Funds

Our Pillars of Prosperity Funds advance opportunities across five areas essential to flourishing communities: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services.

Our Community Funds support the work of FAO’s 14 geographic affiliate foundation partners and the region-wide African American Community Fund, including the grants they award annually to local nonprofits, schools and public organizations.

Our Unrestricted Funds invest in the most-promising opportunities and the greatest needs across all our communities to ensure the people across our 32-county region flourish.

Designated Funds support the causes closest to donors' hearts, including specific nonprofit organizations, efforts or communities. These funds are frequently advised by the organizations or communities they benefit. Creating an endowed designated fund to support a favorite charity, such as a senior center, provides donors a way to create lasting support for causes they care about without adding administrative burden to these organizations.

Donor-Advised Funds are similar to a private or family foundation and support donors in taking a more hands-on approach to giving by suggesting organizations to receive grants.

Corporate Donor-Advised Funds support companies’ charitable grantmaking.

Field of Interest Funds benefit a specific geographic area or charitable purpose in Appalachian Ohio. Grants from these funds are advised by a committee, which can include the donor and family members (who may constitute less than 50 percent of the membership), and FAO professional staff. The majority of FAO’s field of interest funds are endowed, permanent sources of regional funding.

Organizational Funds support the good work and advance the missions of nonprofit organizations across Appalachian Ohio.

Scholarship Funds help students across Appalachian Ohio pursue postsecondary studies at institutions of higher education or through vocational programs. Donors can choose to have their fund advised by FAO’s scholarship committee, which includes representation from around the region, or establish an advisory committee unique to the scholarship fund they have established.

School Funds support academic and educational opportunities and the current and future students in school districts across Appalachian Ohio.