Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund Opens Applications for 2026 Appalachian Ohio Grants

Nonprofit and public organizations serving Vinton County have less than 72 hours to apply for small grants through the Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund to Support Partnership in Appalachian Ohio, with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio accepting online applications through Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

The fund, administered by FAO in collaboration with its 15 affiliate foundation partners, awards grants of up to $1,000 to organizations working across the 32-county Appalachian Ohio region. FAO's geographic affiliate network explicitly includes Vinton County alongside neighboring Hocking, Perry, Morgan, Noble, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs and Monroe counties, as well as the Nelsonville area.

The fund's emphasis reflects the priorities Myers himself championed during decades of regional advocacy: education, regional networking, support for community leaders and fulfillment of basic needs. Myers served as executive director of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Alliance and president of the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA), and during his tenure he advocated for the region and secured financial investments to support its progress in infrastructure development, quality of life and economic growth.

FAO is also accepting applications through the same March 17 deadline for a separate opportunity, the Dale Hileman Legacy Fund, which focuses on economic development and growth. That fund serves a different set of counties, including Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Tuscarawas and Washington counties, and carries the same $1,000 funding cap. Applications for the Hileman fund are available at AppalachianOhio.org/Hileman.

FAO is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works, in partnership with 14 geographic affiliate foundations and the regionwide African American Community Fund, to encourage and support philanthropy across all 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio.

Applications for the Myers Legacy Fund must be submitted online at AppalachianOhio.org/Myers before the Tuesday deadline. Organizations seeking additional information can email info@ffao.org or call 740-753-1111.