Funding available for projects, activities in Appalachian Ohio
NELSONVILLE, Ohio – The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) and its 15 affiliate foundation partners announce the Feb. 4 opening of grant applications for the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund and the Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund to Support Partnership in Appalachian Ohio.
Funding is available for projects and activities that are improving quality of life and advancing flourishing Appalachian Ohio communities. Applications for both funding opportunities must be submitted online by Tuesday, March 18.
Dale Hileman Legacy Fund
The Dale Hileman Legacy Fund, created with support from the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA), supports causes that were close to Hileman’s heart – economic development and growth – and organizations within EODA’s service area. The service area covers Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Tuscarawas and Washington counties.
Funding requests should not exceed $1,000. Additional information and the grant applications are available at www.AppalachianOhio.org/Hileman.
A native of Columbiana County, Hileman’s legacy includes a lifetime of service to eastern Ohio. He worked for Columbia Gas of Ohio for 40 years, serving Carrollton, Jackson and Cambridge in Appalachian Ohio, and helped establish EODA to promote economic development and growth in eastern Ohio. In retirement, he remained committed to improving quality of life in the region and to promoting his community of Cambridge in Guernsey County, where he shared his final years with his wife, Evelyn.
In 2024, grants were awarded to:
- The Columbiana County Educational Service Center to support a Summer Manufacturing Camp, held in collaboration with the Columbiana County Business Advisory Council and 11 local school districts
- The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum in Tuscarawas County to support a partnership with Claymont High School that provides summer jobs to low-income students interested in history as well as other entrepreneurial areas such as cooking, marketing, business and event planning
- Nelsonville-York High School in Athens County to purchase a new oscillating spindle sander for its woodshop
Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund
The Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund to Support Partnership in Appalachian Ohio was created to support the region’s nonprofit and public organizations in advancing projects and activities that improve quality of life, with an emphasis on areas Myers worked so passionately to address: education, regional networking, support for community leaders and fulfillment of basic needs.
Open to organizations in Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties, additional information and the 2025 grant application are available at www.AppalachianOhio.org/Myers. Funding requests should not exceed $1,000.
Myers was a stalwart champion for Appalachian Ohio, serving as executive director of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Alliance and president of EODA. During his years of service, Myers advocated for Appalachian Ohio and generated countless financial investments to support the region’s progress in meeting basic needs, including infrastructure development that advanced quality of life and economic growth – a legacy that continues through the FAO fund that bears his name.
In 2024, three grants were awarded through the Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund. The Eastern Local School District in Meigs County received funding for supplies for new calm spaces. Steps for Success in Ashtabula County received funding for summer workshops focused on time management, financial literacy and interpersonal skills held in partnership with After-School Discovery, a local organization that provides enrichment opportunities to underserved youth. And Project Noelle, serving Hocking County, received funding to purchase clothing, shoes and diapers for children impacted by the opioid epidemic.
A 501(c)(3) public charity, FAO is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. In partnership with 14 geographic affiliate foundations and the regionwide African American Community Fund, FAO works to unleash the collective potential within Appalachian Ohio by encouraging and supporting philanthropy. FAO’s geographic affiliate partners serve the Nelsonville area and Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry and Vinton counties.