Strength and Spirit of our Community

There is a phrase we hear often: Money is power. And in many ways, it is true. Wealth opens doors. It secures invitations. It brings seats at tables where decisions are made, and futures are shaped. In the philanthropic industry, proximity to wealth often determines proximity to influence. At the Athens County Foundation, we recognize this reality. As stewards of people’s charitable resources, we are entrusted with managing and directing wealth for community good. That stewardship places us in rooms with elected officials, nonprofit leaders, business owners, and institutional partners. It gives us access. It gives us a voice. It gives us power. With that power comes responsibility. We do not take it lightly. Acknowledging the Weight of Power Philanthropy has a complex history. It has shaped systems, influenced policy, and at times reinforced inequities. We are honest about that history, and we are intentional about how we show up today. Our mission is clear: We build on the strengths of our community, advancing participation and collaboration to address longstanding challenges and pursue extraordinary opportunities. And our vision calls us even higher: Everyone in Athens County is engaged and working together to ensure a healthy, inclusive, thriving community for all. If everyone is engaged, then power cannot stay concentrated at a single table. It must be shared. We believe contributions of all kinds have value. Money matters, yes. But so does time, lived experience, relationships, professional expertise, cultural knowledge, and creative vision. When we talk about collaboration and participation, we mean it. We are working to build systems that make room for more voices, not fewer. The Empty Chair In our meetings, you may notice something unusual: we acknowledge, figuratively and sometimes literally, an empty chair. It is not a mistake. That chair symbolizes the people who should be in the room but are not. Those who have been marginalized. Those who are carrying heavy burdens. Those who are navigating systems every day that were not designed with them in mind. Those with lived experience whose insight is essential to meaningful change. The chair reminds us that access to the table is not evenly distributed. It also reminds us of our responsibility. Even when not every person can physically be present, those of us who are around the table must hold their interests in mind. We must invite them in when possible. We must educate ourselves. We must listen with curiosity and not judgment. We must lean on those most proximate to the challenges at hand and, when appropriate, use our position to advocate. Participatory change making is not a slogan for us. It is a commitment. The Blue Chair The teal chair began as something much lighter. It started as an inside joke among our strategy development team. None of us quite recall its origins. Somewhere along the way, the image of a teal chair became shorthand for the people we were designing for and with. And then it stuck. We are embracing that teal chair as a symbol. It represents the voices not yet heard, the neighbors not yet connected, the leaders not yet recognized. It represents an invitation. It represents accountability. What It Means to Pull Up a Chair To pull up a chair is to embrace your power as a valued member of this community. To pull up a chair is to contribute in ways you can, through your time, your money, your talents, your skills, your relationships, your ideas. To pull up a chair is to accept the responsibility of representation. When you sit at a decision making table, you carry the weight of those who are not there. You ask better questions. You listen more closely. You advocate more thoughtfully. To pull up a chair is also too frtoyourself from limitations handed down by history or social institutions. It is to recognize that your perspective matters. That your lived experience is expertise. That there is something only you can contribute. And that contribution is deeply valued. We have seen through our ripple effect mapping and years of community engagement that when people connect, mentor, collaborate, and share resources, the impact expands far beyond what anyone of us could accomplish alone. Every act matters. Every voice shapes the outcome. There Is a Chair for You At the Athens County Foundation, we do not believe the table belongs to us. We believe it belongs to the community. Whether you are a donor, a volunteer, a nonprofit leader, a student, a business owner, a neighbor with an idea, or someone who has never considered yourself “powerful,” there is a chair for you. Pull it up. Join the conversation. Bring your strengths. Carry the responsibility with courage and hope. There is a seat waiting for you.