The Appalachian Ohio Mini-grants Program awarded a total of $21,600 to nine Athens County organizations.
Through a new partnership with the Ohio Children's Foundation, the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio and the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville were able to review 118 grant applications from 29 counties in Southeast Ohio.
Thirty-three Southeast Ohio programs and projects were awarded between $1,000 and $3,000, according to a news release issued by the FAO April 7.
We were looking for innovative programs that address quality of life issues in Appalachian Ohio and gave priority to new and emerging programs
said Leslie Lilly, president of the FAO.
The FAO Grants and Program Advisory Committee includes representatives from the partnering organizations and Southeast Ohio residents. Committee members review the proposals over several months and consider factors such as the need served by the program and other available funding options for the program.
Partnering with the children's foundation and the heritage foundation allows the FAO to consider more grant applications and award more money to area organizations, Lilly said.
The children's foundation partnered with the foundation this year because the organization is interested in enhancing the lives of children in Ohio, said Peggy Calestro, the senior programs officer of the foundation.
(The partnership) opened up a new avenue to all the good things non-profits are doing (in Southeast Ohio) Calestro said.
Planning for next year's Fostering Access to Opportunity mini-grant program has already begun, Lilly said. The new guidelines will be announced in October.
Lilly expects to increase the amount of grant money for Appalachian Ohio because there are so many grant-makers in the region or who are interested in the region.
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Rebecca Black
9 Athens non-profits receive appalachian program funds
