Athens County Foundation
Athens County Foundation is a public charity based in Athens, Ohio, that supports people and communities in Athens County through grants, local giving, and collaboration on community needs. The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it was formed in 1980.
Athens County Foundation at a glance
In short: Athens County Foundation gave $594K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Ohio. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $594,470
- -8.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- -5.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,513
- -2.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,414
- Total assets
- $14,172,878
- +9.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (9 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Athens County Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts applications through its online grant application process. Applications are evaluated individually, and supporting documents are submitted online.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 Fall Cycle deadline is October 2, 2026; applications to the Senior Fund are due October 18, 2026. The Rocky Community Improvement Fund’s 2026 Fall deadline was September 25, 2026, which has passed.
- Deadline
- The 2026 Fall Cycle deadline is October 2, 2026; applications to the Senior Fund are due October 18, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 366, Athens, OH 45701
Phone: (740) 594-6061
Website: https://athensfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Athens County Foundation
ACF Competitive Grants Program
Athens County Foundation
Amount
$3,000 - $8,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
ACF Flexible Microgrants Program
Athens County Foundation
Amount
up to $3,000 per organization per year
Deadline
Rolling
ACF Racial Equity Fund
Athens County Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Athens County Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ohio University ($99K). Together the top 10 received $373K.
Grant Size Distribution
164 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 156 grants of 164 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s competitive grant programs generally support projects benefiting Athens County residents. An applicant organization may be located outside the county if its project benefits Athens County residents; applicants serving multiple counties are asked to identify the cost of work in Athens County. The Rocky Community Improvement Fund has a broader stated reach that includes Athens, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, and Washington counties in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Athens County Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 36 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 56% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $277K (2020) to $646K (2024). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $594K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio University Athens, OH | Music School | $98,600 |
| Rural Action The Plains, OH | Food Insecurity | $95,257 |
| Hocking Athens Perry Community Ac Glouster, OH | Tranportation Facili | $40,642 |
| Acenet Inc Athens, OH | — | $34,655 |
| Ohio Valley Musuem of Discovery Athens, OH | — | $21,469 |
| United Seniors of Athens Athens, OH | Accessible Van | $20,000 |
| Athens Co Children Services Athens, OH | — | $16,226 |
| Athens Mental Health DBA the GP Athens, OH | — | $15,913 |
| Athens Area Mediation Services Athens, OH | — | $15,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Se Ohio Millfield, OH | — | $14,961 |
Ready to take the next step with Athens County Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $14,172,878 | $2,288,823 | $1,599,478 | $594,470 | 36 | $1,059,290 |
| 2024 | $12,919,618 | $1,013,868 | $1,372,107 | $646,381 | 38 | $401,356 |
| 2023 | $11,176,045 | $2,417,036 | $1,125,648 | $449,628 | 36 | $187,555 |
| 2022 | $9,078,445 | $1,844,625 | $1,152,417 | $520,630 | 34 | $771,655 |
| 2021 | $10,943,685 | $1,522,569 | $1,135,219 | $402,124 | 20 | $683,429 |
| 2020 | $9,005,755 | $2,215,231 | $1,328,976 | $276,986 | 32 | $393,679 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to build on community strengths by advancing participation and collaboration to address longstanding challenges and pursue extraordinary opportunities. Its stated vision is for everyone in Athens County to be engaged and working together toward a healthy, inclusive, thriving community.
The foundation’s website describes an open Fall Cycle and field-of-interest funds focused on seniors, women and girls, racial equity, Pride, outdoor recreation, arts, and K–12 education. Its Rocky Community Improvement Fund prioritizes areas including children’s welfare and education, hunger, school programs, seniors, developmental disabilities, community development and infrastructure, housing, animal welfare, community beautification, and environmental programs.
