Meigs County Foundation
To donate to the Meigs County Foundation, click here.
The Meigs County Foundation was created in 2011 to increase and advance philanthropic activities in Meigs County. The Meigs County Foundation works to attract philanthropic resources in the form of gifts, grants, or bequests to benefit the broader community. It helps everyone give back to Meigs County so the community can invest grants to benefit Meigs County residents.
Meigs Family of Funds
The Growing Family of Funds includes:
• Meigs County Foundation
• Meigs County Schools Food Pantry Fund
• BraylynStrong Childhood Cancer Awareness Scholarship Fund
• Camp Kiashuta Endowment
• Charles A. and Joan Corder Memorial Scholarship
• Chester-Shade Historical Association Fund
• Forrest Bachtel Scholarship Fund
• Karr-Aanestad K9 Foundation Fund
• Meigs Performing Arts Center Fund
• New Haven School Fund
• William M. and Janet P. Betcher Memorial Endowment for Library Services
Grant Opportunities
The Meigs County Foundation (MCF), in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO), invites nonprofit and public organizations seeking funding for a project or program serving Meigs County to apply for the 2022 round.
MCF and FAO’s I’m a Child of Appalachia® Fund will award funding to projects or programs that benefit residents of Meigs County across across five areas essential to generating and sustaining transformative change: Arts & Culture; Community & Economic Development; Education; Environmental Stewardship; and Health & Human Services. Projects increase quality of life, create access to opportunities, or implement a solution to a need in Meigs County. It is anticipated that up to $35,000 will be awarded overall.
2022 Grant Recipients
- Bethel Worship Center for “It’s Our Time: Meigs Mobile Food and Supplies Outreach,” a new mobile outreach program providing food, supplies, information and encouragement to county residents.
- Blessings in a Backpack to provide weekly backpacks of food for up to 160 K-5 students in Meigs County primary and intermediate schools at risk for hunger over the weekends.
- God’s Hands At Work for its mobile food pantry.
- Eastern Local School District received two grants, through support from the Buckley Family, for its Exploration in Art program and to purchase tools and equipment and to grow the vocational agricultural program developed in conjunction with Meigs Local Schools.
- Meigs County Farmers’ Market to support the third season of its Music Along the River program.
- Meigs County Historical Society to purchase a new computer and programs to assist with genealogy research.
- Mulberry Community Center received a grant, through support from Danny Crow, Debbie Gilkey and Donna Morrison, in memory of their mother, Vera Crow, to purchase equipment and fund improvements to the center and its kitchen.
- Racine Firefighters Association to purchase new life jackets for its rescue boats.
- Rio Grande Community College Meigs Center to provide students with healthy snacks and small meal options.
- River of Life Care Closet for additional space and equipment for its food pantry.
Recent Projects
Before the Meigs County Foundation, many charitable gifts were leaving the community. When residents wanted to make a gift that would benefit the whole community for the long-term, they were looking for partners outside of the county who might have been able to help them. Now, with a fund focused on benefiting Meigs County by investing in its nonprofits, schools, and students, they can give back to Meigs County.
And they in the midst of a bold campaign that will not only make history, but celebrate it too. Endow 200 celebrates Meigs County’s 200th birthday by bringing together 200 gifts of $3,000 each. With gifts stretching over five years that means anyone can be a part of the effort for just $50 a month. These dollars will go into a permanent endowment that will allow the Meigs County Foundation to make grants each year while also growing the dollars available for the community.
“Throughout Meigs County, novel ideas and elbow grease are working to expand opportunities for our neighbors,” said Jennifer Sheets, a committee member of the Meigs County Foundation. “By launching Endow 200, the Meigs County Foundation will be able to invest homegrown dollars into ideas that will have an impact on our local communities.”
Whether you call Meigs County home today or are looking to give back to a place where you grew up, everyone now has the chance to make a difference in Meigs for generations.
Meigs Committee Members
The Meigs County Foundation is led by a volunteer committee with strong ties to the Meigs County community. Meigs County Foundation committee members include:
• Bradon Bartee
• Ryan Buckley
• Susan Clark
• John Hoback
• Barb Musser
• Paul Reed
• Charlene Rutherford
• Jennifer Sheets
• Laura Sheets
• Linda Warner
• Frank Blake
• Candice Hess
• Perry Varnadoe (Affiliated Member)
Support the Meigs Community
Gifts to the Meigs County Foundation are tax deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests, and life insurance. Donations can be made online by designating the Meigs County Foundation when donating. To mail your donation, please designate the Meigs County Foundation and mail to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, PO Box 456, Nelsonville, OH 45764.
