The Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund is a continuation of The Nature Conservancy’s longtime commitment to Adams County, reflected most notably in the Richard and Lucile Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve System.
One of the most biologically diverse natural systems in the Midwest, this collection of preserves sits in Adams County and is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Cincinnati Museum Center. At more than 20,000 acres, it is Ohio’s largest privately owned nature preserve.
2024 grant and scholarship applications
The Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund is accepting 2024 grant and scholarship applications. Applications should be submitted by Thursday, Dec. 12, for primary consideration.
Additional information and the grant application are available here.
Additional information and the scholarship application are available here.
The Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund invests in projects serving Adams County, Ohio, that address one or more of these three focus areas:
- People and Nature – The fund supports projects primarily focused on protecting the environment, generating renewable energy and providing educational programs that emphasize hands-on learning and reflection.
- Education – The fund supports scholarships for students seeking degrees in ecology, forestry, wildlife ecology or related natural resource fields; trade, vocational or technical training in fields that contribute to energy efficiency, agriculture and land stewardship; and programs that foster diversity, equity, justice and inclusion (for example, Appalachian studies or women’s studies).
- Reducing Disparities – The fund supports programs that improve food security, educational achievement or medical care for groups disproportionately disadvantaged because of their race, income level, gender, religion, sexual orientation, mental health, veteran status, or physical and developmental disability.
The first grants and scholarships from Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund were awarded in February 2024. Read about the inaugural grant and scholarship recipients.
Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund review committee
The fund is advised by Adams Countians to address the issues that matter most to the community, including how these funds can drive economic growth and improve quality of life locally. We invite those who hold Adams County closest to their hearts to join their friends, neighbors and fellow community members as we work together to make Adams County an even better place to call home.
If you are an Adams Countian passionate about advancing quality of life in Adams County, we invite you to submit a nomination on behalf of yourself or others to sit on the Edge of Appalachia-Adams County Fund review committee. The nomination form is available here.
For more information and updates, please follow this webpage, FAO and TNC’s social media, or email info@ffao.org.