Examples of organizations supported in 2025 include Rural Action, whose mission is to build a more just economy through environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable regional development; Hocking.Athens.Perry Community Action, which describes its mission as mobilizing resources to empower individuals and communities through advocacy and services; and Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio, which aims to provide decent, affordable housing in partnership with families and communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 36 itemized grants totaling $594,470. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $98,600, with a median of $9,414. The largest reported awards included $98,600 to Ohio University for its music school; $95,257 to Rural Action for food insecurity; and $40,642 to Hocking Athens Perry Community Action for a transportation facility. Other listed grants included $34,655 to ACENET Inc., $21,469 to Ohio Valley Museum of Discovery, and $20,000 to United Seniors of Athens for an accessible van.
The foundation’s website says eligible organizations may apply to competitive grant programs if their projects benefit Athens County residents. Eligible applicants generally include 501(c)(3) organizations, government agencies or public entities, qualifying faith-based organizations serving the broader community, and projects with a qualified fiscal sponsor. Applications are submitted online. The foundation evaluates applications for alignment with its and the program’s mission, vision, and values; feasible and reasonable use of funds; and the applicant’s capacity to achieve meaningful, sustainable impact. For Fall Cycle requests, it recommends asking for at least $1,000; typical awards are described as $3,000–$8,000, and applicants seeking more than $20,000 are strongly encouraged to contact staff before applying.
Foundation grants cannot fund endowments, scholarships, religious purposes or services limited to a congregation, reimbursement for completed work, deficits or debt reduction, political or legislative action groups, or annual fundraising drives. Fiscal sponsors must apply on behalf of, or in collaboration with, the sponsored group.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kerry S. Pigman as Executive Director. Listed board members include Jane Cavarozzi, Laurie Deal, Tee Ford-Ahmed, Randy Gonzalez, Jen L’Heureux, Therese Lackey, and Steve Patterson. Karoline Lane is listed as Vice Chairperson, and Geoffrey Morgan as Treasurer.
Athens County Foundation is led by Julie Paxton Pagan, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 15 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Julie Paxton Pagan
President
Board Member → Vice Chairperson, 2023
Vice Chairperson → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kerry S. Pigman
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$57K (2021) → $101K (2025)
Jessica Thomas
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Laurie Deal
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Scott Robe
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Steve Patterson
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jane Cavarozzi
Board Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Geoffrey Morgan
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Karoline Lane
Vice Chairperson
Board Member → Vice Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Tee Ford-Ahmed
Board Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jen L'heureux
Board Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Randy Gonzalez
Board Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Therese Lackey
Board Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Dan Stroh
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Rebecca Robison-Miller
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Cheryl Sylvester (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Otis Crockron (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Claudia Hale (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Peter Galbraith (2020–2023) — Vice President & Vice Chair
- Former: Trevalia Ford-Ahmed (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: W. Otis Crockron Jr. (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Wayne R. Carlsen DO (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Geoff Morgan (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Candy Kemmerer (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Macdonald (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Ruthie Nellis (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: John Haseley (2020) — President
- Former: Mark Seckinger (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Susan B. Urano (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $101K, to Kerry S Pigman (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Athens County Foundation
How much does Athens County Foundation give each year?
Athens County Foundation gave $594K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $646K across 38 grants.
What is Athens County Foundation's typical grant size?
Athens County Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $9,414, and its average grant was $16,513, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Athens County Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Athens County Foundation give grants?
Athens County Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Athens, OH (20 grants), Nelsonville, OH (3 grants), Glouster, OH (2 grants) and Millfield, OH (2 grants).
Who are Athens County Foundation's largest grantees?
Athens County Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ohio University ($98,600), Rural Action ($95,257) and Hocking Athens Perry Community Ac ($40,642), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Athens County Foundation?
Athens County Foundation reported $14.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What does Athens County Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to build on community strengths by advancing participation and collaboration to address longstanding challenges and pursue extraordinary opportunities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Athens County Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications through its online grant application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Athens County Foundation's EIN?
Athens County Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1040215. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Athens County Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Athens County Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/athens-county-foundation-morg_10f7eda5ea5f47e893f0a94d44851b1f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311040215_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Athens County Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/athens-county-foundation-morg_10f7eda5ea5f47e893f0a94d44851b1f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Athens County Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Athens County Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?