Federal and Ohio law allow any trust funds remaining after the Beneficiary’s death to be retained by Community Fund Ohio and not used to repay Medicaid. However, this does not stop Medicaid from pursuing other assets. If you have questions about an obligation to repay Medicaid after the Beneficiary’s death, please consult an attorney. Community Fund Ohio does not provide legal advice.

A person who establishes a Community Fund Ohio Master Trust or Pooled Medicaid Payback Trust can select an option in the trust documents to leave trust assets remaining at the Beneficiary’s death to Community Fund Ohio. Community Fund Ohio uses those funds to make grants. You or your attorney may call our office with any questions about how to select this option.

The decisions are made by a Committee within Community Fund Ohio’s Board of Directors.

Nonprofit grantees must cash or deposit the grant check within thirty (30) days and provide a written report to Community Fund Ohio within sixty (60) days of receipt of the grant award. The grant award letter specifies the information to be included in the report. For grant expenditures that extend beyond the initial sixty (60) days, an additional, final report must be submitted once all grant funds are expended.

Community Fund Ohio is not responsible if it approves a grant request and the receipt of grant funds causes the recipient or his/her family to lose eligibility for government benefits or otherwise be penalized or harmed by the grant approval. The applicant is responsible for understanding the ramifications of grant approval. For individual grants, Community Fund Ohio typically makes grant checks payable to vendors and will not make grant checks payable to SSI recipients or others whose public benefits eligibility could be affected. If you have questions about the impact of a grant on government benefits, please consult an attorney. Community Fund Ohio does not provide legal advice.

Grant funds must be used for the purpose stated in the application. Individual grant checks are typically made payable to the vendor of the item or service. If you do not use the grant funds, you or the vendor will be required to return the funds promptly to Community Fund Ohio.

After you apply, you will receive communications from Community Fund Ohio by mail, email, and/or phone. If you have questions about a pending application, please call our office.

For information on the time frame and steps in the process, please visit our Grants pages and review the grant application forms and instructions. If you receive a grant, the grant check should be cashed or deposited within 30 days of receipt or by the end of the calendar year, whichever occurs first.

Yes, both current and former trust beneficiaries can apply, but the grant request must be for an eligible purpose. Please visit our Grants pages and review the grant application forms and instructions. Please note that a grant application may be denied if an existing trust has sufficient funds to pay for the item or service.

There is no limit on the number or frequency of applications. However, there are lifetime limits on the dollar amounts that can be awarded to a nonprofit or an individual. Please visit our Grants pages and review the grant application forms and instructions.

Please visit our Grants pages and review the grant application forms and instructions.

Our trusts and our grants both help Ohio residents with disabilities, but they are two different services. A Community Fund Ohio trust is a type of financial account where money can be deposited and used for the benefit of a person with a disability. In contrast, a grant is an award of money from Community Fund Ohio’s endowment to a nonprofit or an individual.