Fairfield County Foundation
Fairfield County Foundation is a public charity based in Lancaster, Ohio, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and economic viability of the Fairfield County community. Established in 1989, it provides a way for individuals, families, and organizations to make charitable gifts that benefit the community.
Fairfield County Foundation at a glance
In short: Fairfield County Foundation gave $3.0M across 69 grants in 2024 (avg $44K), mostly in Ohio. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,015,855
- +59.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 69
- +35.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $43,708
- +18.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,535
- Total assets
- $76,355,879
- +9.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (32 of 69, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fairfield County Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Eligible organizations must be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofits physically located in and serving Fairfield County. Applicants are asked to discuss a project with a Program Officer before submitting a preliminary proposal or letter of inquiry through the online grant system. If the Grant Committee wants to consider the project further, the organization is invited to submit a full application. The committee may request additional information, an interview, or a site visit; final decisions are made by the Board of Trustees. Organizations that reach the application stage may generally apply only once per calendar year. Grants are generally for one year; selected multi-year requests of up to three years must be for an essential new-initiative startup and include specific, measurable outcomes. Awarded organizations must accept the grant agreement within 10 days of notification, generally spend the grant within six months, and submit a final grant report within three months of funding.
- Review Cycle
- The Foundation lists two 2026 community-grant cycles: preliminary proposals are due January 12 and July 13, with full applications due January 30 and July 31, respectively. Board decisions are scheduled for March 19 and September 17.
- Deadline
- The Foundation lists two 2026 community-grant cycles: preliminary proposals are due January 12 and July 13, with full…
- Contact
Mailing address: 162 East Main St, Lancaster, OH 43130
Phone: (740) 654-8451
Website: https://fairfieldcountyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Fairfield County Foundation
Who Fairfield County Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fairfield County Agricultural Socie ($600K). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
309 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 270 grants of 309 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s grantmaking is centered on Fairfield County, Ohio. Its guidelines describe eligibility for organizations located in and serving the county, and the Foundation also encourages organizations able to demonstrate that a significant number of their clients or people served reside there. In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio; the remaining reported shares went to Colorado (3%), Pennsylvania (1%), Indiana (1%), and Michigan (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Fairfield County Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 32 of 69 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $60K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $21K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $938K (2020) to $3.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 69 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County Agricultural Socie Lancaster, OH | Community Progress | $600,000 |
| Gametime Harrison, OH | Parks/Recreation | $495,535 |
| Lancaster Festival Lancaster, OH | Arts/Culture | $279,000 |
| Fairhope Hospice Palliative Care Lancaster, OH | Human Services | $225,000 |
| The Tree Church Lancaster, OH | Religion | $119,000 |
| New Horizons Foundation Inc Colorado Springs, CO | Religion | $101,000 |
| Fairfield County Foundation Lancaster, OH | Community Impact Fun | $63,800 |
| Decorative Arts Center of Ohio Lancaster, OH | Arts/Culture | $50,000 |
| Alumni Assoc Amanda Clearcreek HS Amanda, OH | Annual Scholarships | $41,475 |
| Fairfield Area Humane Society Lancaster, OH | Animal-Related | $40,110 |
Ready to take the next step with Fairfield County Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $76,355,879 | $7,695,218 | $5,761,940 | $3,015,855 | 69 | $3,761,077 |
| 2023 | $70,024,648 | $6,779,760 | $3,970,512 | $1,888,479 | 51 | $2,082,799 |
| 2022 | $59,708,266 | $5,979,671 | $4,424,946 | $2,317,148 | 66 | $2,207,571 |
| 2021 | $68,377,740 | $9,193,842 | $3,735,209 | $1,655,786 | 71 | $4,122,275 |
| 2020 | $59,703,095 | $5,014,257 | $3,024,959 | $937,835 | 52 | $2,005,867 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to build a legacy through philanthropy and stewardship to strengthen the community. Its vision emphasizes responding to community priorities, quality of life, inclusion, workforce development, and bringing people and resources together.
The Foundation’s grantmaking includes support for arts, community progress, disaster relief, education, health, human services, and other areas. It encourages 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the Fairfield County area to apply when appropriate. Examples of grantees’ work include the Lancaster Festival, whose mission is to celebrate artistic creativity across cultures and nurture participation in the arts; FairHope Hospice & Palliative Care, which provides hospice services and support to terminally ill people; and Maywood Mission, which provides relief and promotes the welfare of people in need.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 69 grants totaling $3,015,855. Grant amounts ranged from $5,125 to $600,000, with a median of $15,535.
Among the largest reported grants were $600,000 to Fairfield County Agricultural Society for community progress, $495,535 to Gametime for parks and recreation, $279,000 to Lancaster Festival for arts and culture, and $225,000 to FairHope Hospice Palliative Care for human services. Other recipients included The Tree Church ($119,000, religion), New Horizons Foundation ($101,000, religion), and Decorative Arts Center of Ohio ($50,000, arts and culture).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Amy Eyman as CEO; Eileen Competti as Chairman; and Mike Lieber as Past Chair. Listed trustees are Martin Baker, Lynn Barboza, Molly Bates, Chris Claypool, Ron Collins, Lewatis McNeal, and Jodie Phayer.
Fairfield County Foundation is led by Amy Eyman, CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 16 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Amy Eyman
CEO
Executive Di → CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$102K (2020) → $118K (2024)
Eileen Competti
Chairman
Secretary → Vice Chairman, 2023
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Barboza
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin Baker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly Bates
Trustee
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Ricketts
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Claypool
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jodie Phayer
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Collins
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheri Russo
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Sitterly
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lewatis McNeal
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connor Smith
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Lieber
Past Chairman
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2023
Chairman → Past Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debra Smith
Vice Chairman
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Vice Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edie Waugh
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Aundrea Cordle (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jeff Beard (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Melissa Walker (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jarrod Tudor (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Dean Derolph (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: John McGraw (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Woody Winfree (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Victor Christopher (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Joshua Moore (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Suzanne Lang (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $118K, to Amy Eyman (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Fairfield County Foundation
How much does Fairfield County Foundation give each year?
Fairfield County Foundation gave $3.0M across 69 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 51 grants.
What is Fairfield County Foundation's typical grant size?
Fairfield County Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,535, and its average grant was $43,708, across 69 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fairfield County Foundation that year got $60K on average.
Where does Fairfield County Foundation give grants?
Fairfield County Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lancaster, OH (40 grants), Columbus, OH (6 grants) and Baltimore, OH (4 grants).
Does Fairfield County Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of Fairfield County Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 67) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Community Progress" (10 grants), "Human Services" (9 grants) and "Arts, Culture" (8 grants).
Who are Fairfield County Foundation's largest grantees?
Fairfield County Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Fairfield County Agricultural Socie ($600,000), Gametime ($495,535) and Lancaster Festival ($279,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Fairfield County Foundation?
Fairfield County Foundation reported $76.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.7M.
What does Fairfield County Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to build a legacy through philanthropy and stewardship to strengthen the community. Its vision emphasizes responding to community priorities, quality of life, inclusion, workforce development, and bringing people and resources together. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fairfield County Foundation?
Eligible organizations must be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofits physically located in and serving Fairfield County. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fairfield County Foundation's EIN?
Fairfield County Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1623983. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fairfield County Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fairfield County Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fairfield-county-foundation-morg_c46dde15641840fb969357c5b1123486
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_341623983_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fairfield County Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fairfield-county-foundation-morg_c46dde15641840fb969357c5b1123486},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Fairfield 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.
Fairfield County Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?