Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $4,173,850 (2023)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: 2-4 months depending on program
- Grant Range: $10,000 - $300,000 (varies by program)
- Geographic Focus: Primarily greater Toledo, OH area; national for Early Childhood Education program
- Total Assets: $116.6 million
Contact Details
Address: 539 East Front Street, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Website: www.stranahanfoundation.org
Phone: 419-882-5575
Email:
- General grants inquiries: grants@stranahanfoundation.org
- Application questions: jlake@stranahanfoundation.org (Janna Lake, contact person)
Overview
Founded in 1944 by brothers Frank D. and Robert A. Stranahan, founders of the Champion Spark Plug Company in Toledo, Ohio, the Stranahan Foundation is a family-governed philanthropic organization now welcoming its fifth generation of leaders. With assets of $116.6 million and annual giving of approximately $4.2 million (76 grants in 2023), the Foundation supports vital nonprofit programs that enhance quality of life for individuals, families, and communities. The Foundation operates two distinct grantmaking approaches: a Community Stewardship Program focused on the greater Toledo area, and a national Early Childhood Education program. Under the leadership of CEO Breta Cooper (joined 2022) and President Patrick Stranahan, the Foundation has evolved toward a more focused, responsive, and learning-oriented approach to grantmaking.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
Community Stewardship Program
- Grant Range: Up to $35,000 (typically 12-month grants)
- Application Method: Invitation only—organizations must be proactively identified by foundation-designated community stewards
- Focus: Local Toledo-area nonprofits
- Typical range for general grants: $10,000 - $50,000
Small Grants-Immediate Needs Program
- Grant Range: $500 - $5,000
- Eligibility: Local organizations that have been previously funded by the Foundation
- Purpose: Immediate needs and quick-response support
Early Childhood Education Program
- Grant Range: Average $300,000 per grant
- Application Method: Rolling basis with specific funding cycles (spring and fall)
- Geographic Scope: National (U.S.-based organizations)
- Funding Available: Up to $1.5 million per cycle, typically 5 grants
- Focus Areas:
- Innovation: Developing and piloting new approaches for early childhood professionals
- Proven Professional Development: Expanding evidence-based models at scale (5+ programs)
- Support for Providers: Improving professional learning systems and staff retention
Priority Areas
The Foundation funds within five focus areas:
- Education - Emphasis on early childhood education (birth to five), particularly for low-income children
- Physical and Mental Health - Programs improving health outcomes
- Ecological Well-being - Environmental programs in local communities
- Arts & Culture - Cultural programming and access
- Human Services - Services for disadvantaged families and individuals of all ages
Key Evaluation Criteria:
- Address significant community needs
- Innovative or unique approaches to solving problems
- Focus on root causes, not just symptoms
- Efficient use of community resources
- Strong community support from funders, nonprofits, leaders, and beneficiaries
- Clear, measurable results with tracking and reporting ability
- Sustainable financial plan for continuing support after grant period
- Coordination and collaboration among nonprofits to avoid duplication
What They Don't Fund
- Programs promoting a specific religion
- Deficit reduction
- Endowment fund campaigns
- Government-controlled or government-sponsored projects
- Individuals
- Organizations that discriminate in leadership, staffing, or service provision
- Projects outside the United States
- Personal businesses
Governance and Leadership
The Stranahan Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised primarily of family members—one third-generation member and eleven fourth-generation descendants of founders Frank and Robert Stranahan, plus one non-family member whose expertise benefits the Foundation's work.
Leadership Team:
- Patrick Stranahan, President
- Breta Cooper, CEO (joined August 2022) - Brings 25 years of philanthropic experience, previously at Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation. Cooper engages 200+ family members in the Foundation's philanthropic efforts.
- Hillary Beuschel, Program Director (joined January 2021) - Staffs grantmaking committees, oversees grantmaking programs, and builds intentional learning opportunities
- Heidi McPheeters, Program Officer - Supports grantees and family members in Community Stewardship Grantmaking
- Rachel McDonald, Program Officer (joined June 2024) - Engages with grantee organizations and family members across all programs and geographic areas
- Sheila Bargaheiser, Grants & Operations Coordinator - Provides administrative support for events, meetings, and communications
Quote from CEO Breta Cooper: "Bellwether helped us evolve the program from a scattered approach... into a more focused, responsive portfolio aimed at learning and growing alongside our grantees." Cooper emphasizes the Foundation's commitment to "intentional focus on learning and applying what we've learned" and making grantmaking "more participatory" with family members serving as grantmakers.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
The Stranahan Foundation uses a two-phase application process:
Phase 1: Letter of Inquiry (Required for All Applicants)
- ALL potential applicants must complete a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) as the first step
- Answers should be "brief and clearly stated"
- The Foundation's committee reviews LOIs and decides whether to invite a full application
- Submit through the Foundation's online portal or as directed for specific programs
Phase 2: Full Grant Application (Invitation Only)
- Only organizations whose LOIs are accepted will be invited to submit full proposals
- Applicants must select a grant type before applying:
- Type A - Start Up: Support for launching new programs with new expenses
- Type B - Operating: Support for continuing existing programs
- Type D - Capital: Facility construction or renovation
- Type E - Other: By staff instruction only
- Review sample application forms before starting (available on website)
- If unsure about grant type, contact Janna Lake at jlake@stranahanfoundation.org or 419-882-5575
Community Stewardship Program (Invitation Only)
- No unsolicited applications accepted
- Organizations must be proactively identified by foundation-designated community stewards
- Invitations issued twice annually
- Deadlines shared with invited organizations only
Early Childhood Education Program
- Open application process with specific funding cycles
- Applications submitted via online portal by noon Eastern on deadline dates
- Example timeline from Spring 2025 cycle:
- Application deadline: January 21, 2025
- Notification of advancement to next round: February 21, 2025
- Supplemental information collection: Mid-February to late May
- Award notifications: June 30, 2025
Decision Timeline
General Programs: Grant requests considered twice annually. Timeline varies by program:
- LOI review: Typically 4-6 weeks
- Full proposal to decision: Typically 8-12 weeks after submission
Early Childhood Education Program:
- LOI to first-round notification: ~4 weeks
- Full process from application to award notification: ~5 months
- Organizations notified at each stage of the review process
Notification Methods: Email notifications sent at each decision point
Success Rates
The Foundation awarded 76 grants in 2023 with total giving of $4,173,850 (average grant size: $54,919). Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed.
