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J William & Mary Helen Straker Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.8M
Grant Range
$0K - $2.5M
Decision Time
2mo
Success Rate
15%

J William & Mary Helen Straker Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,844,396 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $85,405,550 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $250 - $2,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Zanesville and Muskingum County, Ohio
  • Decision Time: Approximately 4-8 weeks
  • Application Method: Rolling and fixed deadlines (varies by program)

Contact Details

Address: 925 Military Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701

Phone: (740) 297-7007 (office hours: 9am-2pm Monday-Thursday)

Email: info@strakerfoundation.org

Website: www.strakerfoundation.org

Pre-Application Support: The foundation welcomes and encourages applicants to contact them before submitting applications. They explicitly state "we want to help; we don't want applicants to struggle."

Overview

The J. William & Mary Helen Straker Charitable Foundation was established in May 1994 as a private foundation honoring its founders' commitment to supporting the Muskingum County community. With over $85 million in assets and annual giving of approximately $4.8 million, the foundation has become a transformational force in Zanesville and Muskingum County, Ohio. Under the leadership of President and Executive Director Susan Straker Holdren since 2020, the foundation has invested more than $20 million into Muskingum County and awarded nearly $5 million in a single calendar year. Ten descendants of J. William and Mary Helen Straker currently serve on the board of trustees. The foundation supports initiatives in arts and sciences, education, youth character development, civic development, and community strengthening, with particular emphasis on free enterprise and "orderly municipal development." Recent major gifts include a transformational $1.5 million donation to Ohio University Zanesville's nursing program—the largest charitable donation ever made to that institution.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants (up to $15,000) Rolling applications through foundation website. Recent cycle awarded $200,000 to 20 organizations. Ideal for smaller community projects, equipment purchases, and program support.

Regular/Large Grants ($15,000 - $2,500,000+) Primary annual cycle typically opens in January and closes in late January, with decisions by end of February. Recent cycle received $7.1 million in requests for $1.1 million available. No maximum cap—foundation encourages applicants to request what they truly need.

"Start to Finish" Grants (up to $20,000) Special cycle for projects that can be fully completed with a single grant. Recent cycle awarded $320,000 to 21 organizations.

Small School Grants (up to $10,000) Available to school districts for field trips, classroom libraries, educational equipment and supplies, and learning projects. Applications accepted through December 15.

Youth-Led Community Grants (up to $2,500) For students ages 5-18 residing in Muskingum County. Supports youth-designed community improvement projects. Requires adult supervisor.

Priority Areas

Education Enhancement

  • Nursing and healthcare education programs
  • Educational facility improvements
  • Library resources and literacy programs
  • Educational equipment and technology
  • Professional development for educators

Youth Character and Development

  • Programs enabling young people to grow in character and integrity
  • Youth athletics and recreation (e.g., inclusive flag football leagues)
  • Educational camps and enrichment activities
  • Youth-led community service projects

Arts and Sciences

  • Community exposure to arts programming
  • Science and technology education
  • Cultural enrichment initiatives

Civic Development and Community Strengthening

  • Healthcare system improvements
  • Public safety equipment (fire departments, emergency services)
  • Infrastructure and facility improvements
  • Sustainable agriculture education
  • State park and outdoor recreation access
  • Community health initiatives

Free Enterprise and Municipal Development

  • Economic development projects
  • Business education programs
  • Community infrastructure

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus on Muskingum County means grants outside this geographic area are not funded. The foundation expects student groups to demonstrate fundraising efforts before receiving support, indicating they don't fund activities where beneficiaries show no personal investment.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Ten descendants of J. William and Mary Helen Straker serve on the board of trustees, maintaining the founders' vision and family legacy.

Executive Leadership

Susan Straker Holdren - President, Executive Director & Treasurer Daughter of founders J. William and Mary Helen Straker. A lifelong Muskingum County resident, Holdren previously served as professor and dean at Zane State College (retiring in 2015) before becoming a board member in 2017. She assumed leadership of the foundation following her father's passing.

Key Quotes from Susan Holdren:

On student investment: "We expect students to have 'some skin in the game'" before funding educational activities.

On her father's character: "He was the smartest person I've ever met, and he was grounded in fairness."

On transformational giving: "These types of transformational gifts are important to both the University and the Muskingum County community. We are helping to create a legacy of education that addresses both current needs and benefits Muskingum County long into the future."

On nursing education: "Our support of the Ohio University Zanesville nursing program aligns with our Foundation's mission to enhance and empower lives in Muskingum County. Training outstanding nurses, many of whom stay in Muskingum County to live and work, has an immediate and positive effect on our health care systems."

