Cathy and Jeff Lyttle are passionate about supporting the central Ohio community through volunteer service and philanthropy.

This year, the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation entered a collaborative partnership with Dr. Cheavens’ Mood and Personality Studies Lab at The Ohio State University to continue growing the body of research on kindness and its effects on individual and collective well-being.

One central Ohio organization dedicated to helping youth avoid homelessness and find stability is Star House. Originally started in 2006 as a research study at The Ohio State University, today Star House operates central Ohio’s only drop-in center for youth ages 14-24 who are experiencing homelessness. Located in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood near East 5th Avenue and Cleveland Avenue, the center provides access to safety 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Capital improvement projects are often a critical component of building capacity for nonprofit organizations. Whether an organization is buying a new or larger building, renovating an existing facility, or purchasing new equipment or technology, these projects help nonprofits enhance their services and increase their impact.

With deep roots in the community, the Junior League of Columbus has worked alongside The Columbus Foundation for many years. The organization was among the first nonprofits to create an Organization Endowment Fund at The Columbus Foundation, establishing the Junior League Fund in 1957.

Inspired by Roberta Jones-Booth's love and unwavering support of her community, family and friends, her family established the Roberta Jones Booth Scholarship Fund in 2004. The scholarship supports students who are graduating seniors from Marion Franklin High School or who reside within the Marion Franklin Civic Association boundaries.

In 1993, J.W. established the John W. Wolfe Permanent Administrative Fund at The Columbus Foundation to provide ongoing support for the operation of the Foundation. Over the past three decades, the fund has helped The Columbus Foundation remain a welcoming place for donors, nonprofit leaders, and community members, including supporting the development and maintenance of the Foundation’s beautiful grounds.

In 2005, Barbara Brandt established the Brandt Family Next Generation Fund, initially allocating $250 a year to each grandchild to grant to a nonprofit of their choice. However, before they could donate to their selected nonprofits, Barbara stipulated that the grandchildren first conduct research on the organizations.

The Columbus Foundation, its Supporting Foundations, and its donors have long supported Catholic Social Services through a variety of grants—including targeted investments to support the operation and renovation of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, increase recruitment for the Foster Grandparent Program, and help launch the pilot of Stay the Course®, among numerous other investments.

Thanks to unwavering support from the community, the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH) is building a new crisis care center to provide hope for adults experiencing a mental health and/or addiction crisis. When it opens in spring 2025, it will provide a person-centered approach to crisis care and offer a comprehensive range of services designed to meet an individual’s unique needs.