2025 Fall Grantees

Emily Prince • January 9, 2026

Fall 2025 Grant Awards, Totaling Over $243,000  

The Athens County Foundation (ACF) is delighted to announce the recipients of its Fall 2025 Grant Awards, representing a significant investment in the thriving community of Athens County. The Foundation, in collaboration with donor advised funds and an increased spending policy, has allocated over $243,000 to support a diverse spectrum of initiatives, showcasing the Foundation's mission to build on the strengths of our community. 

 

The ACF Fall 2025 Grant Awards are:  

  • ACENet Inc. Empower Athens: Supporting Underserved Entrepreneurs 
  • Circle Round the Square  Intern Leadership Program 
  • Athens Area Mediation Service  Expanding capacity and increasing services provided 
  • Athens County Food Pantry  Athens County Food Pantry Supplies & Pet Food Pantry 
  • Southeast Ohio History Center  History and Home Arts at the Southeast Ohio History Center & Color and Sound 
  • Athens Ohio Roller Derby  Support for Bout Rental at the Athens Community Center 
  • City of Nelsonville  Nelson Commons Fencing Project 
  • Community Food Initiatives  2026 Veggie Van Mobile Market Season 
  • Dairy Barn Southeastern Ohio Cultural Arts Center, Inc  Summer Art Camp & Front-Door Accessible Entry Button & Automatic Door Mechanism 
  • Factory Street Dance Studio  Moving at Any Age 
  • Federal Valley Resource Center, Inc.  Acoustic and Lighting Improvements to Community Room   
  • Glouster Revitalization Organization (GRO)  Knights of Pythias Project - Covelle Community Center - Capacity Building Short Term Needs 
  • Habitat For Humanity of Southeast Ohio  2025-26 Senior Essential Home Repairs, The Plains build, and Essential Tool Purchase 
  • The Plains United Methodist Church  Helping Hands Food Pantry Support 
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness of Athens County  Soup and Support- Community Wellness During Winter Months 
  • Nelsonville-York City Schools  Sensory Stimulation Equipment 
  • Ohio University Foundation  Cat Camp  
  • Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery  2025/2026 Field Trip Support   
  • Ohio Valley School of Celtic Dance and Culture  Universal Design for Learning Curriculum & Materials Project 
  • OhioHealth Foundation  Discovery Kitchen Classes for Seniors in Athens County 
  • Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio  Ensuring stable and affordable access to sexual and reproductive health care for Athens County patients 
  • Rural Action  Committing to Accessibility (CTA) 
  • Southeast Ohio Center for Independent Living  COMCorps: Health and Wellness 
  • Rising Suns Pharmacy  Shelving for New Location 
  • Southeast Ohio Hope Center  Recovery Together Activities with collaboration with NAMI Athens 
  • Tenderfoot Fair Trade Learning Lab  Sustainable Living Workshops & Outreach 
  • The Athens Village, Inc.  Transitional Health Care 
  • Trimble Local Textbook & Supplies Foundation  Supporting Student Learning Through Expanded Science Resources 
  • United Campus Ministry-Center for Spiritual Growth & Social Justice Pride Programming 
  • United Seniors of Athens County  Enhancing Athens County Cares Division 
  • Women for Recovery  Recovery Supports: Yoga, Acupuncture/ Qigong, and Conflict Resolution Training 

 

The Fall 2025 grant cycle saw an overwhelming response, with total requests reaching over $500,000. In response, ACF increased its spending policy to help meet the extraordinary demand and advance critical community priorities. ACF acknowledges the tremendous support from donor advised funds, whose participation has played a pivotal role in enabling the Foundation to fund more projects than it could accomplish alone. This collaborative effort reflects the power of community-driven philanthropy and the collective commitment to making a positive impact on Athens County. 

 

ACF expresses deep gratitude to the community for its unwavering support. Whether through financial contributions, volunteerism, or working tirelessly for local nonprofits, countless individuals in Athens County have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to building a stronger and more vibrant community. 

 

“We are grateful for the trust our donors and nonprofit partners place in the Athens County Foundation,” said Kerry Pigman, Executive Director. “When we come together to support one another and build on the strengths of our community, we create lasting impact for Athens County.” 

 

As the Athens County Foundation looks ahead, it remains devoted to advancing positive change, supporting local initiatives, and collaborating with community members to build a thriving and resilient future. 

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Emily Prince is ACF's New Communications and Engagement Manager

By Shayne Lopez • December 4, 2025
The Athens County Foundation is excited to welcome Emily Prince as our new Communications and Engagement Manager. With a background rooted in arts leadership, nonprofit service, and collaborative storytelling, Emily brings a dynamic and deeply community-centered approach to her new role. Emily’s professional journey has included roles such as Operations Director at Stuart’s Opera House, Training and Activation Director for Air Collaborative, and Program Specialist at Arts West. She has also served as Education and Development Director at Stuart’s Opera House, contributing to the growth and sustainability of arts and cultural programming in the region. "I am over the moon and honored to be creating this new role at the Athens County Foundation,” Prince said. “After having been involved with the Foundation one way or another since I participated in the inaugural class of Leadership Athens County, it feels like coming home." Her earlier career began in New York where she worked as a producer, stage manager, actor, director, casting director, and dramaturge. These diverse roles helped shape her belief in the importance of story, creativity, and collaboration as tools for change. Since returning to Athens County in 2005, Emily has continued to lead with heart and vision—graduating from the inaugural Leadership Athens County class, co-chairing its alumni network, and serving on numerous boards, including the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education and the Nelsonville Rotary Club. Emily lives on a farm in Athens County with her husband and sons, where she enjoys crafting, writing, and supporting creative projects that enrich local life. “Emily brings more than communications experience; she brings a way of working that reflects our values of courage, inclusion, trust, collaboration, and hope,” said Kerry Pigman, Executive Director. “Her approach will help deepen relationships, build stronger community ties, and engage more people in more places across Athens County.” From the stages of New York to the heart of Appalachia, Emily has used her voice to lift up others and create spaces where ideas and people thrive. She brings a deep belief in the power of connection, and we’re excited for her to help us engage more people in more places across Athens County. Through storytelling, creative outreach, and authentic collaboration, Emily will help share the incredible voices of our region and strengthen the bonds that move us forward together. In her role at ACF, Emily will lead communications and outreach strategies that align with the Foundation’s mission to build on the strengths of our community, advancing participation and collaboration to address longstanding challenges and pursue extraordinary opportunities. We’re honored to have Emily join the ACF team and look forward to the impact she will make through her storytelling, engagement, and leadership.