Youngstown Foundation Continues Delivering on Steady Commitment: 2026 Growth Report

This article appeared in the Business Journal’s 2026 Growth Report here. 

In a year marked by inflation, a government shutdown and workforce challenges across the region, the Youngstown Foundation continued to do what it has done for more than a century: provide steady support for the Mahoning Valley through grants and gifts to local nonprofit organizations.

“We remain guided by our mission to providing financial assistance to charitable, scientific and educational institutions in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, with a continued focus on the city of Youngstown,” said Lynnette Forde, the foundation’s president.

Founded in 1918, The Youngstown Foundation has endured through wars, recessions and social change. The past year also brought some challenges to local nonprofits in the form of rising costs, staffing shortages and growing demand for essential services. As a responsive grant maker, the foundation supported the efforts of more than 100 nonprofit organizations focused on healthcare, education, economic development, arts and culture and other community priorities, ranging from long-established institutions to smaller organizations.

In 2026, the foundation intends to continue its legacy of partnership and collaboration with local nonprofits.

“Thanks to our founders and donors, we are fortunate to be in a strong position to provide financial support to organizations that contribute to a healthier community,” Forde said. “Through ongoing evaluation, the foundation remains focused on understanding and sustaining the long-term impact of the work we support.”

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About the Youngstown Foundation

Founded in 1918, the Youngstown Foundation is the largest and oldest grantmaking foundation in the Mahoning Valley and one of the largest in Ohio. The Foundation is committed to supporting local donors, nonprofit agencies, professional advisors and community leaders who help shape its mission and future. For more information, visit www.youngstownfoundation.org

 

Among nearly 80 grants awarded in 2025, the Youngstown Foundation provided $200,000 to the Central YMCA to support free memberships for Youngstown youth and kitchen improvements at the downtown branch. The foundation has been awarding grants like this since 1918. Pictured are (from left) Central YMCA Executive Director Dre Brown, Foundation President Lynnette Forde and Beth Scheller, president and CEO of the YMCA of Youngstown.