As nonprofits across the region face mounting uncertainty, from government funding cuts to the impacts of a federal shutdown, Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF), in collaboration with bi3, BT Rise, Interact for Health, and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, is stepping up to help strengthen and sustain the organizations that serve our community’s most vulnerable residents.
Together, these philanthropic partners have launched the Better Together Fund, a collective response to the urgent needs of our region’s nonprofit sector. The fund is designed to help organizations adapt, collaborate, and build long-term sustainability during a time when demand for services is rising while resources are shrinking.
“Nonprofits are at a crossroads,” said Rasheda Cromwell, Chief Impact Officer of Greater Cincinnati Foundation. “They are being asked to do more with less — navigating funding cuts, increased need, and policy uncertainty. The Better Together Fund is about meeting this moment with unity and purpose. It’s about ensuring the nonprofits that hold our communities together have the support they need to continue their vital work.”
GCF seeded the fund with a $2 million investment and is actively engaging other funders and donor-advised fundholders to join in supporting this coordinated effort.
The Better Together Fund will provide grants in three key areas:
- Capacity Building: Up to $25,000 to strengthen leadership, financial sustainability, and core systems.
- Shared Services and Arrangements: Up to $50,000 to explore joint back-office solutions such as staffing, co-location, and IT infrastructure.
- Collaborative Partnerships and Mergers: Up to $100,000 to support strategic collaborations that lower costs, eliminate duplication, and expand community impact.
In addition to grant funding, participating nonprofits will also receive coaching, training, and consulting services from regional capacity-building partners—including RevJen, Leadership Council for Nonprofits, OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence, and Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio. These partners will help organizations pivot their revenue models, strengthen infrastructure, and develop long-term sustainability plans during this critical time.
Grant applications open November 5 at gcfdn.org/bettertogetherfund. Eligible organizations must serve residents in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region (Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County, Indiana). Priority will be given to nonprofits with a sustained history of impact, measurable outcomes, and a collaborative mindset focused on long-term resilience. To be considered for funding, a complete application must be submitted by November 24.
“One thing we know with certainty is that communities are stronger when nonprofits thrive,” Cromwell said. “This fund helps the helpers — the organizations that show up every day for families in need. We’re proud to join forces with bi3, BT Rise, Interact for Health, and United Way of Greater Cincinnati to invest in a stronger, more resilient social sector. Because we truly are better when we work together.”
