Friends of FAO Fund

We all have a gift that matters to the future of Appalachian Ohio, and financial gifts have far greater impact when combined. The Friends of FAO Fund enables you to have collective and immediate impact for the people and communities of Appalachian Ohio.

Your gift today will support near-term projects that include:

• Grant funding for FAO’s Growing Home Fellows’ service projects. Funding will be awarded through spring and fall “pitch” competitions designed to also increase the fellows’ fundraising skills. More than 100 fellows are working across the region and in all Pillar of Prosperity areas.
• Support for our region’s emerging leaders – our K-12 students – in envisioning and implementing community service projects in conjunction with FAO affiliate foundation partners. This funding will allow young people to experience the joy of service and community building and connect them with adult allies who can nurture their development.
• New opportunities for youth, including the development of a new regionwide bright spot in Arts & Culture that seeks to bring arts experiences to children during free summer lunch and other programming.
• Innovation from across the region in developing and piloting new ways to leverage the “science of hope” to increase well-being and success in our schools, organizations and communities.
• A new approach to scholarship giving that gives awards to students in eighth grade, when scholarships can be more influential to students’ decisions to pursue postsecondary education.
• Transformative partnerships to increase health and wellness, advance economic and community development, support environmental stewardship, and increase educational attainment and success.

A Flourishing Appalachian Ohio is within reach, thanks to your generosity and the power of collective giving. But this work will not be possible without you.