Mini-Grants

Foundation partners award $28,000 to nonprofits and schools

More than $28,000 in funding has been awarded to area nonprofits and schools through the Access to Education Mini-Grants Program by the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO).        

Grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 were provided for 20 projects that support Appalachian Ohio’s communities by improving access to educational opportunities for the region’s citizens.

“These small grants make big differences,” said Cara Dingus Brook, President and CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. “When combined with the energy of teachers and community groups, grants of $500 change lives.”

A portion of the Foundation’s 2008 mini-grant funding was provided by Black Spring and Alignment Services based in Muskingum County. The $7,500 sponsorship supported mini-grant awards within the company’s service area, which includes: Athens, Coshocton, Guernsey, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble; Perry, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington counties.

“Sponsors like Thom Black’s company allow us to provide even more resources to the organizations working hard to open doors of educational opportunity for our region’s students,” said Cara Dingus Brook.

“We were delighted to support the Foundation’s mini-grants program,” said Thom Black, CEO of Blacks Spring and Alignment. “These funds help students build the confidence and knowledge necessary to access post-secondary education opportunities.”

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is a 501(c)(3) public charity and regional community foundation. FAO’s mission is to enrich the current and future quality of life in the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio by fostering access to opportunity.

This is the fourth year for the mini-grants program. Past distributions also have focused on improving quality of life by increasing access to opportunity in Appalachian Ohio including support for college visits, ACT test preparation and other activities that directly lead to increasing student preparation for educational success and advancement.

Since the program’s inception in 2004, more than $240,000 has been awarded to regional nonprofit and education projects. Many grantees also are able to use the mini-grant dollars to leverage more funding for their programs.

Future grant and scholarship opportunities will be announced in this section of the site, so check back often.