On outdoor recreation: "The J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation believes that Dillon State Park is one of Muskingum County's gems. This work continues the vision of our founders; my parents were enthusiastic about helping children have access to healthy, outdoor activities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application Portal: All applications submitted through www.strakerfoundation.org

Eligible Applicants: 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, churches, and government entities serving Muskingum County

Pre-Application Consultation: Strongly encouraged. Foundation staff available at (740) 297-7007 or info@strakerfoundation.org to discuss proposals before submission.

Application Cycles:

  • Large/Regular Grants: Annual cycle opens January 6, closes January 30
  • Small Grants: Rolling basis throughout year
  • Small School Grants: Open January through December 15
  • Youth-Led Community Grants: Specific cycles announced (recent deadline October 28)
  • "Start to Finish" Grants: Special cycles announced periodically

Required Documentation:

  • Completed online application form
  • Letter of support
  • Current financial information
  • School applications require school treasurer's signature
  • Construction/equipment requests over $50,000 require three bids
  • Data demonstrating documented community need
  • Evidence of fundraising efforts (particularly for student/youth groups)
  • Fiscally responsible budget

Decision Timeline

Large Grant Cycle: Applications close late January, decisions announced by end of February (approximately 4 weeks)

Small Grants: Variable timeline, generally 4-8 weeks

"Start to Finish" Grants: Recipients announced by end of October for fall cycles

Notification: Applicants contacted directly; major grants often announced through local media and foundation website

Success Rates

The foundation experiences high demand. In the 2024 large grant cycle, they received $7.1 million in requests for $1.1 million available (approximately 15% funded by dollar amount). The foundation reported receiving more applicants than ever in their 2025 cycle, highlighting growing community needs. In 2024, the foundation awarded nearly 170 grants across various categories.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Demonstrate Documented Need with Data: "In all grant cycles, priority is given to requests that clearly address a documented need in Muskingum County." Applicants must use data to substantiate the community need their organization addresses.

Show Personal Investment: The foundation values beneficiaries having "some skin in the game." Student groups must demonstrate fundraising efforts before receiving support. This reflects the founders' values of "hard work and diligent effort, coupled with prudent and conservative management."

Request What You Actually Need: The foundation has no maximum cap and explicitly encourages applicants to "ask for the amount they truly need." However, budgets must be fiscally responsible.

Align with Founders' Values: Projects should perpetuate free enterprise and "orderly municipal development," enable young people to grow in character and integrity, enhance education, or increase community exposure to arts and sciences.

Talk to Them First: The foundation strongly encourages pre-application consultation, stating "we want to help; we don't want applicants to struggle." Use their office hours (9am-2pm Monday-Thursday) to strengthen your application.

Focus on Long-Term Community Impact: The foundation values projects that create lasting legacies. As Holdren noted about their nursing program gift: "We are helping to create a legacy of education that addresses both current needs and benefits Muskingum County long into the future."

Recent Successful Projects

Healthcare and Education ($1.5 million): Ohio University Zanesville nursing program facility renovations and equipment—the largest gift ever made to OUZ

Safety Equipment (multiple grants): Three fire departments funded for life-saving equipment (Perry Township, South Zanesville, Tri-Valley Joint Fire Departments)

Youth Programs ($17,000+): John Glenn Flag Football and Cheer for creating an inclusive and affordable league

Education Facilities ($18,000+): Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center for safety and security enhancements at Heart to Heart school for students with cognitive needs

Community Sustainability ($5,529): Foodworks Alliance "Wastey to Tastey" program providing employment skills for women in recovery while feeding hungry people

Youth Safety ($20,000): Avondale Youth Center camera system repair after storm damage

Sustainable Agriculture: Agri-Park for agriculture education programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic focus is absolute: Only Muskingum County, Ohio projects are funded—ensure your project clearly serves this community
  • Data drives decisions: Document community need with specific statistics and evidence; priority explicitly given to data-backed proposals
  • Pre-application consultation is your secret weapon: The foundation wants to help strengthen applications before submission—take advantage of this
  • Student/youth projects must show fundraising effort: Demonstrate beneficiary investment before requesting foundation support
  • No artificial grant caps: Request the full amount needed for project success, but ensure budget is prudent and justified
  • Transformational projects get transformational support: The foundation has made gifts exceeding $1.5 million for projects aligned with their mission
  • Timing matters: Large grant cycle is highly competitive with only ~15% of requested funds available; consider small grant or special cycles for better odds
  • Family values guide decisions: Align proposals with founders' emphasis on hard work, character development, free enterprise, and community improvement

References

All sources accessed December 2024.

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