Five Pillars of Community Investment
The McCluskey Cares Foundation administers five distinct grant programs, each overseen by a dedicated advisory committee of subject-matter experts, community leaders, and program alumni. Every application is reviewed against published criteria, and all award decisions are documented in our annual transparency report filed with the Ohio Attorney General's Charitable Trust Section. Below you will find the complete details for each program, including eligibility requirements, award ranges, application deadlines, and expected outcomes.
Youth Horizon Education Grant
Program Overview
The Youth Horizon Education Grant is the McCluskey Cares Foundation's flagship program and the largest single line item in our annual grant budget, representing approximately 38% of total disbursements since 2009. The program was established in direct response to Robert J. McCluskey Sr.'s lifelong belief that educational opportunity is the most reliable engine for community advancement. Youth Horizon grants support evidence-based programming in reading literacy, STEM enrichment, after-school tutoring, college readiness, and dropout prevention targeting students in underserved school districts across central Ohio.
Since its inception, the Youth Horizon program has funded 247 discrete projects across 42 partner schools and 68 non-profit organizations, reaching an estimated 18,400 students. Independent outcome data collected by our evaluation partner, the Ohio Education Research Center at The Ohio State University, shows that 78% of participating students demonstrate measurable grade improvement within two semesters, and 91% of high school seniors enrolled in Youth Horizon programs matriculate to post-secondary education or credentialed vocational training within 12 months of graduation.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, public school district, or charter school authorized by the Ohio Department of Education.
- Project must serve students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, or transitional-age youth (18–24) in GED completion or post-secondary bridge programs.
- Geographic focus must be within the central Ohio seven-county service area: Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, or Union counties.
- Program design must incorporate measurable learning outcomes with pre- and post-assessment data collection.
- Applicant must demonstrate a minimum 1:1 match of in-kind resources or partner funding.
Application Process
Applications open November 1 of each year and close on the last day of February. Submissions are accepted exclusively through our online portal. Each application requires a narrative project description (3,000 words maximum), a line-item budget, a logic model or theory of change diagram, two letters of support from community partners, and the applicant's most recent IRS Form 990 or audited financial statement. The review committee convenes in March, site visits are conducted in April, and award notifications are issued by May 15. Funds are disbursed in two tranches: 60% upon execution of the grant agreement and 40% upon submission of the six-month progress report.
Community Wellness Initiative
Program Overview
The Community Wellness Initiative addresses the critical gap in preventive health services and mental health access for underserved populations in Ohio. Launched in 2010, this program funds mobile screening clinics, mental health counseling access, substance abuse prevention, maternal health support, and chronic disease management outreach operated by community health centers, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), and non-profit health organizations. To date, the Initiative has facilitated over 12,400 patient screenings, connected 4,200 individuals with ongoing treatment, and supported 31 community health organizations in building sustainable outreach capacity.
Our 2024 program evaluation, conducted by an independent public health research team, found that 34% of screenings funded by the Initiative identified previously undiagnosed conditions requiring follow-up care, including hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, depression, and anxiety disorders. Among those referred, 89% successfully connected with an ongoing treatment provider within 60 days through our patient navigator network, a figure that significantly exceeds the national benchmark of 62% for community health referrals.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit health organization, FQHC, or hospital-affiliated community benefit program.
- Services must be provided free or on a sliding-scale basis to uninsured or underinsured individuals.
- Project must operate within Ohio, with preference for Franklin County and the central Ohio seven-county area.
- Applicant must hold applicable state licensure and employ credentialed clinical staff (MD, DO, NP, PA, LCSW, LPCC, or equivalent).
- Data collection plan must include patient encounter tracking and outcome follow-up at 60 and 180 days.
Application Process
The application timeline mirrors the Youth Horizon grant. Renewal applicants in good standing may submit an abbreviated renewal application (1,500-word narrative plus updated budget) and are exempt from the letters-of-support requirement. New applicants must provide a full proposal, organizational capacity statement, and evidence of clinical licensure. The Community Health Advisory Committee reviews all applications and may request supplemental information or a site visit before making final recommendations to the Board.
Veterans Bridge Program
Program Overview
The Veterans Bridge Program holds a special place in the McCluskey Cares Foundation's portfolio. Robert J. McCluskey Sr. served in the United States Army during the Korean War era and spent the final decade of his civic career chairing the Franklin County Veterans Memorial Commission. The Bridge Program was one of the first three grant tracks established when the Foundation was chartered in 2009, reflecting the McCluskey family's deep commitment to ensuring that veterans who served their country receive the support they need to build stable, fulfilling civilian lives.
