Our Impact

Together, We Shape the Future of Athens County.

When you’re trying to solve big regional problems, you can’t just have one agency go out and write a grant. You have to have all these partners come in and [the Athens County Foundation] makes the project even bigger and better and more impactful… They’re helping us in ways that far exceed any community grant we could have secured through them.

Pete Kotses, Athens City Countil member and Baileys Trails Project planner

Leadership Athens County brought me to Habitat for Humanity and the work I continue to do on a daily basis here at Habitat. If it weren’t for Leadership Athens County, I probably would not have looked at Habitat as an option for employment, or any nonprofit in Athens County.

Kenneth Oehlers, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio

The Athens County Foundation was willing to step in a do contract administration for trail construction even though that’s something they’ve never done. They were willing to step forward and help us because they knew it was a good project and needed to get done. Same with the whole branding discussion. They were willing to help us where we needed, with no ego.

Dr. Dawn McCarthy, Wayne National Forest Public Affairs Officer 

By the Numbers

The Athens County Foundation helps our community grow stronger—together. We don’t just give out grants. We bring people together, support local leaders, and connect organizations with the tools and resources they need to make lasting change.

$14 Million

in asset size

$741,622

total grants awarded in 2025

over 550

individuals and organizations actively engaged in ACF's work

over 400

Leadership Athens County Flagship and Youth graduates

Grantmaking Programs Impact

In a recent impact report conducted by the OHIO Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, we explore the specific impacts of our Grantmaking Programs to our nonprofit partners.

Read More

Leadership Athens County Programs Impact

In a recent impact report conducted by the OHIO Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, we explore the specific impact of our LAC programs to our participants.

Read More

Ripple Effect Map Report (2020)

The Ripple Effect Mapping (REM) Report explores the outcomes that emerge from community-informed and co-created programs supported by the Athens County Foundation. In 2019, researchers from Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service partnered with ACF to gather stories and insights from nonprofit leaders, program participants, donors, community members, and other collaborators. Together, these perspectives helped trace the ripple effects that extend beyond individual programs and into the broader community.


The report examines how ACF's relationships, partnerships, and shared efforts contribute to meaningful change across Athens County. The findings highlight several interconnected areas where ACF's community-informed and co-created initiatives are creating momentum:

  • Making connections, mentoring linking resources;
  • Supporting economic development;
  • Developing leaders;
  • Strengthening the nonprofit sector;
  • Strengthening the philanthropic sector; and
  • Increasing the community's capacity to tackle tough issues.


Programs such as Leadership Athens County, Directors' Lunches, community convenings, task forces, and collaborative initiatives serve as the starting point for many of these ripple effects. By bringing people, these efforts create conditions for individuals, organizations, and institutions to work together in new and meaningful ways.


The REM report shows that every contribution to ACF—whether it's money, time, or talent—sets off a ripple effect that leads to meaningful, long-term change for the community and future generations.

Read the Ripple Effect Map Assessment Report