The Community Grant is designed to support locally driven projects that preserve and enhance the natural environment.
Donor Name: Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO)
State: Ohio
County: Selected Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/11/2026
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Community grants empower local communities to preserve and enhance The natural environment. They know relatively modest projects can make an outsized difference when they promote environmental stewardship and engage whole communities in conservation.
FAO welcomes proposals for community projects that create positive change locally. These projects should be limited in scope and support “people-powered” ideas. Examples include volunteer-led efforts, youth-led projects, grassroots initiatives and those led by civic associations. They encourage proposals that involve a collaborative effort from various community members.
Funding Information
Community grant requests should be between $500 and $5,000, and at least $50,000 is available to award.
Eligible Projects
Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
- Stream cleanups
- Trail maintenance and restoration
- Community pollinator gardens
- Environmental education workshops and events (e.g., nature hikes)
- Wildlife habitat restoration
- Community efforts to create storybook trails, pocket parks, greenspaces and community gardens
- Citizen scientist activities (e.g., the Great Backyard Bird Count)
- Starter forest distribution
- Public awareness campaigns
- Other projects that increase engagement and awareness of the local environment among the broader community
Eligibility Criteria
- Public and nonprofit organizations and individuals or groups working with a fiscal sponsor may apply
- The goal is to build and support environmental stewardship in Appalachian Ohio and across the Muskingum Watershed. As a result, priority will be given to projects led by organizations headquartered in Appalachian Ohio.
- Organizations headquartered outside the Muskingum Watershed and FAO service areas may apply but will need a local sponsor based within one of the counties listed below.
- Eligible counties: Adams, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Clermont, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Mahoning, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Summit, Stark, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Vinton, Washington and Wayne.
For more information, visit FAO.
