How we give back
We’re focused on strengthening the communities where we live and work. Through contributions and employee volunteerism, we strive to make a difference and improve quality of life for our families, friends and neighbors.
Columbia invests in Ohio and the 1.5 million customers we serve. Our vision is to impact and contribute to life-changing organizations — programs that keep us safe, provide food and shelter to those in need, promote economic growth and workforce development, and support energy education. We share in the goal of seeing sustainable growth in our communities and pride ourselves on being good ambassadors.
Columbia in Your Community
KIckButt Columbus
Columbia team members join Keep Columbus Beautiful’s KickButt Columbus event, removing trash from the city’s exit and entry ramps.
Break a Bat, Plant a Tree
Toledo employees partner with the city of Toledo and the Toledo Mud Hens for the annual Break a Bat, Plant a Tree initiative. Twenty-nine trees were planted for the 29 bats broken by the Mud Hens at home games during the 2024-25 season.
Sound the Alarm
Columbia volunteers join American Red Cross staff to install 144 smoke alarms in 63 central Ohio households during the annual Sound the Alarm event.View more community events
Polaris Career Center
Columbia employees talk to Senior HVAC and Construction program students from the Polaris Career Center, sharing information about Columbia Gas career opportunities available to those with HVAC and construction backgrounds.
STEAM with Girl Scouts
The NiSource Charitable Foundation along with Columbia Gas of Ohio hosts its inaugural Introduce a Girl to STEAM event.
Safety Demo
Columbia team members offer a controlled gas safety demonstration and share STEM and gas safety education materials with students at the Olentangy Orange Middle School Science and Technology Career Day.
Columbia Cares Grant
What we fund
Columbia Cares provides grants to 501(c)3 organizations located within our service territory. We give preference to organizations that align with one or more of our four impact areas, has high potential for employee engagement or where an employee is a board member.
Impact areas
- Basic Needs & Safety: Assisting emergent human needs for food, shelter, heating and general safety.
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): Supporting mission-driven organizations and causes with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Environmental Stewardship: Advocating for the responsible use, protection and restoration of natural resources through reliable conservation efforts and sustainable practices.
- STEM Education & Economic Development: Encouraging education and training in science, technology, engineering and math to bolster workforce development and community vitality.
We don’t provide funding in these areas:
- Organizations that are not 501(c)3 charities
- Organizations outside of our service territory
- Individual primary or secondary schools (K-12)
- Non-academic school activities, like proms, choirs or graduations
- Social clubs, including sororities or fraternities
- Individuals for any purpose
- Athletes, teams or sporting events
- Fashion shows, animal shows, pageants or talent competitions
- Religious or sectarian organizations, unless engaged in a significant project benefiting the entire community
- Organizations that discriminate against any person or group for any reason
- Political candidates, committees or organizations
- Publications, displays, advertising, audio or video productions
Columbia Cares limits the amount of capital campaigns and annual events/fundraisers we support each year. These types of requests will be handled on a case by case basis. To be considered, organizations must provide assistance within our service territory, align with one or more of our four impact areas and have a Columbia Gas employee serving on their board.
Watch this video to see how Columbia Cares
View Transcript
Voiceover: In Ohio, we stand together. Neighbor to neighbor, heart to heart. Columbia Gas of Ohio fuels the communities of our great state. From the foothills of Appalachia, to the close knit communities of our cities, to the wide expanses of buckeye country, we are as diverse as our landscape. Columbia Cares. We bring food to the hungry, we ensure the safety of those we love, and we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their potential. We do all this not because it's the right thing to do, though it is. We do it because we believe that nobody wins unless all of us win. One company, keeping you warm and safe, bringing energy and hope into your world. That's who we are. That's Columbia Gas of Ohio.
Columbia Cares Grant Applications
Please submit your organization's completed W-9 form and non-discrimination policy with your application.
Submit a Columbia Cares Application
When the Columbia Cares Grant funds:
We accept one application per group per our fiscal year (January 1-December 31). There are four annual deadlines for grant applications.
- March 31 (at 11:59 pm EST): All applications received between January 1 – March 31 will receive a response by the end of May.
- June 30 (at 11:59 pm EST): All applications received between April 1 – June 30 will receive a response by the end of August.
- September 30* (at 11:59 pm EST): All applications received between July 1 – September 30 will receive a response by the end of November.
- December 31 (at 11:59 pm EST): All applications received between October 1 – December 31 will receive a response by the end of March.
Columbia Promise Fund
At NiSource, we understand that our purpose extends far beyond our primary role as a premier utility company. Our purpose is fueled by a commitment to prioritize the social and economic prosperity of our customers, employees and communities we serve. Columbia Gas seeks to do more, and we Promise to create sustainable impact for our employees and our customers for years to come. The Columbia Promise Fund, through the NiSource Charitable Foundation, will provide transformational grants to organizations committed to becoming agents for change. Applicants will be scored based on their ability to support social justice while also aligning with the NiSource Charitable Foundation priorities.
Applications are accepted April 1-30.
Columbia Promise Fund Applications
The Columbia Promise application will open on April 1 and close on April 30.
Grant applicants should complete the Columbia Promise Fund Application and select "Columbia Promise" as the grant type.