Since its formal launch in 2012, the Veterans Bridge Program has disbursed over $1.8 million to 84 veteran-serving organizations across Ohio. Grants fund employment transition assistance, housing navigation and rapid re-housing, PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) support services, substance use recovery, and family reintegration counseling. Outcome data collected across all funded programs shows that 72% of veteran participants secure stable employment within 180 days, 85% achieve sustained housing stability at the 12-month mark, and 68% of those enrolled in mental health support programming report clinically significant improvement on standardized assessment instruments.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, government agency, or VA-affiliated community partner providing direct services to veterans and/or their immediate family members.
- Proposed project must serve honorably discharged veterans of any branch and any era, or their surviving spouses and dependent children.
- Services must be provided within the state of Ohio.
- Applicant must demonstrate existing organizational capacity in veteran services, including staff with relevant credentials (licensed counselors, certified employment specialists, or equivalent).
- Grant funds may not be used for capital construction, endowment, or general operating expenses exceeding 15% of the total award.
Application Process
The Veterans Bridge Program operates on a rolling admission basis with quarterly review. Applications received by the last day of March, June, September, or December are reviewed in the following month. The application requires a project narrative (2,000 words maximum), budget, organizational background, and one letter of support from a VA facility, county veterans service commission, or peer veteran-serving organization. Decisions are communicated within 45 days of the quarterly review closing date.
McCluskey Arts & Heritage Fund
Program Overview
The McCluskey Arts & Heritage Fund was established in 2011 at the initiative of Helen McCluskey, Robert Sr.'s wife and a lifelong patron of the Columbus arts community. The Fund supports community arts programming, public installations, youth theater and music education, heritage preservation projects, and cultural festivals that strengthen civic identity and neighborhood vitality in Franklin County and surrounding communities. Over its history, the Arts Fund has supported 187 discrete projects, provided direct stipends to over 340 local artists and arts educators, and reached an estimated 94,000 audience members through funded events and exhibitions.
The program prioritizes projects that demonstrate meaningful community engagement, provide access to underrepresented voices, and create lasting cultural assets for neighborhoods underserved by existing arts infrastructure. Recent grants have supported a youth mural initiative in the Franklinton neighborhood, a bilingual community theater program in partnership with the Columbus Metropolitan Library, and a documentary oral history project preserving the stories of African American families who migrated to Columbus during the Great Migration.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, school, library system, or government cultural agency. Individual artists may apply through a fiscal sponsor.
- Project must be based in or primarily serve audiences within Franklin County or the central Ohio seven-county area.
- Proposals must include a community engagement plan describing how the project will involve local residents in its creation or presentation.
- Funded projects must be accessible to the public at no cost or at a reduced admission price for low-income attendees.
Application Process
Applications for the Arts & Heritage Fund open each January and close May 1. Submissions require a project narrative (2,500 words maximum), a budget, work samples or portfolio (for artist applicants), and a letter confirming fiscal sponsorship if applicable. The Arts Advisory Committee reviews proposals in May and June, with awards announced by July 15. Funds are disbursed in a single tranche upon execution of the grant agreement.
Emergency Family Relief Fund
Program Overview
The Emergency Family Relief Fund was added to the Foundation's program portfolio in 2018 in response to a growing number of referrals from partner agencies encountering families in acute crisis who fell outside the eligibility criteria of existing public assistance programs. The Relief Fund provides rapid-response grants of up to $2,500 per household for families facing housing displacement, catastrophic medical expenses not covered by insurance, domestic violence relocation costs, or sudden income loss due to employer closure or disability. Since its inception, the fund has disbursed emergency aid to over 860 Ohio households.
What distinguishes the Emergency Family Relief Fund from the Foundation's other programs is its speed. The standard review-to-disbursement timeline is 10 business days, compared to the three-to-six-month cycle of our competitive grant programs. Applications are accepted directly from families or through referring social service agencies, shelters, hospital social workers, school counselors, and faith-based organizations. Follow-up data collected at 90 days and six months post-assistance shows that 88% of recipient families achieve housing stability within 90 days, and 71% report sustained financial recovery at the six-month mark.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicant must be an Ohio resident or a referring Ohio-based social service agency on behalf of an Ohio resident.
- Household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or the applicant must demonstrate that a sudden qualifying event has reduced household income below this threshold.
- Qualifying events include: involuntary job loss, medical emergency, domestic violence, natural disaster, or death of a primary wage earner.
- Funds may be used for rent or mortgage assistance, utility arrears, medical co-pays, transportation, or temporary relocation costs.
- Individuals may receive Emergency Relief Fund assistance no more than once in any 24-month period.
Application Process
Emergency Relief applications are accepted year-round through our online portal or by phone. Referring agencies may submit applications on behalf of families with the family's written consent. Each application requires a brief narrative describing the crisis, documentation of the qualifying event (eviction notice, medical bill, termination letter, or equivalent), and proof of Ohio residency. The Foundation's emergency response coordinator reviews applications within five business days and issues a determination within 10 business days. Approved funds are disbursed directly to landlords, utilities, medical providers, or other vendors whenever possible.