During her tenure as a grants manager at the Columbus Foundation, Democrat Amy Acton was involved in administering significant amounts of funding to organizations engaged in various social causes, including abortion services, civil liberties, and more. This was documented during her time at the foundation in 2017 and 2018.
Amy Acton, who is currently contesting against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio, was employed by the Columbus Foundation for under two years. This foundation is a prominent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages donor funds and distributes grants to different organizations.
In 2017, the Columbus Foundation allocated $272,666 in grants to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, an organization that offers abortion services. The following year, in 2018, the foundation administered an additional $243,951 to the same organization.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio was another beneficiary, receiving $77,915 in 2017 and a substantial $1,000,000 in 2018. The ACLU advocates for equal rights under the law for everyone, including immigrants, and actively supports racial justice, transgender rights, and the protection of abortion rights as established by Roe v. Wade.
In 2018, Food & Water Watch was granted $8,050,000 through the Columbus Foundation. This organization is dedicated to ensuring sustainable food systems, clean water, and a livable climate, while also advocating for fair treatment and equitable opportunities for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
The Harmony Project, another recipient of the foundation’s grants, received $572,556 in 2017 and $598,500 in 2018. This group focuses on fostering community connections by eliminating social barriers and promoting inclusivity through arts, education, and volunteer service.
Besa Community, Inc. received $58,558 in 2017 and $91,500 in 2018. Besa says that it believes “diversity strengthens our community,” adding that its “mission is rooted in the idea that bringing diverse groups of people together drives innovation and change.”
The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio received $49,150 in 2017 and says its mission is “to empower people and organizations to embrace all forms of diversity and create communities where everyone belongs.”
CAIR Ohio received $50,000 in 2017 and $75,000 in 2018 from grants administered by the Columbus Foundation, according to the provided IRS records. CAIR Ohio says that, “through legal representation, education, media relations, and advocacy,” it works to “empower the American Muslim community and encourage participation in political and social activism.” The group also says it counsels, mediates, and advocates for “Muslims and others who have experienced discrimination, harassment, or hate crimes.”
CAIR later became the subject of state-level designations by Republican governors in Texas and Florida. On November 18, 2025, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations, a move his office said would allow heightened enforcement actions against the organizations and their affiliates in Texas and prohibit them from purchasing or acquiring land in the state. Abbott’s proclamation described CAIR as an Islamist organization and cited the FBI as saying it was founded as a “front group” for “Hamas and its support network” in the United States.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) followed on December 8, 2025, with an executive order designating the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations for the purposes of that order. CAIR-Florida and CAIR National responded by signaling a lawsuit and calling the order “unconstitutional and defamatory” after CAIR had also filed a federal lawsuit against Abbott over his Texas designation.
The Columbus Foundation also administered money to immigrant and refugee assistance groups during Acton’s time there. Community Refugee and Immigration Services received $47,057 in 2017. The group describes its mission as helping “refugees and immigrants reach safety and stability, sustain self-sufficiency, and achieve successful integration into the Central Ohio community.”
Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS) Foundation received $5,000 in 2017 and $61,700 in 2018. ETSS says that it “began in 2000 as an outreach organization focused on the Ethiopian refugee and immigrant community.” Twenty years later, it was serving “individuals and families from over 100 countries and cultures” through programs including after-school and summer academic, cultural, and social programs, ESOL, job preparedness and placement, and family and community navigation for health and mental wellness.
The Columbus Foundation also administered $50,000 in 2017 to the Foundation for National Progress, which publishes Mother Jones. InfluenceWatch describes the foundation as a “center-left nonprofit” that “publishes and supports the social-democratic opinion and news magazine Mother Jones” and “supports the development of left-of-center journalists writing for the publication.”
Acton’s record on abortion has also put her at odds with some pro-life activists in Ohio. The Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio “rescinded its endorsement of DeWine in November 2020 over his appointment of Acton,” according to the Coshocton Tribune. The report also said the coalition criticized DeWine “for allowing abortion clinics to remain open amid the COVID-19 pandemic when the state health department halted elective surgeries and closed many businesses as part of its stay-at-home order.”
Acton has since received support from abortion-rights advocates. In November 2025, EMILY’s List endorsed Acton for Ohio governor, with EMILY’s List President Jessica Mackler saying the group was “excited to endorse Amy and work with her to win this race.”
Also that month, Acton used social media to denounce the Ohio legislature’s passage of a bill requiring middle school and high school students to watch an anti-abortion video.
– News reached out to Acton’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response.
