Columbus is getting a serious summer programming boost. Mayor Andrew Ginther announced Monday that the city will pump $7.5 million into its Summer Grant Program, spreading the money across 105 community groups as part of a more-than-$17 million push to expand youth activities and family supports citywide.
The grants are set to underwrite neighborhood camps, enrichment programs and other services for kids and teens, with most providers expected to get rolling in June. City leaders cast the move as a targeted investment meant to keep young people busy and safe, while also helping families shoulder housing and other costs during the long school break.
According to WSYX, the $7.5 million Summer Grant Program is one piece of a larger package that also includes about $10 million in Elevate funding that will be shared among 109 community groups. WSYX reports the 105 Summer Grant awardees represent roughly half of the organizations that applied this cycle, and officials described the overall spending as a mix of direct youth programming and broader family empowerment supports. The city plans to work with nonprofit partners to move the money out to neighborhood providers.
"A lot of federal funding has gone away that we've had access to the last several years and a tighter budget," Ginther said, explaining that shifts in federal support shaped how this year's dollars were carved up, as reported by WSYX. He added that city staff worked with Council to zero in on programs that have already proven effective in neighborhoods with the highest needs.
Where the money will go
City records show Summer Grant dollars typically flow to academic support programs, health and wellness efforts, and career-readiness activities in higher-need neighborhoods. The city awarded roughly $8.6 million to 112 organizations in 2025, according to the City of Columbus.
On a parallel track, the city's Elevate!All initiative sets aside a separate $10 million pool meant to build up nonprofit capacity and support housing, financial security and behavioral health work. That structure is laid out in the Elevate notice of funding availability from the City of Columbus. Together, city officials say, the Summer Grant Program and Elevate dollars are designed to deliver frontline youth services while keeping the organizations that run them stable enough to keep their doors open.
What to expect next
City officials say the awards will now move into the less glamorous but crucial phase of contracts, paperwork and reporting requirements. Funded nonprofits will be expected to track outcomes and comply with city rules, with staff monitoring results throughout the summer.
Many organizations that applied did not make the cut this round, and leaders are urging those groups to review city guidance so they are better positioned for future opportunities. Families, meanwhile, should start seeing program schedules and locations from local providers and community partners in the coming weeks, as organizers gear up for a summer that is suddenly a lot more funded.
