Gifts to the Morgan 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 Morgan County.
The 2024 grant application closed on Sept. 10.
A growing impact, year after year
$15,000 awarded in 2023!
In 2023, the Morgan Community Fund awarded seven grants, totaling $15,000, to support initiatives benefiting our residents and communities. This includes a grant for a project developed and implemented by Morgan County youth under age 18, empowering our young people’s good work today and inspiring them to embrace future roles as community builders.
Grant Recipients
- Girls Scouts of Black Diamond Council to help fund the Healthy Living Champion program, educating girls and families on healthy habits for self, home and community, for a new Girl Scout troop in Morgan County
- MoCo Kitty Control to help support spay/neuter clinics
- Morgan Local Schools to purchase materials for students to design, build and launch model rockets and compete in the American Rocketry Challenge
- Ohio’s Hill Country Heritage Area to help fund Ohio’s Winding Road Seed Grant Program and provide mini grants that support the development, expansion and marketing of authentic experiences in Morgan County
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio to help cover overnight stays for Morgan County families
- Shrivers Hospice Foundation to support its Someday is Today Program and fund bucket list wishes for terminally ill patients in Morgan County and their families
- Morgan Junior High School to support Thrive Drive ’24, a service-learning project through which students collect essential, non-food items for the Morgan County United Ministries Manna Harvest Food Pantry
- Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio to assist with a home build in Malta in partnership with the Morgan High School Construction Trade Program
- Malta McConnelsville Joint Recreation Board to help fund the purchase and installation of new swings at the Malta & McConnelsville Kiwanis-Jaycee Community Park
- Malta McConnelsville Rotary Club to support its Rotarians Feeding Morgan County’s Hungry initiatives
- MoCo Kitty Kontrol to help support spay/neuter clinics
- Morgan County Health Department to purchase baby/toddler clothing and diapers for a new countywide Mother’s Day Baby Shower for low-income expectant families and those with newborns and toddlers
- Morgan Local Schools to support the launch of a new model rocket program to encourage STEM education and career exploration in aerospace and space sciences
- Morgan Youth Soccer to purchase new nets and goals and paint for the field
- Muskingum Valley Council Boy Scouts of America to provide scholarships and campership assistance for youth members living in Morgan County
- Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center to support a driver’s education program at Morgan Local High School
- Rising Suns Pharmacy to assist with costs associated with mailing prescriptions and supplies to the uninsured and underinsured served by the Southeast Ohio Free Pharmacy
- Twin City Opera House for stage lighting improvements
- American Red Cross – East Central Ohio for the Home Fire Campaign in Morgan County for installation of fire alarms
- Community Action Program Corporation of Washington-Morgan Counties to help fund summer meal site operation and nutritious packed meals for children, as well as haircuts for children enrolled in kinship care in Morgan County
- Malta-McConnelsville Joint Recreation Board to fund the rescreening of the Malta Park walking path
- Mary’s House at Silver Heels for staff professional development
- MoCo Kitty Kontrol to support the annual spay and neuter clinic for Morgan County cats
- Morgan County Council on Aging to support the MoCo Senior Meals program that delivers food to seniors in rural parts of the county not served by other resources
- Morgan East Elementary to support the expansion of the Mentor Program to additional students, connecting them with enriching experiences during the school year
- Morgan Local School District for aviation and space exploration materials to provide students hands-on STEM experiences
- Morgan South Elementary Care Team to provide clothing, hygiene resources, weekly food bags and more for children pre-kindergarten to sixth grade
- Morgan West Elementary for Building Buddies to provide one eco-friendly buddy bench on the playground for outdoor learning
- Shrivers Hospice Foundation for Somebody’s Today Program to provide bucket list-type programs to Morgan County residents in hospice care
- Village of Chesterhill to support the Marion Park Basketball Court
Emerging Needs Funding
The Morgan Community Fund is focused on responding quickly and flexibly to critical needs across Morgan County and is actively working to grow available funding. Our annual grant round opens in July/August, and funding decisions are made by December.
If you have an emerging need, you may apply for funding outside of the annual grant round. Awards typically range between $500-$2,500; requests above $7,500 will not be considered.
An “emerging need” is defined as: a need that emerged due to unexpected circumstances. This could include, but is not limited to:
- An emergency or natural disaster
- Loss of a planned venue (location)
- Unexpected repairs
- Other circumstances that could not be planned for or foreseen
- An immediate or time-sensitive need for funds
If your project is a recurring event, an ongoing need, an expense for which funds are not needed before December, please apply during the annual grant round. Funds received through the annual grant round can be used throughout the following year. We encourage organizations to apply through the annual grant round for planned programs and activities. If you are not sure if your project qualifies, please contact the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio at 740.753.1111.
How to Apply for Emerging Needs Funding
Interested applicants should submit the following information to info@ffao.org:
- Organization name
- Organization tax status: Nonprofit 501(c)3 or Public Entity (such as government or school). For-profit businesses are not eligible.
- Describe your emerging need and the amount of requested funding
- Contact information, including:
Organization name
Contact name, phone, physical address and mailing address if different than physical address
Name and email of person who is authorized to sign a grant agreement if it is someone other than you
- Nonprofit documentation:
For 501(c)(3) or churches, please email a copy of your IRS decision letter.
For schools or other public entities, please email a copy of your most recent financial audit.
If you are unsure what to send, please call FAO at 740.753.1111.
