For more photos from the 2025 Annual Membership Meeting click on this link.

Introduction

The BLF story. Founded more than 37 years ago by members of the Co-op Bookstore to honor Bill Long, we follow the principles that Bill championed: participatory democracy and local impact. Our members, board, and the organizations and causes we support are all part of the Oberlin community.

The BLF reach. This year 26 organizations have submitted project requests totaling just over $85,000! During this year's annual meeting the membership will discuss the applications and then vote to fund the requests.

The BLF approach. All of our grants go to meet the needs of the Oberlin community. Our organization has no employees and few expenses. Our application process is as simple as possible. With a donation of $10 or more ($5 for students), anyone can become a member of BLF and eligible to vote on the funding levels.

The BLF Annual Meeting. During the Annual Meeting members conduct the Foundation business - reviewing the activities of BLF since the last annual meeting, hearing financial details, saying goodbye and thanks to outgoing trustees and electing new board trustees. Then members hear from representatives of the non-profit causes about their organizations and missions related to their grant applications, after which the members vote on how to distribute grant funding! The event begins at 6:30 pm with a social reception. The business portion of the meeting begins promptly at 7:00 pm and usually ends before 9:30 pm. Details from the meeting are posted on this website.

Join us or renew! It’s easy to do. Go to our Documents page, download the Donation & Membership Form  and return it with your contribution, or contribute through PayPal. (link button below).

Help us spread the word about BLF. Ask your friends to become members, too!

Bill Long Foundation 2026 Annual Membership Meeting Agenda

Wednesday April 15th, 2026

6:30 p.m. - Social Half-Hour  |  7:00 p.m. - Membership Meeting

Kendal at Oberlin Heiser Auditorium

and livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/BillLongFoundation

Mission: The Bill Long Foundation is a membership-powered community foundation that gives grants to support projects and activities in Oberlin that address basic human needs or enrich cultural life. Membership in the foundation is open to all. Members elect volunteer trustees who manage all operations and award grants based on the vote of members attending the annual meeting.

1. 6:30 p.m. – Social Half–Hour

2. 7:00 p.m. – Call to Order / Welcome - Del Mason

3. Review of 2025 BLF Annual Membership Meeting Minutes - Lilly Dodson, Secretary

         • Motion and vote to approve 2025 Annual Membership Meeting minutes

4. President’s Report - Brandon County, President

5. 2025 Financial Statement and Treasurer’s Report - Sondra Miller, Treasurer

         • Motion and vote to approve 2025 financial statement and Treasurer’s report

6. Membership and Public Relations Report - Brittnei Forlenza, Membership and Public Relations Committee chair & Kathleen Jackson, Assistant Treasurer

7. Mini-Grants Program Report - Brandon County, Mini-Grants Committee interim chair

         • Introduction of Marcus Hill as new Mini-Grant Committee member

8. Nomination & Election of New Board Trustees - Jill Sawyer, Nominating Committee chair

           • Thanks to Lilly Dodson, Steph Mata Granados, and Jill Sawyer for their board service

           • Current trustees continuing their 3-year terms: Brandon County (2024), Brittnei Forlenza (2025), Nicholas Hudnell (2024), Kathy (Kohut) DeRuyter (2026), Julia Robinson (2025)

           • Candidacy of current trustees seeking new 3-year terms: Kathleen Jackson (2023), Del Mason (2023), Sondra Miller (2023)

           • Candidacy to continue 3-year term after a leave of absence: Cynthia Drozdowski-Breda (2024)

           • Presentation by Nominations Committee for new 3-year trustee candidates: Bob Gamble,  Ann Longsworth Orr, Lydia Young

   • Discussion of slate and motion and vote to approve new and returning Board members

9. Let’s all take a 5–10 minute stretch

10. Presentation of grant applications by the Causes Committee - Julia Robinson, Causes Committee chair & Nicholas Hudnell, Vice President

         • Two minute presentations by grant applicants

         • 1–2 brief questions per organization

         • Motion(s) and vote(s) to approve or amend Board recommended awards

         • Final motion and vote by membership to accept overall funding of all projects

11. Other Business

12. Adjournment

Bill Long Foundation 2025 Annual Membership Meeting minutes

Wednesday April 2nd, 2025  |   Kendal at Oberlin Heiser Auditorium

Mission: The Bill Long Foundation is a membership-powered community foundation that gives grants to support projects and activities in Oberlin that address basic human needs or enrich cultural life. Membership in the foundation is open to all. Members elect volunteer trustees who manage all operations and award grants based on the vote of members attending the annual meeting.

