Guardian Savings Bank – 2027 Community Development Grant Program

Community Development Grants Supporting Low- and Moderate-Income Communities in Ohio and Kentucky

Guardian Savings Bank’s Community Development Grant Program provides financial support to nonprofit, governmental, and community-based organizations creating meaningful opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities. Funding priorities include affordable housing, community services, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization.

Applications for the 2027 grant year are now open, with proposals due November 30, 2026.

Organization: Guardian Savings Bank
Support Type: Community development grants
Geographic Focus: Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Lexington, Louisville, and surrounding Guardian Savings Bank markets
Deadline: November 30, 2026

New to corporate grant fundraising?
Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

About the Funder

Guardian Savings Bank is a community-focused financial institution headquartered in the Cincinnati area, with branches serving communities in Ohio and Kentucky.

Through its Community Development Grant Program, Guardian Savings Bank supports organizations and initiatives aligned with Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) objectives. The program is designed to address critical community needs while creating measurable benefits for low- and moderate-income residents and neighborhoods.

Guardian’s broader community development work emphasizes financial literacy, affordable housing, community partnerships, economic opportunity, and neighborhood wellbeing.

What This Program Supports

Priority consideration may be given to programs and projects in the following areas:

Affordable Housing

Programs that support the:

• Development of affordable housing
• Preservation of affordable housing
• Rehabilitation of existing housing
• Accessibility of housing
• Expansion of housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families

Organizations working on housing stability, homeownership accessibility, and neighborhood housing needs may be particularly well aligned.

Community Services

Guardian Savings Bank supports programs providing essential services primarily benefiting low- and moderate-income individuals.

Examples include:

• Financial education and counseling
• Workforce development
• Job training
• Food security programs
• Education initiatives
• Youth development
• Healthcare
• Supportive services
• Homelessness prevention
• Services for individuals and families experiencing housing instability

Economic Development

Funding may support initiatives that expand economic opportunity for low- and moderate-income residents.

Examples include:

• Small business support
• Entrepreneurship programs
• Job creation
• Workforce development
• Employment readiness
• Programs that help residents build economic stability

Applicants should demonstrate how their economic development activities will directly benefit low- and moderate-income individuals or communities.

Neighborhood Revitalization & Community Development

Guardian may also support place-based projects that help improve, stabilize, or revitalize communities.

Potential activities include:

• Community facilities
• Infrastructure improvements
• Community resources
• Neighborhood improvement projects
• Place-based community development initiatives
• Projects designed to address identified gaps or needs within underserved neighborhoods

Geographic Focus

Organizations should serve communities within Guardian Savings Bank’s assessment areas or broader regional markets.

The Bank’s primary CRA assessment areas include:

Greater Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky

Ohio:

• Butler County
• Clermont County
• Hamilton County
• Warren County

Kentucky:

• Boone County
• Campbell County
• Kenton County

Lexington

• Fayette County, Kentucky

Louisville

• Jefferson County, Kentucky

Programs serving surrounding Guardian Savings Bank communities may also be considered.

Applicants should clearly explain the geographic area their program serves and its connection to Guardian Savings Bank’s markets.

Eligibility & Preferences

Organizations should generally:

• Be a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3)
• Be a governmental or community-based organization serving a public purpose
• Serve communities within Guardian Savings Bank’s assessment areas or broader regional markets
• Demonstrate sound financial management
• Have sufficient organizational capacity to implement the proposed project
• Be in good standing with applicable governmental and regulatory agencies
• Primarily benefit low- and moderate-income individuals, families, neighborhoods, or communities

Strong applications should clearly document who will benefit from the proposed program.

Low- and Moderate-Income Benefit

Because this program is closely connected to Guardian Savings Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act objectives, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how their work benefits low- and moderate-income populations.

The proposal should identify:

• The population being served
• The approximate percentage of beneficiaries who are low- or moderate-income
• How income eligibility is determined or documented
• The community need being addressed
• How the proposed program will improve conditions for the target population

This is an especially important component of the application.

Funding Amounts

Guardian Savings Bank does not publish a standard grant amount or maximum request for the 2027 Community Development Grant Program.

Applicants should request an amount appropriate to the scope of the proposed project and provide a detailed budget explaining how the funds will be used.

The application should identify:

• Amount requested
• Total project or program budget
• Intended use of the grant
• Other confirmed funding
• Other anticipated funding sources

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on factors including:

• Alignment with Guardian Savings Bank’s community development objectives
• Benefit to low- and moderate-income individuals, families, or communities
• Demonstrated community need
• Expected measurable impact
• Organizational capacity
• Financial stewardship
• Feasibility of the proposed program
• Sustainability
• Geographic relevance to Guardian Savings Bank’s communities

Applicants should focus on both immediate program outcomes and the potential for long-term community impact.

Timeline & Review

📅 Application Deadline: November 30, 2026
📅 Review Period: December 2026 – January 2027
📅 Award Notifications: February 2027

All applicants will receive notification regarding the status of their request following the review process.

Application / Request Process

Applicants submit their request through Guardian Savings Bank’s online Community Development Grant page.

Rather than completing a lengthy online grant application, organizations are asked to upload a written grant proposal as a PDF.

The proposal should include:

Organization Information

• Organization name and address
• Website
• Primary contact information
• Mission statement
• Organizational history
• Proof of nonprofit status, if applicable
• Description of the organization’s service area

Funding Request

• Grant amount requested
• Total project or program budget
• Proposed use of grant funds
• Other confirmed or anticipated funding

Program Description

• Description of the proposed project or program
• Community need being addressed
• Target population
• Percentage of beneficiaries who are low- and moderate-income
• Method used to document income eligibility or community benefit
• Geographic area served
• Number of people, households, or communities expected to benefit

Community Impact

Applicants should explain:

• How the program benefits low- and moderate-income populations
• Expected outcomes
• Measurable impact
• How success will be evaluated
• The community need or service gap being addressed

Timeline & Sustainability

Include:

• Anticipated start and completion dates
• Key milestones
• Project deliverables
• Community partners
• Plans for sustaining the program beyond the grant period
• Expected long-term impact

The online submission form also asks applicants to identify any Guardian Savings Bank employees who serve on the organization’s board.

Uploaded proposals must be submitted as a PDF with a maximum file size of 5 MB.

Apply / Learn More:

➡️ https://guardiansavingsbank.com/community-development/apply-for-a-grant/

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a particularly strong fit for organizations that:

• Serve the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Lexington, or Louisville regions
• Primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents
• Work in affordable housing or housing stability
• Provide workforce development or job training
• Address food insecurity
• Provide financial education or counseling
• Support youth and education
• Provide healthcare or supportive services
• Prevent homelessness
• Support small businesses or entrepreneurship
• Lead neighborhood revitalization or community development projects
• Can demonstrate clear, measurable community outcomes

Guardian Savings Bank’s Community Development Grant Program is especially well suited for place-based organizations that can clearly connect their work to the needs of low- and moderate-income residents in the Bank’s regional markets.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Application Deadline: November 30, 2026
Review Period: December 2026 – January 2027
Award Notification: February 2027
Funding Amount: Not publicly specified
Geographic Priority: Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Lexington, Louisville, and surrounding Guardian Savings Bank markets
Best Suited For: Community-based nonprofits and public entities serving low- and moderate-income populations
Priority Areas: Affordable housing, community services, economic development, and neighborhood revitalization
Application Format: Written proposal uploaded as a PDF