship to Botkins High School graduating seniors. Part of the Botkins Local Schools Foundation.
  • Law Student Assistance Fund - established to assist students from Shelby and surrounding counties during their final year of law school.
  • Dr. Edward and Anne Link Fund -  provides scholarships to Shelby County students pursuing a degree in Fine Arts.  Must have completed at least one year of college.
  • Kyle R. Magoto Scholarship Fund – awards scholarships to graduating seniors at Russia High School
  • Medical and Health Professions Scholarship Fund - supports awards for residents of Shelby County or it's school districts in any year of their education for a medical or health related career.
  • Brad Meyer Baseball Memorial Scholarship Fund - Fort Loramie seniors who are members of the varsity baseball team are eligible for this scholarship.  Part of the Fort Loramie Education Foundation.
  • Dave Mielke Scholarship Fund – Botkins High School seniors who earned at least two letters in Cross Country or Track are eligible to apply.
  • Catherine Moloney Nursing Scholarship Fund - provides a scholarship to a Shelby County resident pursuing a registered nursing degree.
  • Clair and Jeanne Naveau Family Scholarship Fund - awards a scholarship to a senior graduating from Russia Local Schools.
  • Heidi Norris Fund - the fund is building to provide scholarships to students majoring in Respiratory Therapy or a closely related field with the intent of earning an Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's degree.
  • Mary E. Patterson Scholarship Fund – seniors graduating from Hardin-Houston Local Schools are eligible to apply. Part of the Hardin-Houston Local Schools Foundation.
  • Urban E. Ratermann Scholarship Fund - provides a scholarship to seniors graduating from Fort Loramie High School.  Part of the Fort Loramie Education Foundation.
  • Red & Black Scholarship Fund - awarded to a Fort Loramie High School senior. Part of the Fort Loramie Education Foundation.
  • William Ross, Jr. Scholarship Fund - funds scholarships for a graduating senior from Lehman High School and Sidney High School.
  • Ruese Insurance Agency, Inc. Scholarship Fund - awards scholarships to Sidney and Lehman High School seniors in the name of Ruese Insurance, to Fort Loramie High School seniors in the name of Ratermann Insurance, and to Piqua High School and Upper Valley JVS seniors in the name of McColloch-Baker Insurance.
  • Robert and Thelma Sargeant Fund - provides scholarships to Fairlawn Local Schools seniors, school district residents, and alumni. Also a Donor Advised Fund.
  • Herbert and Antoinette Schlater Scholarship Fund - grants scholarship awards to the children of employees of Area Energy & Electric and Sidney Electric Company.
  • Tom and Sandy Shoemaker Fund - awards scholarships to seniors at Southeastern High School seniors. The scholarships are renewable for one year. Also a Donor Advised Fund.
  • Sidney High School Alumni Scholarship Fund - funds scholarships for current and past graduates of Sidney High School.
  • Sidney High School Memorial Scholarship Fund - receives memorial gifts that support scholarships for Sidney High School seniors. Part of the Sidney City Schools Foundation.
  • William and Bonnie Swonger Nursing Scholarship Fund - income provides scholarships to Shelby County residents pursuing a registered nursing degree.
  • Carolyn Takacs Scholarship Fund – provides scholarships to Sidney High School seniors. Part of the Sidney City Schools Foundation.
  • June Whited Christian Science Scholarship Fund - provides scholarships to local graduates who are members of the Christian Science Church and attending Principia College.
  • Kimberly D. Whittenberger Memorial Scholarship Fund - funds scholarships for Shelby County graduating seniors.

Donor Advised/Committee Advised Funds
These Funds invite donors or organizations who established a Fund or committees representing them to recommend grants to specific charities.

  • Edward and Merilyn Borchers Family Foundation
  • Gary and Madeleine Daniel Family Foundation
  • DEB Fund
  • Village of DeGraff Fund
  • Delbert, Doc and Hilda Francis Family Foundation
  • Jack Hamer Holloway Foundation
  • Patrick and Carol Milligan Family Fund
  • Monarch Legacy Fund
  • Glen and Vanis Phillips Family Fund
  • Right Hand Fund
  • Robert and Thelma Sargeant Fund
  • Scott Family Endowment Fund
  • Tom and Sandy Shoemaker Fund
  • Sidney-Shelby County Chamber Foundation


 Field of Interest Funds
These funds allow Foundation trustees to award grants within a field of interest designated by a donor.

  • Roscoe Beanblossom Fund - income to be used for “the maintenance, education, and general well-being of needy and worthy young people who reside in Shelby County, Ohio.
  • John Douglas Long Blind Fund - funds to be used for the care, treatment, and benefit of Shelby County, Ohio residents with blindness or serious eyesight impairment.
  • Louise Sheets Fund - provides grants to organizations and projects in the Botkins, Ohio area.
  • Russia Wellness Foundation - A fund building to provide grants supporting projects and activities in the community of Russia, Ohio.
  • Shelby County Medical Services Fund - enhances and improves the quality and quantity of medical services in the community, and provides medical assistance to residents unable to provide for such services.

Charitable Distribution Account
A Charitable Distribution Account is a donor advised fund that is typically intended for short-term granting that will deplete the gift made by a donor. Allows grants to be recommended by donors from principal to charities throughout the United States.

Supporting Organizations
Donald and Evelyn Bensman Foundation – A foundation supporting organizations in Shelby and Mercer counties.

Courtview Center - Suite 202 - 100 South Main Avenue - Sidney, Ohio  45365
Phone: 937-497-7800         E-mail: Info@CommFoun.com         FAX: 937-497-7799