The Athens County Foundation (ACF) is seeking vendor partners to redesign and redevelop the Foundation’s website to improve user experience, which includes improved adaptability and accessibility, and to increase stakeholder engagement.
This opportunity is open to all vendors located in the state of Ohio, with priority given to organizations located or have worked with clients in Appalachian Ohio.
A couple of months ago, Gratitude Grants were sent to over 60 Athens County-serving organizations and agencies (including Athens County Schools) who have received competitive grants from the Athens County Foundation from March 2020 to the end of 2021. The Gratitude Grant, which amounts to $400 per recipient, was an unrestricted gift to all our partner organizations in recognition of their hard work in serving the community during the last couple of years. The ACF recommended that the funding be used for staff, client, or volunteer appreciation efforts, or be placed in the organization’s budget.
The Gratitude Grant was inspired by the 2021 Cornwell Award recognizing the Athens County community. The award recognized the collective and individual efforts of the community members to support one another over the last two years. Even though the pandemic is not officially over, the ACF and funding partners (Rocky Community Improvement Fund, Sisters Health Foundation, and Osteopathic Heritage Foundation) believe it is necessary to pause and express appreciation to the many people who continue to serve and care for our community.
The Athens County Foundation’s Cornwell Award is named in honor of local Attorney Foster B. Cornwell, a 4th generation Athenian, and his wife, Helen W. Cornwell. The Cornwells were instrumental in the growth of the Foundation and philanthropy in Athens County. Each year, the Foundation recognizes individuals with the same vision and dedication to the Athens County Community. Historically, annual Cornwell awardees recommend a grant in their honor to an Athens County nonprofit. Instead of making a grant to one organization, we expressed our thanks by awarding Gratitude Grants to everyone who met the criteria.
Please join us in showing gratitude by reaching out to the people and/or organizations who have impacted your life since the pandemic began.
Allow us to start by telling you, our dear reader, Thank You — for always standing with the Athens County Foundation. Your support means the world to us!
We are pleased to announce that the Racial Equity Fund Advisory Board has awarded the first Racial Equity Fund grant to Showing Up for Racial Justice’s Nelsonville Voices Listening Project!
The Nelsonville Voices Listening Project uses an “anti-racist approach to identify issues of concern, develop leadership skills, and advance campaigns to change local and state policy, policing, and government”. The long-term goal of this project is to “build a community in Appalachia that sees what they have in common with folks of color who are also impacted by harmful, racist drug policy.”
The Racial Equity Fund continues to receive applications through the Rolling Grants program and soon, the Biannual Grants cycle in the Fall.
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The Racial Equity Fund of the Athens County Foundation is a vehicle for supporting anti-racism and racial equity in Athens County. The Racial Equity Fund supports anti-racist educational projects and community programs, as well as builds capacity and opportunities for People of the Global Majority in Athens County.
Biannual grants: Proposals up to $10,000 will be accepted in the fall and the spring.
Rolling grants: Proposals up to $2,500 are reviewed monthly.
RCIF Spring 2021 Grantee-Lutheran Social Services Mobile Food Pantry in Athens County
The Rocky Community Improvement Fund (RCIF) is now accepting grant applications for its Fall Cycle.
The mission of the RCIF is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Nelsonville and the surrounding communities by promoting philanthropy among Rocky Brands Associates, building an endowment, and awarding grants. Projects must benefit at least one of the following Counties: Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton, and Washington.
Apply now to be a part of the Leadership Athens County 2022-2023 Cohort!
Join your fellow community members and the Athens County Foundation on a journey of learning, networking, leadership, and skill-building!
Leadership Athens County is a nine-month program designed to build your knowledge, capacity, and commitment to leadership in our community. The program begins with a two-day retreat, then once-per-month classes throughout Athens County (typically held on the third Thursday each month), and closes with a retreat and graduation in May.
By participating in LAC, you will….
Build your personal and professional network with other leaders in Athens County
Know more about the assets, opportunities, and challenges in our community
Learn about leadership: your style and strengths, and about models and skills you can build
Prepare for leadership opportunities in our community
Deepen your connection to Athens County
Program Schedule for Leadership Athens County 2022-2023
We intend to hold the program in person, following all recommended health and safety guidelines at the time of the session.
The opening retreat will be held on September 22 and 23 at Burr Oak Lodge & Conference Center. Staying overnight is encouraged but not required. Retreat programming includes team-building activities, leadership and strengths assessment, discussions, and a community service project.
Monthly sessions will be held on the following Thursdays, from approximately 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Sessions will take place throughout Athens County and includes on-site visits and tours, speakers, case studies and discussions, and group activities.
Dates of monthly sessions:
October 20
November 17
December 15
January 19
February 16
March 16
April 20
May 18
The graduation ceremony and celebration will be held on May 19.
Tuitionis $1,000. This includes all program costs and materials, except overnight accommodations for the opening retreat. Payment plans are available, as well as limited scholarships. See the application form for additional details.
Please note the following:
You are expected to come in on time and stay for the entirety of each session.
