Athens, OH –  The Athens County Foundation (ACF) convened its Annual Business Meeting on Thursday evening at the Ohio University Inn, bringing together business owners, nonprofit leaders, donors, and past and present board members. The event, hosted by ACF’s Board and staff, served as a platform to celebrate the milestones of Fiscal Year 2024 and share the Foundation’s vision for the future.

Treasurer Geoff Morgan opened with a financial update, reporting a $1.74 million increase in ACF’s endowment, bringing the total assets to $12.9 million. 

Board member Tee Ford-Ahmed followed with a grants update, highlighting ACF’s impact through 210 grants totaling $810,000—a $242,000 increase from the previous year. These grants were distributed across multiple programs, including ACF’s Fall Cycle, the Rocky Community Improvement Fund’s Fall and Spring Cycles, Nonprofit Capacity Building grants, and Donor Advised Fund grants. 

During the administrative proceedings, Scott Robe, Chair of the Governance Committee, facilitated board nominations. The assembly enthusiastically confirmed Rebecca Robison-Miller and Dan Stroh as first-term board members, while Jane Cavarozzi was approved for a second term. 

A Strategic Vision for the Future

ACF’s Executive Director Kerry Pigman delivered the keynote address, unveiling the Foundation’s new strategic framework: “Learn while doing, build while evolving.” 

Reflecting on ACF’s journey since its founding in the 1980s by eight visionary women, Pigman underscored the Foundation’s role in strengthening Athens County. Programs like Leadership Athens County, with over 400 graduates and counting, and the Strengths + Strengths capacity building program continue to drive non-profit development.

Looking ahead, ACF is fully committed to Co-Create, a bold initiative designed to combine and mobilize local assets, resources, and expertise to achieve shared community goals. Informed by a decade of ACF’s work and inspired by successful national models of participatory change-making, Co-Create fosters connection, cooperation, and collaborations for sustainable progress.

An Invitation to Partner in Progress

The strength of Athens County lies in its people and their collective will to create meaningful change. ACF invites anyone who lives, works, and loves Athens County— all residents, local leaders, and organizations— to join in advancing Athens County. 

To learn more and get involved, visit athensfoundation.org/co-create.

ACF looks forward to collaborating with you!