Gifts to the Lawrence County Community Foundation’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.

2025 grant applications

2025 grant applications are being accepted Tuesday, July 29, through Tuesday, Sept. 9. Applications must be submitted online.

The Lawrence County Community Foundation, with the support of our donors and in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, is accepting grant applications from nonprofits, schools and public organizations for projects and programs benefiting the people and communities of Lawrence County.

Grants will be awarded for projects and programs advancing opportunities across five funding 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 efforts that create opportunities, meet pressing needs and unleash the potential within Lawrence County.

Funding requests should be limited to a maximum of $5,000, but larger requests may be considered based on potential impact. Priority will be given to Lawrence County-based organizations not previously funded during the 2024 grant cycle.

FAO has transitioned to a new online system for grant applications. Before applying for funding, all applicants must register and create an account in the new system. (Note: If you have previously registered with the system/applied for funding since fall 2024, you can use the account you previously created.) Once registered, click on the “Grant Application” tab and then select “Available Grants,” where you can access the specific grant application form.

For questions, please contact FAO at 740.753.1111 or view the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Create an account and apply here

A growing impact, year after year

$10,000 awarded in 2024!

In 2024, the Lawrence County Community Foundation, in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, awarded six grants, totaling $10,000, to support projects and programs benefiting the county’s residents and communities.

Grant Recipients

  • Chesapeake Band Boosters to purchase two wireless microphone systems and a wireless microphone with an earset for the Chesapeake High School “Peake of Performance” Marching Band
  • Harvest for the Hungry Food Pantry to purchase food for distributions
  • Kiwanis of Greater Ironton to upgrade the swing set and provide additional swings at the Open Door School in Coal Grove
  • RLB Ministries to purchase food for Backpack Buddies, which operates through 19 schools in Lawrence County
  • Third and Center to help fund a program coordinator and meal services at the Ironton Senior Center
  • Young Life (Proctorville) to support the club, which provides space where young people can build relationships, develop leadership skills and grow personally and spiritually

  • HomeTown Love of Chesapeake to support a beautification project that will include building a stone flower bed, installing lighting and placing flowerpots by the village’s welcome sign near the Sixth Street bridge 
  • inspiHER Girls Leadership Foundation to support the inspiHER Girls Leadership Retreat for Lawrence County fifth- through eighth-grade girls at South Point Middle School 
  • Ironton aLive to help purchase storage containers that will be painted with Appalachian-themed murals at the children’s splash park 
  • Tri-State STEM + M Early College High School received two grants: (1) to purchase new computers and (2) to support the development of a student-led musical that highlights the positive impact of the arts on mental health 
  • William C. Lambert Military Museum and Archive to support the creation of a new exhibit, “The Korean War: Soldiers Stories of Lawrence County” 

  • Impact Prevention to help fund a youth-led weekend conference in which high school-aged youth serve as mentors and educators for fifth- and sixth-grade students 

  • RLB Ministries to support its Backpack Buddies program, which works with 17 local schools to provide weekly meal bags, emergency food boxes, clothing, coats, shoes and hygiene items 
  • Ironton in Bloom to help with construction of a small park that will enhance downtown revitalization efforts and preserve a piece of the city’s cultural history  
  • Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church to help finance a historic structure report, the first step in restoring and renovating the church, Ohio’s first Black church and the only surviving antebellum Black church in the state  
  • New Hope United Methodist Church to support its annual back-to-school giveaway of backpacks and school supplies in three of the county’s school districts 
  • Third and Center to help support the expansion of its Ironton Riverfront Beautification Project to include an interactive arts experience

Explore other grant opportunities available through the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.

All grant opportunities