1. 6:30 p.m. – Social Half–Hour

2. 7:00 p.m. – Call to Order / Welcome

Del Mason welcomes the membership and gives thanks to Kendal and everyone involved who helped make this meeting possible and a success.

Brandon County introduces members of the BLF board and thanks them  for their support and presence.

Brandon calls the meeting to order at 7:25 pm.

3. Review of 2024 BLF Annual Membership Meeting Minutes

Steph Mata Granados presents the  2024 meeting minutes and makes amendments with the help of the membership.

Motion  by Karen Long to approve 2024 annual membership meeting minutes, seconded by Linda Arbogast, approved unanimously by the membership

4. President’s Report

Brandon County explains that the board is doing more work to be more visible by the community and to think of the Bill Long Foundation as a place where you can see how Oberlin works as a community, especially during times when good work is being funded differently.

5. 2024 Financial Documents and Treasurer’s Report

Sondra Miller and Peter Jensen present the foundation’s revenue, investments, etc. The foundation is turning towards a more conservative approach when giving grants in order to support more organizations for longer. People are able to donate specifically to the restricted assets.

Motion to accept by Del Mason, seconded by Carol Lasser, passed unanimously by the membership

6. Membership & Public Relations Report

Kathleen Jackson shares all of the new projects that the Bill Long Foundation is working on, including a newsletter, social media, and more! Here, we are sharing stories, events, and reminders.

7. Mini-Grants Program (formerly Tools & Training Program) Report

Cindy Breda presents the Mini-Grants program as an updated program that is more inclusive of various needs of applicants. She also shows and explains the new application process.

8. Nomination & Election of New Board Trustees

Jill Sawyer thanks Peter for his service on the board and the work he’ll continue doing. She also presents the members that are seeking a 3-year re-election, and a new member seeking re-election.

• Thanks to Peter Jensen for his service on the board

• Trustees continuing their 3–year terms: Cindy Breda (2024), Brandon County (2024), Lilly Dodson (2024), Nicholas Hudnell (2024), Kathleen Jackson (2023), Del Mason (2023), Steph Mata Granados (2023), Sondra Miller (2023), Jill Sawyer (2023)

• Trustees seeking new 3-year positions: Brittnei Forlenza (2022), Julia Robinson (2022)

• Presentation by Nominations Committee for 3-year trustee position: Kathy (Kohut) DeRuyter

Moved by Kathleen, seconded by Carol Lasser, passed unanimously by membership

9. Proposed Bylaw Amendment for OSCA Observer Position

Brandon County presents this new bylaw that will help strengthen the relationship between OSCA and BLF:

“Whereas the Bill Long Foundation and the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) share the values of democratic control and concern for community, as embodied by Bill Long and his management of the Oberlin Co-Op Bookstore and the Co-Op Causes Fund; and whereas the Board of Trustees of the Bill Long Foundation seeks to strengthen ties between the Foundation and OSCA; and whereas all members of OSCA are dues-paying members of the Bill Long Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the Bill Long Foundation invites a motion to amend Article II Section 4 of the Foundation Code of Regulations, providing that a member of the OSCA board of directors be invited to observe and represent the Association at regular meetings of the Board of Trustees:

Section 4. Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held on such dates and at such times as the Board of Trustees or the President shall determine. Regular meetings shall be held at the principal offices of the Foundation or at such other place within or without the State of Ohio as the Board of Trustees or the President shall determine. The purpose of regular meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be to consider and act upon any matters that are proper subjects for action by the Board of Trustees. The Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA) shall be invited to send a representative from among its board of directors to observe and represent OSCA at regular meetings of the Board of Trustees.“

Moved by Carol Lasser seconded by Karen Long passed unanimously by membership 

10. Pause for refreshments and all-membership stretch

11. Presentation of grant applications by the Causes Committee

Julia Robinson and Nicholas Hudnell work together to ensure that each applicant keeps their presentation under 2 minutes. Julia explains the formula that Bill Long Foundation uses to ensure that each group receives a fair amount based on what we are able to give sustainably. The membership participates in pass-through donations.

-                 Linda Arbogat makes a motion to fund the United Way of Greater Lorain County at $3,200, Nikki Memmott seconds, passed unanimously.