For the Early Childhood Education program, the Foundation typically awards up to 5 grants per funding cycle, indicating a competitive selection process.
Reapplication Policy
The Foundation's website does not specify an explicit reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. For clarification on whether and when to reapply after an unsuccessful submission, contact grants@stranahanfoundation.org.
Note: For the Early Childhood Education program, organizations may not have active grants with the Stranahan Foundation when applying for a new grant.
Application Success Factors
Based on the Foundation's stated priorities and guidance, successful applications demonstrate:
Alignment with Guiding Principles:
- Programs that help individuals become "self-sufficient" and "independent"
- Respect for individuals, communities, and environment
- Support for freedom of thought, speech, religion, and economic choices
- Embrace of positive societal change
Strategic Program Design:
- Focus on root causes of community problems, not just symptoms
- Innovative or unique approaches to solving issues
- Evidence of efficient resource use
- Plans for coordination and collaboration among nonprofits to strengthen service provision and avoid duplication
Community Support and Engagement:
- Demonstrated support from multiple stakeholders: potential funders, other nonprofits, community leaders, and potential beneficiaries
- For Early Childhood Education: Leadership representative of affected communities and demonstrated history of collaborating with families, communities, and early childhood professionals
Measurable Impact:
- Ability to track and report clear, measurable results
- For innovation grants: Include evaluation plans to understand "what works"
- For proven models: Evidence of positive learning outcomes and implementation impact
Sustainability:
- "Thoughtful, reasonable plan for obtaining continuing financial support from internal and/or external sources once Foundation grant funds are expended"
- Long-term thinking about program viability
For Early Childhood Education Specifically:
- Commitment to serving populations that are at least 60% low-income (families with incomes at or below 200% of federal poverty level or 50% of area median household income)
- Proven track record and evidence of impact
- Understanding of community and professional contexts
- Potential for expanding long-term impact
Application Quality:
- Keep LOI answers "brief and clearly stated"—the Foundation values concision and clarity
- Review sample applications before submitting
- Contact foundation staff if uncertain about any aspect of the application
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Two distinct pathways: The Community Stewardship Program is invitation-only for local Toledo-area organizations, while the Early Childhood Education program accepts applications nationally—understand which track applies to you
- LOI is critical: ALL applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry first; keep it brief and clear as this is your gateway to a full application invitation
- Collaboration is valued: The Foundation explicitly prioritizes proposals showing coordination among nonprofits and efficient use of community resources—demonstrate partnerships
- Root causes over symptoms: Frame your program as addressing underlying problems, not just providing services; show innovative approaches to systemic issues
- Sustainability matters: Have a concrete plan for continuing the program after grant funds end; the Foundation wants to see long-term impact, not dependency
- Learning orientation: Under CEO Breta Cooper's leadership, the Foundation emphasizes "learning and growing alongside grantees"—be prepared to evaluate, measure, and adapt
- Contact them when uncertain: The Foundation provides specific contact information (Janna Lake) for application questions—use this resource rather than guessing about fit or process
- Family-governed means values-driven: The Foundation's emphasis on independence, self-sufficiency, and positive societal change reflects its founders' principles—align your mission narrative with these values
References
- Stranahan Foundation Official Website - Main Page. https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Stranahan Foundation - Grantmaking Priorities. https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/main/grantmaking-priorities/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Stranahan Foundation - Application Instructions. https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/main/application-instructions/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Stranahan Foundation - Grantmaking Principles. https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/main/grantmaking-principles/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Stranahan Foundation - Meet Our Team. https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/about-us/meet-our-team/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Stranahan Foundation - Community Stewardship Program. https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/main/community-stewardship-program/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Stranahan Foundation - Early Childhood Education Program. https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/main/early-childhood-education-program/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Stranahan Foundation - Early Childhood Education Funding Cycle. https://www.stranahanfoundation.org/main/early-childhood-education-funding-cycle/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Bellwether - How the Stranahan Foundation Is Shaping the Future of Early Childhood Education. https://bellwether.org/blog/how-the-stranahan-foundation-is-shaping-the-future-of-early-childhood-education/ (Accessed January 2025)
- Instrumentl - Stranahan Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/stranahan-foundation (Accessed January 2025)
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Stranahan Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/346514375 (Accessed January 2025)