Missing more than one session may prevent graduation with your class.
Attendance at the opening session is mandatory.
If you have questions or concerns about the LAC program, please contact us.
Apply now to be a part of the Leadership Athens County 2022-2023 Cohort!
Join your fellow community members and the Athens County Foundation on a journey of learning, networking, leadership, and skill-building!
Leadership Athens County is a nine-month program designed to build your knowledge, capacity, and commitment to leadership in our community. The program begins with a two-day retreat, then once-per-month classes throughout Athens County (typically held on the third Thursday each month), and closes with a retreat and graduation in May.
By participating in LAC, you will….
Build your personal and professional network with other leaders in Athens County
Know more about the assets, opportunities, and challenges in our community
Learn about leadership: your style and strengths, and about models and skills you can build
Prepare for leadership opportunities in our community
Deepen your connection to Athens County
Program Schedule for Leadership Athens County 2022-2023
We intend to hold the program in person, following all recommended health and safety guidelines at the time of the session.
The opening retreat will be held on September 22 and 23 at Burr Oak Lodge & Conference Center. Staying overnight is encouraged but not required. Retreat programming includes team-building activities, leadership and strengths assessment, discussions, and a community service project.
Monthly sessions will be held on the following Thursdays, from approximately 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Sessions will take place throughout Athens County and includes on-site visits and tours, speakers, case studies and discussions, and group activities.
Dates of monthly sessions:
October 20
November 17
December 15
January 19
February 16
March 16
April 20
May 18
The graduation ceremony and celebration will be held on May 19.
Tuitionis $1,000. This includes all program costs and materials, except overnight accommodations for the opening retreat. Payment plans are available, as well as limited scholarships. See the application form for additional details.
Please note the following:
You are expected to come in on time and stay for the entirety of each session.
Missing more than one session may prevent graduation with your class.
Attendance at the opening session is mandatory.
If you have questions or concerns about the LAC program, please contact us.
The Racial Equity Fund of Athens County is now accepting grant applications!
Launched in 2021, the Racial Equity Fund is a vehicle for supporting anti–racism and racial equity in Athens County. The Racial Equity Fundsupports anti–racist educational projects and community programs, as well as builds capacity and opportunities for People of the Global Majority* in Athens County. The Fund is governed by an advisory board of community members with diverse identities and backgrounds. (Learn more about the Racial Equity Fund here)
After months of diligent preparation, the Racial Equity Fund is now ready to accept grant requests from eligible organizations serving Athens County.
There are two grant opportunities available for grant seekers:
Rolling grants: Proposals up to $2500 are reviewed monthly. The deadline for June submissions is Monday, June 13. Proposals will be reviewed monthly thereafter.
Biannual grants:Proposals up to $10,000 will be accepted in the fall and the spring. The fall proposal deadline will be announced soon.
If you are an individual/organization with project ideas that fits the racial equity fund’s purpose but is not eligible to receive funding from the Foundation (see Eligibility Screening), we encourage you to connect with our staff to discuss alternatives. Please contact us at info@athensfoundation.org with your questions.
Before you apply, please read the Racial Equity Fund’s description and FAQs here.
*People of the Global Majority–The term People of the Global Majority (GM) has been adopted by many people to describe the majority of the world who consider themselves non–white. Contrary to other terms such as BIPOC, BAME, POC, and minorities, the term GM does not revolve around the concept of whiteness and of being an “other.” The term aims to empower and highlight that non–white identifying people are the majority of the global population. Additional references for antiracism–related terms used in this document can be accessed at https://www.racialequitytools.org/glossary
The Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities (ACBDD), in partnership with the Athens County Foundation, is proud to announce the 2022 Spring Request for Proposals (RFP) for the ATCO Legacy Fund.
ATCO, which was the ACBDD’s adult services program for nearly 50 years, was a much-beloved program that prioritized advocacy and inclusion for all enrollees in the program. In order to comply with a federal rule, ATCO closed in December 2018 after a three-year transition plan. The ATCO Legacy Fund is designed to allow the ACBDD to carry on the compassion and philosophy developed at ATCO Inc. well into the future. As part of that process, stakeholders helped the ACBDD to identify certain elements from ATCO that could be sustained and enhanced while still remaining in compliance. Those conversations led to the creation of this fund in 2018.
This RFP is designed to offer financial assistance to providers (agency and independent), organizations, and community partners in Athens County interested in working towards integration and inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD).
The Athens County Foundation, charged with assisting in the administration of the RFP process, will convene a committee to review all proposals. The committee will then present selection recommendations – based on the criteria outlined below – to the ACBDD’s Superintendent. A more detailed timeline of events is also listed below.
Eligibility
This program is open to any provider of service, community group, organization, or community partner that has the intent to support integration and inclusion for individuals with I/DD in Athens County.
Funding Priorities
These funds can be used for anything creative, so long as it enhances the quality of life AND promotes inclusion/integration for people with I/DD. Examples could be (but not limited to): adapted equipment, transportation needs, technology, innovative programming, and educational material. The structure and funding priorities are intentionally left broad and open-ended to promote creativity and innovation.