-                 Karen Long moves that we accept the boards suggestions for Ruby Jones, Oberlin Community Services, Oberlin Community Supporting Immigrants, Carol Lasser seconds, passed unanimously

-                 Karen Long moves to fund all remaining organizations at the board approved amount, seconded by Cynthia Andrews, passed unanimously

-                 Liz Burgess moves to welcome all the passthrough grants, Karen Long seconds the motion, passed unanimously

12. Other Business

Julia encourages people to buy a BLF t-shirt

13. Adjournment

Everyone moves to adjourn meeting, everyone seconds, passed unanimously

Adjourned at 9:43 PM

2025 Financial Statement and Treasurer’s Report

Comparison of grant cycles, 2010-2025

Mini-Grants Program Report

After a slow start in the summer and fall of 2025, the Mini-Grants Program, the committee approved $1,300 for three mini-grants to Oberlin community. Applications sought photography equipment and power tools, as well as partial tuition support for adult career training at Lorain County JVS. These grants illustrate the range of the Mini-Grants Program’s charge to support economic development and community initiatives for individual Oberlinians.

As a unique program within our grants ecosystem, past Mini-Grants committees (and before that, the Tools and Training Program) have included from outside the BLF Board of Trustees whose work in the community makes them exceptionally qualified to promote and evaluate grant applications. We are excited to welcome a new member to the Mini-Grants Program.

Marcus Hill was born and raised in the metro-Detroit area. He has resided in Oberlin for 10 years, arriving here in 2015 to attend Oberlin College. He became an employee of the college in 2020 and now works at Oberlin Community Services. Marcus is passionate about understanding how people both shape and are shaped by their surroundings. As a native Midwesterner, he deeply understands the push and pull that comes from living in a place like Oberlin. He is excited to join the Mini-Grants committee and help people feel more at home here in Oberlin.

Outgoing Board of Trustees Members

Lilliana Dodson (2024) has served as Secretary for this 2025-2026 grant cycle. Outside of the Bill Long Foundation, she studies Comparative American Studies and Environmental Studies with an academic focus on food and agriculture, and Jewish farming. Liliana works for the Oberlin College Green EDGE Fund and the Resource Conservation Team and they are a member of the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association. She spends her free time hanging out with her foster cats, cooking, and trying to learn how to play random musical instruments.

Stephanie Mata Granados (2023) is a 4th year Comparative American Studies major with minors in Religion and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist studies. During their time at Oberlin College, Stephanie was a Bonner Scholar, worked at Oberlin Community Services, was a staffer at the Sexual Information Center, edited for The Grape magazine, and served as the BLF Secretary for two years. Committed to serving their communities, after graduating Stephanie will work with AmeriCorp's CityYear, supporting students thrive inside and outside the classroom. Stephanie is eternally grateful for the Bill Long Foundation, its members, and the entire Oberlin community.

Jill Sawyer (2023) joined the BLF board in 2020 and has served on the Membership and PR Committee and Nominating Committee. Over the past 8 years, she has been a member of several City of Oberlin boards, commissions, and committees. Having grown up in Oberlin, Jill moved back here in 2017 and, 5 years later, launched the Mill on Main event space, which is now transitioning into a space available for a full-time tenant.

Board of Trustees Re-Election Candidates

Kathleen Jackson (2023) serves as the Executive Director of the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) in Oberlin, Ohio, where she has expanded programming, strengthened partnerships, and guided the organization through both growth and challenge. Kathleen holds a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and a Master of Arts from Kent State University. Her professional work reflects a deep commitment to fostering creativity across disciplines and ensuring that the arts remain accessible to everyone. Kathleen is an active community collaborator, and is passionate about supporting artists, building sustainable nonprofit practices, and creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to engage with the arts.

Del Mason (2023) was born in eastern Ohio and moved west to attend Oberlin College. After graduating from Oberlin, he earned an M.D. at Case Western Reserve University Medical School in Cleveland. Following specialty training at Metrohealth and University Hospitals, he returned to Oberlin in 1964, and practiced Pediatrics here for 35 years.

Sondra Miller (2023) has been privileged to serve as Treasurer of BLF for the past two years. Her participation in both the Causes and Nominating Committees has enabled her to contribute meaningfully to our mission—championing vital initiatives and helping shape BLF’s leadership. Being a part of this organization has given Sondra the opportunity to make a lasting, positive impact and collaborate with dedicated colleagues. She is genuinely proud of my commitment and service to BLF and more recently, deeply honored to have been elected as an official of the Oberlin City Council. This role has further strengthened her commitment to public service and deepened her dedication to the residents of Oberlin.

