Gifts to the Highland County Community Fund’s endowment fund are invested, with earnings from those dollars returned to our communities through grants to nonprofits, schools and public organizations serving our neighbors.
With the support of our donors and in partnership with FAO, our grants fund projects and programs that advance opportunities across five areas, known as our Pillars of Prosperity: 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 Highland County.
Our 2026 grant application closed on June 9.
A growing impact, year after year
More than $14,000 awarded in 2026!
The Highland County Community Fund, with the support of our donors and in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, awarded $14,150 during our 2026 grant round to advance nine projects and programs benefiting Highland County’s residents and communities.
Grant Recipients
- Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio to purchase food for its Highland County Food for All Mobile Pantry
- Greenfield Area Christian Center’s New Directions Youth Ministry to fund outings and supplies for the summer 2027 Discover Inspire Grow Groups
- Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities to help fund a backyard fence for Hopeful Horizons, which provides scheduled respite care to local youth
- Highland County Community Action Organization to support the Aging in Appalachia program, which provides no- or low-cost opportunities for seniors to participate in outings and activities throughout the region
- Highland County Homeless Shelter to purchase essential items, such as food and bedding, for the individuals it serves
- Highland Health Providers to purchase automatic home blood pressure monitors for uninsured and underinsured Highland County residents
- Hillsboro First Baptist Church to purchase diapers and pull-ups for The Diaper Depot’s distributions to families in need
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Ohio to support Ending the Silence mental health education and suicide prevention programs in all five Highland County school district areas
- Wilderness East to support Nature is Neat! educational programs at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary
- Greenfield Area Christian Center’s New Directions Youth Ministry to support the summer 2026 Discover Inspire Grow Groups
- Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities to purchase a portable universal changing table for use at community events
- Highland County Community Action Organization-Highland County OhioMeansJobs to assist Highland County residents or individuals employed in Highland County with one-time support services (e.g., appropriate work clothing/footwear, required documents) to help secure or retain employment
- Hillsboro First Baptist Church to purchase diapers and other items for The Diaper Depot’s distributions to families in need
- Southern Ohio Educational Service Center to fund micro-internships for Highland County high school students with Highland County businesses
- Highland County Family YMCA to increase free and subsidized access to fitness classes, chronic disease prevention programs and other healthy living services for Highland County residents
- Hillsboro Christian Academy to purchase books for third-grade classes
- Hillsboro First Baptist Church to purchase diapers and other items for The Diaper Depot’s distributions to families who need assistance
- Area 937 Community Outreach Inc. to purchase higher quality meats for its monthly food distributions serving at-risk families
- Grow! Highland County to support its enterprise facilitation programming that provides free and confidential resources for new and existing businesses in Highland County
- Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio to purchase food for mobile food pantry distributions in Highland County
- Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Councilt o assist with program costs for the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Highland County
- Highland County Community Action Organization Inc. to support the I Am a Child of Highland County Leadership Academy
- Hillsboro First Baptist Church to purchase diapers and other items for The Diaper Depot’s distributions to families in need
- Junior Achievement of OKI Partners Inc. to help fund the participation of Highland County high school students in the Inspire to Hire career expo
- Greenfield Area Christian Center’s New Directions Youth Ministry to help fund 2024 Discover Inspire Grow Groups led by former and current students
- Highland County ACCESS Program to fund micro-internships for Highland County high school students
- Alternatives to Violence Center to assist domestic violence victims with housing costs
- American Red Cross of South Central Ohio to purchase smoke detectors for area homes
- Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council to help support 174 girls in Highland County through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience
- Mary’s Episcopal Church to help fund its monthly “Soup’s On” free community meal
- Wilmington College to provide scholarships for Highland County children with disabilities to attend a summer therapeutic horse-riding camp
- Greenfield Area Christian Center’s New Directions Youth Ministry to support the summer 2022 Discover Inspire Grow Group
- Hillsboro First Baptist Church to support The Diaper Depot in providing free diapers to families in need
- Highland County Community Action for the I’m a Child of Highland County Youth Leadership Academy
Explore other grant opportunities available through the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.
