What is the Short North Foundation?

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The Foundation is committed to advancing the creative spirit, diversity, and vitality of these neighborhoods. The Short North Foundation provides a forum for the “combined voice” of the neighborhoods to ensure continued growth and vitality.

The Short North Foundation is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization with neighborhood representation from the following area organizations: Short North Civic Association, Short North Alliance, Friends of Goodale Park, Italian Village Society, Italian Village Commission,  Victorian Village Commission, and Harrison West Society.

The Short North Foundation was created in 2000 to help leverage the efforts of all the Short North organizations by providing time, money and talent. The Foundation fosters partnerships within and among the neighborhood organizations to further enhance the lives of all who live, work, and play in the Short North area of Columbus,Ohio. The Foundation strives to facilitate a collaborative dialog among the various Short North neighborhood and business organizations toward a collective vision for the district.

2024-2025 Grants

/ Chet Ridenour / Leave a comment

Nov. 20, 2025 — **UPDATE: Our grant program has been paused after allocating the remaining funds to neighborhood projects. Check back for future grant cycles if/when they become available.

June 1, 2025

Dear Short North Community,

Over the last two years, the SNF has been working to institute a major change in our grant-making process which necessitated our taking a hiatus.

Based on the wishes of our primary donor to see funding go towards larger more impactful initiatives, we are unveiling a new Short North Foundation application process.

What Hasn’t Changed

  • The priorities:  Projects should attempt to meet one or more of the following:
    • Artistic
    • Historical
    • One that brings people together, within the boundaries of the greater Short North
    • Permanent
    • Not programmatic/event-driven
    • Represents the diversity of the Short North
  • Additional Funding:  Organizations will have or be in the process of securing funding beyond the SNF grant, which has historically funded up to 50% of the total project costs.   

What Has Changed

  • Grant requests should be for no less than $10K.
  • No application deadline-this is an open call until funds have been expended.
  • A higher priority will be placed on neighborhood organization requests with an emphasis on initiatives that serve all.
  • Organizations must plan to complete the project within a year of receiving funding unless an extension is approved.
  • Organizations must complete a midpoint and final report.

Process

  • Organizations will complete an on-line application which can be saved and edited up until it is submitted.
  • If the SNF believes a project should move forward the organization may be invited to an in-person session to respond to questions and provide additional support materials.
  • If the SNF approves a project for funding half of the grant funding will be provided at the onset.  The second half of the grant will be released upon the successful completion of a mid-way report.

Grant Application Link

  • By scanning on the QR below or use link to go to the application.

Please direct any questions to:

Sincerely,

    ~   The Short North Foundation

2022 Short North Foundation Grants

/ Chet Ridenour / Leave a comment

Short North Foundation Accepting Grant Requests

Organizations Supporting Area Art and Architecture Projects Encouraged to Apply

COLUMBUS, OH (June 7, 2022)—As part of its continuing mission to support advancements in the Short North, the Short North Foundation is now accepting requests for grants between $1,000 and $5,000 from area organizations with projects taking place in or around the neighborhood. Specifically, the Foundation seeks capital projects that:

  • benefit Short North area residents
  • unite Short North neighborhoods
  • incorporate or preserve public works of art and architecture
  • promote the neighborhoods’ diversity, equity and inclusion
  • reflect the historic nature of the Short North neighborhoods
  • bring residents together

The deadline to submit a grant proposal is Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Applicants are able to apply for up to 50% of the total project cost, and those requiring multiple-year funding will be considered. Past projects that have been funded by the Foundation include tree plaques in Goodale Park, flowerbeds in Italian Village Park, Gate restoration in Goodale Park, and the Short North Pocket Parks Campaign. 

Grant guidelines are available at via this google document, and the application is available here.

About The Short North Foundation

Founded in 2000, the Short North Foundation serves to advance the creative spirit, diversity, and vitality of the Short North Neighborhoods and Short North Arts District. It maintains partnerships with the Friends of Goodale Park, Harrison West Society, Italian Village Commission, Italian Village Society, Short North Alliance, Short North Civic Association, the Victorian Village Commission, Dennison Place Neighborhood Association, Stonewall Columbus, At Home By High, Hubbard Avenue Elementary and others. Since its inception, the Short North Foundation has worked with neighborhood civic organizations to help fund Short North area bench restorations, neighborhood sign programs, bicycle bollards, the Community Campaign for Creating Encounters in Urban Art and History, the Short North Parking Initiative, the Short North Pocket Parks Campaign, and the Short North District Roundtables. Visit shortnorthfoundation.org for more information.

Contact 

Chet Ridenour, President, The Short North Foundation

chesterridenour@gmail.com, 614-506-8100

shortnorthfoundation.org