The Easton Community Foundation is proud to announce the six nonprofit organizations selected as its 2026 Community Foundation Partners, recognizing their outstanding contributions to strengthening and uplifting our local community. Through this initiative, Easton continues its commitment to creating meaningful impact by combining philanthropic support with increased visibility that connects guests to the causes shaping Central Ohio.
Each partner will receive a financial contribution along with in-kind marketing and promotional support, amplifying their mission and increasing awareness of their programs, services, and community impact. Throughout the year, these organizations will be featured across Easton through on-property signage and digital channels, creating opportunities for greater awareness, engagement, and community connections.
Following a remarkable response from nonprofits across the region, the following six organizations have been selected to be highlighted throughout Easton in 2026:
YWCA Columbus (January / February)
Besa (March / April)
PBJ Connections (May / June)
Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) (July / August)
Cancer Support Community Central Ohio (September / October)
Festa (November / December)
Since its debut, the Easton Community Foundation has provided nearly $10 million in financial support to local organizations that strengthen the central Ohio community through services and programming in the areas of education, health and social services. Ninety-nine youth, family-focused, health and educational organizations have been supported through the Foundation’s programs. Primary community-focused initiatives of the Foundation include Cornerstone Charitable Event fundraisers for some of central Ohio’s most respected charities, which have raised exponentially more funds for organizations. The Easton Community Foundation Scholarships for area high schools have provided more than 150, 2-year, renewable scholarships to students. Other initiatives supported or hosted by Easton include youth mentorship and community programming, fundraisers, and events.
In 2025, utilizing spaces around property like the Community Room or Booth, Town Square, parking lots, and retail or restaurant space, many local non-profits like Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, Ruling Our eXperiences Inc. (ROX), The James, The Salvation Army, AngelWorks and Zora’s House hosted events, activations, and fundraisers at Easton.
“There are so many organizations making a meaningful impact across Central Ohio,” said Emily Garvey, Easton’s Director of Marketing. “The Easton Community Foundation is proud to continue to support nonprofits in our community that are working to improve the lives of so many. Our focus this year is supporting organizations that impact a range of community members from young girls and women to those fighting cancer.”
Each partner receives a donation along with in-kind marketing and publicity support that amplifies their mission and connects them with Easton guests throughout the year.
More on the 2026 recipients:
YWCA Columbus is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Since 1886, YWCA Columbus has invested in our community. Driven by courage and compassion, they have offered support and shelter, taken bold stances against discrimination, and answered the needs of our community as it has grown while defying the status quo that puts women, people of color, and the marginalized on unequal footing.
Besa connects people with the community through experiences that change lives. For individuals and businesses in Central Ohio who want to make a meaningful impact, Besa is a nonprofit civic engagement partner that makes giving back easy by connecting people to curated, high-impact volunteer experiences. Unlike one-off volunteer listings or ad-hoc corporate service efforts, Besa offers ongoing, strategic support that strengthens communities and deepens long-term engagement.
PBJ Connections provides professional behavioral health therapy for children, adults and families through horses, counseling and nature. PBJ Connections provides diagnostic assessments to provide the best possible treatment, a team approach in collaboration with parents, schools and referral sources, scholarships for those who do not have adequate insurance coverage or other funding, Eagala-model equine (horse) assisted psychotherapy services to children, adults and families seeking a more experience based therapy program, office-based behavioral health services to children, adults and families and high-quality and evidence-informed mental health services with highly trained therapists.
Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) is the nonprofit authority on girls. ROX conducts large-scale national research with girls, delivers evidence-based programs in schools nationwide and equips adults to better support and empower the girls in their lives.
Cancer Support Community Central Ohio serves individuals impacted by cancer—any diagnosis, any stage—along with their families and support networks. All programs and services are offered at no cost, so participants never face added financial stress or receive a bill. In a warm, welcoming environment, people find connection and community with others who understand what they are going through, sharing experiences, learning together, and building resilience. All programs are led by licensed mental health facilitators with specialized training in emotional and social support for people affected by cancer, helping participants improve their quality of life during and beyond cancer.
Festa strengthens families facing poverty and transforms communities through a proven 3-Generation Family ESL model that serves children, parents, and grandparents simultaneously. By recruiting, training, and mobilizing more than 800 volunteers each year, Festa creates powerful relationships across lines of culture, language, and income, reducing isolation, breaking down prejudice and building mutual understanding. Through this relational model, children and their families gain language, education, confidence, and access to opportunity, while volunteers experience lasting perspective change – creating measurable, community-wide impact that extends far beyond the classroom.
For a full list of all past Easton Community Foundation and Change for Charity partners, please visit our Easton Community Foundation Partner Program page.
Applications:
Applications for the partnership program are accepted through September 1st of the year preceding disbursement. Groups interested in applying for 2027 consideration should visit https://eastontowncenter.com/easton-community-foundation and submit the online application.