Board of Trustees Returning Candidate

Cynthia Drozdowski-Breda (2024) is returning to the Board of Trustees to complete the third year of the three year term she was elected to in 2024. She has a strong passion for community engagement and to help others. Cynthia is also a board member for Community Action to Save Strays cat rescue and also a Trustee of New Russia Township. Cynthia received her bachelor’s degree in communications from John Carroll University and her master’s degree in public administration from Kent State University. She also holds a graduate certificate in nonprofit management. Cynthia resides on 13 acres in New Russia Township and hopes to convert it into an agriforest. 

New Board of Trustees Candidates

Bob Gamble and his wife Chris moved to Oberlin in December 2024 and live at Kendal. Bob grew up on the East Coast and received his B.A., M.A. and M.B.A. from Hobart College, Boston University and Emory University, respectively. Bob’s business career involved management, marketing, new product development, and strategic planning for companies including Quaker Oats, Del Monte, and Kimberly-Clark. Before moving to Oberlin, Bob lived in Holland, Michigan for 26 years and served on the boards of the Holland Symphony Orchestra, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, the DeGraaf Nature Center and the All Saint’s Church endowment fund. Bob and his wife enjoy skiing, hiking, biking, and exploring their new home state of Ohio.

Ann Longsworth Orr was born and raised in Oberlin and married an Oberlin College alum.  She worked as a community organizer in western Colorado, received a Master of Divinity degree in Atlanta, and eventually relocated to rural Ohio with her husband Daniel to raise their two children.  For almost 15 years she worked for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown in his state office. In 2021, Ann and Daniel bought a home in Oberlin and are delighted to be Oberlin residents once again.

Lydia Young was born and raised in Oberlin and is married with three children and five grandchildren. Diagnosed with MS, she retired from a nursing career in 2010. Lydia is the caregiver for her 26-year- old daughter with Down syndrome. Finding fulfillment in community advocacy, Lydia is the Chair of the City of Oberlin Human Relations Commission and Secretary for the Oberlin Schools Alumni Association.

2026 BLF GRANTS FUNDING PROPOSALS

Organization, amount requested, short description of project, and link to the group's online resources. 

If you would like to support any of these worthy Oberlin groups the Bill Long Foundation encourages you to donate to the Bill Long Foundation while specifying the group(s) you would like to support, You can do this during the Annual Meeting or after that evening. Contact the group directly for online information about their mission and process for directly receiving donations.

Chalk Walk Oberlin
Amount requested: $800.00
Support free art event in Downtown Oberlin activating public space
https://www.facebook.com/OberlinChalkWalk

Common Ground - Cindy Nord Center for Renewal
Amount requested: $3,200.00
Healthy snacks for summer campers & garden explore and play area materials
https://commongroundcenter.org

Community Action to Save Strays (CATSS)
Amount requested: $2,500.00
Assistance for care of cats in stressed need homes
https://www.catssoberlin.org

Credo Music
Amount requested: $5,000.00
Financial aid for three (3) students to attend CREDO summer programs
https://www.credomusic.org

Firelands Association for Visual Arts (FAVA)
Amount requested: $5,600.00
Purchase of two (2) pottery wheels at $2,800 per wheel for classes
https://www.favagallery.org

LIFE: A Dementia Friendly Foundation
Amount requested: $3,095.05
Printed materials and musicians for Memory Cafés
https://www.dflife.org

Lorain County Imagination Library
Amount requested: $3,600.00
Book fees for Oberlin children enrolled in Lorain County Imagination Library
https://www.peoplewhocare.org/lcil

Mad* Factory
Amount requested: $2,500.00
Scholarship support for 10 Oberlin students in programs
https://www.madfactory.org

Ninde Scholars Program
Amount requested: $1,000.00
High School student meals during college visits & supplies for enrichment program
https://www.oberlin.edu/bcsl/programs/ninde-scholars

Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra (NOYO)
Amount requested: $3,000.00
Financial aid for musicians to participate in reduced-price instrumental lessons
https://www.noyo.org

Oberlin Arts and Culture Walk
Amount requested: $1,210.00
Create a large-scale mirrored mural celebrating local arts and artists

Oberlin Business Partnership
Amount requested: $0.00
Purchase of ten( 10) API keys to key community agencies for a coordinated calendar
https://oberlinbusinesspartnership.com

Oberlin Choristers
Amount requested: $1,400.00
Financial Aid Fund for 7-10 students for the World Music Camp
https://ochoristers.org

Oberlin Community Music School
Amount requested: $3,500.00
Scholarships for students attending summer camp music lessons
https://www.oberlin.edu/community-music-school

Oberlin Community Services
Amount requested: $1,000.00
Help subsidize OCS's annual Juneteenth cookout
https://www.oberlincommunityservices.org

