RCIF Applications Open

Shayne Lopez • March 19, 2026

We are pleased to announce that the Rocky Community Improvement Fund (RCIF) Spring 2026 grant cycle is now open. Applications will be accepted until April 19, 2026.


RCIF supports communities where Rocky Brands employees live and work, directing funding to projects in Nelsonville, Buchtel, Haydenville, Trimble, Murray City, Glouster, Carbon Hill, and surrounding areas. Since 2013, the fund has partnered with the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation to match charitable contributions from Rocky Brands employees.



Eligible applicants include organizations serving Nelsonville, nearby villages, and the broader counties of Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, and Washington. Funding priorities are as follows:

  1. Children’s welfare and education
  2. Hunger
  3. School programs
  4. Senior citizens
  5. Developmental disabilities
  6. Community development and infrastructure
  7. Housing initiatives
  8. Animal welfare
  9. Community beautification
  10. Environmental programs


Please note that funding is limited, with a total of $50,000 available.

We encourage interested organizations to apply early and reach out with any questions.


By Emily Prince September 1, 2026
Please join us in welcoming our new Director of Finance and Administration, Stacy Strauss. Stacy looks forward to using her skills to strengthen our community! She brings energy, creativity, and a thoughtful approach to her work, along with a genuine ability to bring people together around shared goals. Her experience spans financial management, fundraising and grant writing, program development, business strategy, and developing materials that tell a clear, compelling story.  Just as importantly, she enjoys helping others grow. She has experience leading and training teams, building collaborative cultures, developing recruitment strategies, and finding practical, creative solutions to complicated challenges. Whether working with colleagues, community partners, or other stakeholders, she builds relationships rooted in trust, communication, and a shared commitment to advancing good ideas.
By Shayne Lopez August 28, 2026
Athens County's greatest asset is its people. Every day, neighbors, organizations, and local leaders bring skill, creativity, and deep knowledge of this place to the work of building a stronger community. Our grantmaking invests in those strengths, because the best solutions are already growing here, led by the people who call Athens County home. Our grantmaking builds on the strengths already here by investing in the initiatives, people and organizations, relationships, skills, and ideas working to address longstanding challenges and pursue extraordinary opportunities. 
By Emily Prince August 12, 2026
Collaboration and Partnership