More than $32,000 awarded to support 17 projects and programs
NELSONVILLE, Ohio – The African American Community Fund (AACF), with the support of its donors and in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), has awarded $32,350 in 2025 grants to advance 17 projects and programs in communities across Appalachian Ohio.
“This funding shows what’s possible when generosity meets dedication to community,” said Ernie Bynum, AACF committee member. “Thanks to our donors who believe in long-term investment and the changemakers who are bringing bold ideas to life, we are preserving and celebrating Black history, empowering youth, supporting families and so much more.”
Black-led and Black-serving nonprofit and public organizations serving Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties were invited to apply for grants – made possible by gifts to AACF’s endowment fund – to advance opportunities across five funding areas: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human services. Emphasis is on supporting individuals of all ages who are spearheading projects and programs that create opportunities, meet pressing needs and unleash the potential within the region’s African American community.
The 2025 grant recipients are:
- Bess Purpose Inc. to implement a comprehensive support initiative designed to empower displaced families and veterans in Mahoning County and provide them the resources and tools needed to achieve stability and self-sufficiency
- The Birth Circle to support the International Families Connection Circle, a new monthly program aimed at supporting international students and families living in Athens County and surrounding areas
- Dress To Succeed Ohio to supply children in underserved communities in the Mahoning Valley with appropriate clothing for school, including uniforms and professional attire for job fairs and interviews
- Enterprise Muskingum to help cover operational expenses and to support the Beautiful Mom Cohort, empowering Muskingum County mothers
- Hyer Merit Association to support The Bridge Project for 16- to 18-year-olds in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, providing them mentorship, skill development, certification access and workshops in financial literacy, independent living and career readiness
- John Gee Black Historical Center to purchase audio and visual equipment to expand the Gallia County center’s programming, educational services and community events
- Kool Boiz Foundation to support the Young Men’s Empowerment Series Mentoring Program, serving boys and young men of color in Youngstown
- Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church to support operations of the newly restored Lawrence County church – Ohio’s first Black church and its only surviving antebellum Black church – as it prepares to reopen as an educational and community center
- Nelson T. Gant Foundation in Muskingum County to support the creation of a bronze statue of Gant, the centerpiece of the new Nelson T. Gant Freedom Walkway
- Ohio Valley Youth Network to support the Sycamore Volunteer Service Corps Mentoring Program, empowering Jefferson County African American youth in grades 5-12 through community service and hands-on job readiness training
- Plant Thee Seed Ministries to support a new summer youth development and character-building program in Trumbull County that includes creative expression, academic enrichment, mentorship, and community and family engagement
- Second Baptist Church of Steubenville to support its Juneteenth event
- Sistah’s Acts of Kindness to support programming for Clermont County children in grades K-5 with special needs and their families, including its Back-to-School Stop the Violence Event and year-round after-school program
- Thrive Mahoning Valley to support Thrive Thru, a free drive-through community meal initiative
- Underground Railroad Museum to support its first Flight to Freedom Adventure Race, a triathlon that will recreate the historic trek freedom seekers made, raise awareness of the historical significance of the Underground Railroad in Belmont County and the Ohio Valley, and raise funds for the museum
- Warriors 2 Wilderness in Muskingum County to support therapeutic retreats for African American veterans with PTSD
- Youniquely Gifted to implement the ROX (Ruling Our eXperiences) Program, a co-curricular experience to enhance self-discipline, physical fitness and social skills for girls at Youngstown’s Woodrow Wilson Alternative School
AACF, one of FAO’s 15 affiliate foundation partners, was established in 2020 to develop and grow permanent resources that provide continuous investment in Appalachian Ohio’s Black community. Each year, earnings from charitable giving to AACF’s endowment fund are reinvested in the region’s Black community through grants that meet the greatest needs and most promising opportunities.