The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) Awards Its First Strategic Grant

COLUMBUS, Ohio - May 1, 2018 - PRLog -- The Ohio State Bar Foundation ("OSBF") today announced that its first strategic grant will be awarded to Issue Media Group, through Cincinnati Development Fund acting as its fiscal agent ("IMG"). IMG will use the funds to implement a comprehensive communication and engagement strategy to improve the civics knowledge of adult Ohioans.

"Today, May 1, is Law Day, which is the perfect time to launch a project to equip Ohio adults with the knowledge to become better-informed citizens," said Carol Seubert Marx, Ohio lawyer and president of the OSBF Board of Trustees. "We're excited to award IMG a year-long grant of $100,000, which may be renewed annually for a three-year total of up to $300,000. We look forward to watching their progress on this program."

IMG will launch a multi-faceted communication strategy through its Ohio-based digital publications, Soapbox Cincinnati and Fresh Water Cleveland, to improve the civics knowledge of adults in Ohio using a digital solutions journalism storytelling approach, including editorial feature writing, photography, and digital and socialized content creation with distribution through social channels for sharing and promotion, as well as a digital/social survey tool. An accompanying event strategy will inspire conversations at community gathering centers and libraries. Content created will be archived digitally and available for repurposing throughout a participating partner network.

The award to IMG is $100,000, renewable annually for two years for a total of up to $300,000 over a 36-month performance period beginning on June 1, 2018.

OSBF's strategic grantmaking initiative was open to any interested organization in the U.S. It sought proposals that offered ideas to reach Ohioans with the goal of helping them to better understand our democracy and judicial system, along with the governmental structures that affect them and their communities.

"The primary election taking place next week underscores the need for citizens to understand how their government works," said Marx. "If they don't, they're less likely to be engaged."

While OSBF has awarded more than $12 million in grants since 1992, this is the first strategic grantmaking program the organization has launched.

The organization grants hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to groups such as the Law and Leadership Institute, Ohio Domestic Violence Network and the Ronald McDonald House.

About Issue Media Group

Issue Media Group is a Detroit-based media company that publishes online magazines about growth, investment, and the people leading communities into the new economy. Markets covered include 20 cities and regions across the U.S. In addition to weekly online journalism, email newsletters and custom publications, IMG engages readers and communities with events, speaker series, social media and a solutions journalism approach to reporting and storytelling. http://www.issuemediagroup.com

About Cincinnati Development Fund

Cincinnati Development Fund (CDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit lending institution that fills a gap not covered by traditional lenders. CDF provides  funding for real estate development in under-served markets in the Greater Cincinnati area. They also offer facilities and equipment funding for nonprofit organizations in our region. http://www.cindevfund.org/

About the Ohio State Bar Foundation

The Ohio State Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization that works to advance the law and build a better justice system. We believe our democracy works better when people understand the law and have fair and equal access to justice. For more information about the Ohio State Bar Foundation, please visit https://osbf.org/.