Oberlin Community Supporting Immigrants
Amount requested: $5,000.00
Support Lorain County immigrants in emergency crisis and general operating funds
https://www.oberlincommunitysi.org

Oberlin Heritage Center
Amount requested: $425.00
Funds to supplement and replace First Aid equipment
https://www.oberlinheritagecenter.org

Oberlin High School Interact Club BackPack Program
Amount requested: $4,000.00
Promoting food security supplying students with backpacks of food for weekends   

Oberlin Weekday Community Meals (OWCM)
Amount requested: $5,000.00
General operating expenses and local food sourcing
https://www.facebook.com/ObieHotMeals/ and https://christchurchoberlin.org

OberlinKids Comm. Collaborative - Equal Learning
Amount requested: $5,000.00
Scholarships for children to attend high-quality early learning center
https://www.oberlinkids.org

Our F.A.M.I.L.Y.
Amount requested: $2,500.00
Provide 20 hour/week summer internships for 2 Oberlin middle & HS students
https://bobbyrtaylor2.wixsite.com/ourfamilyohio

Providing Oberlin With Efficiency Responsibly (POWER)
Amount requested: $3,000.00
Fund twenty (20) comprehensive energy audits at $150 each
https://www.poweroberlin.org

Road to Hope - Margeau House
Amount requested: $10,000.00
Pay for part of the flooring replacement at Margeau House
https://road-to-hope.org

Ruby N. Jones Community Scholarship Fund
Amount requested: $2,000.00
Higher education college scholarship support for 4-5 Oberlin students in need
https://www.msrubyscholarship.org

United Way of Greater Lorain County
Amount requested: $5,000.00
Stabilization funding for Oberlin area families through 10 local nonprofits
https://www.uwloraincounty.org

Western Reserve Land Conservancy
Amount requested: $5,000.00
Help secure a conservation easement for Oberlin North Woods
https://wrlandconservancy.org

BLF Mini Grants Program

Amount requested: $1,300.00

Replacing money disbursed during 2025-2026 BLF Mini Grants program

https://www.blfoberlin.org/mini-grant-program 

Message from Bill Long Foundation Board of Trustees regarding our 2026 grant recommendations

1. The Bill Long Foundation (BLF) is a membership-powered community foundation that gives grants to support projects and activities in Oberlin that address basic human needs or enrich cultural life. Membership in the foundation is open to all. Members elect volunteer trustees who manage all operations and award grants based on the vote of members attending the annual meeting.

2. The trustees reviewed all grant applications for completeness and considered to what extent each application aligns with the BLF mission statement. Every application we received this year reflects real care, real need, and a deep commitment to the Oberlin community. Over February and March, the Board carefully reviewed every single application. We discussed each request individually and over multiple meetings. If possible, we would fund every request at 100%. But the reality is, doing that would exhaust our resources in just a few short years—and that would ultimately limit our ability to support our community over the long term.

3. So the responsibility of the Board is to balance two important things: Supporting organizations doing meaningful work right now, and ensuring that the Bill Long Foundation remains strong and sustainable for years to come.

4. Determining the monetary guidelines for this year’s annual meeting entailed:

i) Calculating a 6.5% draw (near the upper end of the 5-7% range suggested by Lesjak Planning as a responsible, sustainable financial strategy) from our March 2026 balance of investments, a total of $362,664. This gave us a starting point of $23,573 to use from our investment account.

ii) To that $23,431, adding the unrestricted funds in our March 2026 checking account balance of $30,455 (primarily donations from BLF members) to give a sum of $53,876.

iii) From that $53,876, holding back $2,200 (approximately 4%) for operating expenses in the coming year (insurance, PO Box, software, Bill Long’s model train support, postage, etc.), and $1300 to replenish funds used for our Mini-Grants program, to make $50,376 the board’s baseline for annual grant awards in 2025

5. The trustees determined how to divide $50,376 among the qualifying grant applications (this year 25 applicants requested $85,630 and a 26th application was amended to zero after receiving another grant). Our decisions were guided primarily by three factors:

i) The extent to which the project will benefit Oberlin residents.

ii) The size of the applicant organization and the support available to them from other sources.

iii) The extent to which the project focuses on high priority community needs.

A final note: What we are presenting tonight are thoughtful, considered recommendations that reflect months of Board members’ volunteer effort. We understand that you may wish certain organizations could receive more—and that speaks to the generosity of this group. For those who feel strongly about supporting a particular organization beyond the recommended amount, we encourage you to make additional pass-through contributions.

Thank you all for your continued commitment—both to these organizations, and to the long-term health and impact of the Bill Long Foundation itself.