About

The Nelsonville Community Foundation was established in 2016 by local residents to make a direct and lasting impact for the people and communities of Nelsonville, Buchtel, Carbon Hill and Murray City. 

When the former Nelsonville Junior High and High School buildings were replaced by a new Nelsonville-York School District campus, a group of longtime Nelsonville residents – spearheaded by Dorothy Gettle, Anita McDonald and Betty Jo Parsley – formed a nonprofit to preserve the historic school buildings facing demolition. After working more than 16 years to maintain and save the buildings, a developer purchased the property in 2016 and transformed it into affordable housing, preserving a treasured piece of local history while serving a community need. 

Proceeds from the sale were used to establish the Nelsonville Community Foundation in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to ensure that those dollars would continue to serve Nelsonville and the surrounding communities forever.  

Our goal is to grow permanent charitable resources that provide continuous investment in the people and communities of Nelsonville, Buchtel, Carbon Hill and Murray City. Today, we steward $1.4 million in assets – all working together to fill our communities’ greatest needs, seize our most promising opportunities and build a strong foundation for our future. 

Together with our donors and partners, we advance opportunities across five funding areas, known as our Pillars of Prosperity.