ACF Expands Response Fund to Address Racial Equity
The COVID-19 pandemic brought renewed urgency to address long-standing challenges in Athens County, including racial equity. In response, the Athens County Foundation (ACF) Board of Directors recently approved expanding Response Fund grants in support of projects that advance and promote racial equity in Athens County.
Initially launched to meet acute needs caused by the pandemic, ACF found that a flexible funding source such as the Response Fund can be deployed to meet other needs as well. “The Response Fund model encouraged us to think differently about how we support organizations,” shared Kerry Pigman, Executive Director. “While the annual grant cycle model is effective to fund a broad range of organizations and projects, adding a responsive approach allows us to support emergent and specific needs as well.”
Proposals to advance and support racial equity should either address specific project needs or focus on building long-term capacity for organizations or ongoing initiatives. Applicants are encouraged to contact ACF staff about their project prior to applying.
The Athens County Foundation is committed to a healthy, inclusive community, where there are opportunities for all people and recognizes the responsibility to intentionally reach out to segments of our population that have been historically marginalized. In 2018, community members formed the Racial Equity Coalition of Athens County, a collaborative space for those working to promote and advance racial equity. This spring, ACF brought the Art of Hosting training with a racial equity lens to Athens County to introduce members of our community to Art of Hosting techniques, while also aiming to advance ongoing racial equity conversations into actionable ideas. Expanding the Response Fund to include racial equity work provides funding support for ideas and projects that are emerging in the community, and to ones that have been historically overlooked.
Through the combined efforts of ACF, the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville, Rocky Community Improvement Fund, and Sisters Health Foundation, the Response Fund will continue considering funding needs prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Additional funds for racial equity projects are made possible with funding from the Athens County Foundation. Those who are interested in donating to support these efforts can learn more and give online at athensfoundation.org.
Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Please contact Eleni Zulia, Director of Programs and Engagement, with any questions or for more information at eleni@athensfoundtion.org or 740-594-6061.
Update: As of 2024, the Response and Resilience Fund is no longer active.
Articles by Category
Stories of Collaboration and Belonging
Annual Business Meeting
The Athens County Foundation (ACF) invites you to our Annual Business Meeting on January 29, 2026. This event is our opportunity to reflect on the business achievements and milestones accomplished during Fiscal Year 2025 and share our plans for the year ahead.
Click on 01 for more information and to RSVP
Tax Law Update
We want to share with you this useful article from Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio which includes a summary of IRS rules, sample written acknowledgments, and helpful links.
Click on 02 for Pro Bono article
Civic Experiment Grant
Civic Experiments are local projects introducing new, sometimes unexpected or informal, civic opportunities in our communities. Civic Experiment grants are small (5,000-$15,000), 1-year programmatic grants. All Civic Experiments must be conducted in Athens County. Portal is open now-January 30
Click on 03 for more information
Strengths + Strengths
Strengths+Strengths is a special initiative designed to provide nonprofit organizations throughout Athens County with access to professional resources, expert insights, and leading best practices. The goal is to help those who do good do even better. Join us February 11 at noon at the Athens Public Library for the nonprofit Leaders Lunch
Click on 04 for more information