Funding Availability
The ACBDD has allocated $20,000.00 for this cycle. Historically, the average award amount has been approximately $3,000, ranging from $900 to $7,500. However, there is no minimum or maximum funding level per request.
RFP Application Requirements
Applicants must provide all information outlined below to the Athens County Foundation by the deadline. Applications must be emailed as a PDF to the Athens County Foundation at info@athensfoundation.org. The committee may request additional information to help its determination.
Please provide the following information in your proposal:
Organization’s name and address
Brief description of your organization, if applicable (max of 200 words)
The Athens County Foundation (ACF) and the Athens Jaycees Senior Fund Advisory Board awarded the 2021 Senior of the Year award to Joyce Lewis for her support for senior citizens in Athens County for over three decades.
In her work at the United Seniors of Athens County, Joyce has been serving seniors throughout Athens County for many years. Serving as the Executive Director since 2015, and as the Community Services Director prior to that, Joyce guides the nonprofit agency to carry out the mission of helping senior citizens remain active, independent, and in their own homes as long as possible.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Joyce’s care for seniors extended to mobilizing the agency and partners to provide services such as food distribution to those who are homebound and have no transportation. The agency also provided masks and information about masks and encouraged community organizations and families to give masks to their senior family members.
“Well, if longevity counts, Joyce has it,” Judge L. Alan Goldsberry said. “She has been committed to seniors for many years. She has provided help in many forms, including just plain old listening and understanding. You could always count on her to communicate with a senior and explain how to get the help of whatever kind needed. There are times when she provided the help herself,” he added.
On March 24, 2022, Joyce received the award at Stuart’s Opera House during ACF’s A Celebration of Community.
The Athens Jaycees Senior Fund through the Athens County Foundation awards the Senior of the Year annually to a senior (65 or older) who has provided key leadership in our community, especially related to issues affecting the quality of life of seniors or in the area of philanthropy.
The Athens County Foundation Women’s Fund awarded the 2021 Woman of the Year Award to Dr. Sheila Williams for her contributions to behavioral health in Athens County over the course of her lifetime.
A practicing counselor in Athens County since 1976, Dr. Sheila Williams has impacted the lives of countless women. Additionally, her significant volunteer and advocacy work has made a difference in Athens County for women experiencing substance use disorders and in advancing racial equity.
Dr. Williams was an early board member of Clem House, a residential program for men in recovery. She remained on the board for more than 8 years. Although Clem House serves men, her work helped shape policies and practices that have a ripple effect on women and children in our community. As the male residents learn how to become better partners, providers, and fathers, the women and daughters in their lives benefit greatly. Recognizing the need for a similar residential facility for local women struggling with substance use disorders she and a group of area women set about making that happen. Dr. Williams applied her prior experience directing an ongoing weekend residential program for incarcerated youth with substance use disorders, supervising counselors in a jail alternate residential program for adults with DUIs, and her experience on the Clem House Board, to help create a recovery house for women in Athens County. In 2018, she became the board president of Women for Recovery, the parent organization for the now established Serenity Grove Recovery House for Women, and remains in that role to this day. Dr. Williams’ counseling expertise is an asset for residents, as she can advise staff on how to assist with behavioral challenges such as eating disorders, self-esteem issues, and collaborative relationships within the temporary “family” of Serenity Grove.
Dr. Williams’ commitment to racial equity has also made an impact in Athens County. “Sheila’s experience as a person of color who raised her family in a predominantly white community has challenged each of us to learn about ourselves and to put what we learn into action, words, and deeds,” said Janalee Stock, fellow board member at Serenity Grove. In 1988, Sheila co-founded Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS) at Ohio University, a program achieving international recognition with its peer-to-peer model of promoting equity and inclusion among the college student population. As a faculty member in the Ohio University Department of English in the 1970s, Dr. Williams taught courses in African American literature and literature by Black authors from across the diaspora. She designed and executed a Visiting Scholars program for that Department that brought noted authors of Color to the campus and made sure of their availability to the general Athens public. The knowledge of these various perspectives on the Black experience served to broaden her understanding and has fostered her ability to assist others in widening their perspectives. “Sheila encourages us to dig deeper into how history, culture, discrimination, bias, and micro-aggressions must proactively be addressed,” Janalee shared.
Dr. Williams is still going strong in her counseling practice and her community volunteerism. Her contributions to behavioral health in Athens County stretch over 45 years, a feat that speaks of resilience and passion for helping others.
On March 24, 2022, Dr. Williams received the award at Stuart’s Opera House during ACF’s A Celebration of Community. The Foundation also honored the other nominees for this year’s award: Jennifer Seifert and Molly Wales.
The mission of the Women’s Fund of the Athens County Foundation is to promote philanthropy among women and to establish a permanent fund that will provide funding to programs and projects in Athens County which empower women to achieve their full potential. Each year, the Women’s Fund awards grants to Athens County nonprofits that benefit women and girls.
