Best Adams County Grants for Nonprofits in Ohio

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities in Adams County, Ohio can seek funding for workforce development, climate resiliency, and opportunity and inclusion programs; awards up to US $20,000. With a mission to strengthen communities, Duke Energy Foundation provides rolling, year-round support for projects serving areas where Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas operate.

Spectrum Digital Education Grants support nonprofit organizations in educating communities about broadband benefits and usage. These grants aim to bridge the digital divide, particularly for seniors and those with disabilities or ethnically diverse backgrounds. Applicants must demonstrate community partnership, address specific needs, and provide measurable impact metrics. With a focus on financial feasibility and meaningful outcomes, this initiative ensures that underrepresented urban and rural communities gain access to essential digital resources, fostering long-term improvement in their lives.

Interact For Health

Our organization started in 1997, when ChoiceCare sold its health maintenance organization to Humana for $221 million. The proceeds were invested and The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati was created, serving a 20-county region in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. The foundation was charged with changing the way health care was delivered—especially for under-resourced communities.

Our mission is to ensure people in our region have a just opportunity to live their healthiest lives. Our Vision is focused on people in our region being healthy and thriving, regardless of who they are or where they live.

Interact For Health: Event Sponsorship

Interact for Health provides sponsorships as a way to support organizations within Greater Cincinnati with funding beyond our grantmaking work. Sponsorships are a competitive process, and funding is limited. We prioritize sponsoring events that serve our priority populations, align with our strategic plan, and benefit (and are located in) our 20-county service area.

In general, sponsorship opportunities are meant to benefit organizations that are not current grantees of Interact for Health. 

Adams County, Ohio transportation providers serving seniors and people with disabilities can access funding for contracted transit services through the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Section 5310 program. Eligible subrecipients receive reimbursement for 80% of capital costs when contracting with local transportation providers and must offer open-door, shared-ride services with a 20% non-U.S. DOT local match.

Tax-exempt nonprofits serving Adams County, Ohio can apply for Hayswood Foundation’s competitive grants, awarding US $1,000 - US $140,000 for programs in mental or physical health, education, and related capital projects. One-year awards may include matching requirements and can also support scholarship initiatives benefiting local residents.

The Enbridge Safe Community First Responder Program is designed to support emergency response organizations across Canada and the U.S. by providing grants for safety equipment, training, and educational programs. Launched in 2002, it has invested over $22 million in enhancing community safety. Eligible organizations include fire departments and medical services located near Enbridge operations. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $10,000, helping improve the capabilities of first responders in rural and underserved areas.

Volunteer and combination fire departments serving small communities in Adams County, Ohio can access funding through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program; awards up to US $10,000 on a 50/50 reimbursement basis for wildland fire equipment, PPE, MARCS-compatible communications, vehicles, tools, and other rural firefighting needs.

The African American Community Fund Grant, established by Ernest E. and Ernest A. Bynum, aims to support African American communities in Appalachian Ohio. This fund addresses disparities and enhances the quality of life through initiatives in arts, education, economic development, and health services. Grants range from $500 to $5,000, focusing on projects led by Black organizations across 32 counties. This initiative strengthens both the African American population and the broader community.

Private landowners in Adams County, Ohio can apply for the Ohio Forest Legacy Program to protect working forests through conservation easements and long-term forest management. Administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, it supports projects that maintain timber production, biodiversity, habitat, and water quality.

About Us

Interact for Health works so that people in our region are healthy and thriving, regardless of who they are or where they live. We advance health justice by tackling the root causes of unfair systems, amplifying community power and partnering with trust.

Responsive Fund

The goal of the Responsive Fund RFP is to address immediate, emerging, or unanticipated needs within the community, recognizing that opportunities to build resilience require dedicated funding.

2) In-Kind Support for Sustainability Consultations and Capacity Building

Participants in this program will receive 1:1 consulting services tailored to an organization’s identified needs. Interact for Health will work with local consultants and community partners based on needs shared by grantee organizations.

Examples of needs include the following:

• Scenario planning  
• Legal support 
• Sustainability and development planning and implementation
• Diversified funding strategies and implementation
• Exploring collaboration, partnerships/alliances, shared services, and/or mergers
• Strategic planning and revisions 

Sustainability Consultations will include up to 30 hours of 1:1 support and will begin in late 2026. 

About Us

Interact for Health works so that people in our region are healthy and thriving, regardless of who they are or where they live. We advance health justice by tackling the root causes of unfair systems, amplifying community power and partnering with trust.

Responsive Fund

The goal of the Responsive Fund RFP is to address immediate, emerging, or unanticipated needs within the community, recognizing that opportunities to build resilience require dedicated funding.

Grant Funding for Critical Services – Sustaining Civic Infrastructure: Total investment up to $1.5 million  

This funding supports the continuity of critical community infrastructure and services by addressing the time-sensitive operational and programmatic needs. Proposals for funding should focus on critical gaps or unmet needs with deep ties to community relationships. Organizations should demonstrate readiness to deploy resources quickly if funding is provided. This RFP will prioritize funding organizations essential to advancing health justice and youth well-being among our priority populations. Grants are available at three levels: $50,000, $75,000, or $100,000 for general operating or programmatic support.

The Rural Changemaker RFP by Interact for Health aims to enhance health and well-being in rural areas across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. With funding ranging from $10,000 to $70,000, the initiative targets grassroots projects that address vital health conditions. This year, a total of $600,000 is available for organizations that serve at least one of Interact for Health’s rural counties. The grant duration is between 12 to 18 months, fostering community-driven solutions.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) and 509(a) charities in Adams County, Ohio can seek US $100,000 for capital, start-up, technology, or program expansion projects that address defined community needs in culture, education, environment, family, or health and wellness. Impact 100 provides multi-year funding for measurable projects serving at least one county in the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State area.

The Donald R. Myers Legacy Fund Grant, administered by the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, provides essential funding for nonprofit and public organizations in Appalachian Ohio. With a focus on enhancing quality of life through education, community leadership, and basic needs fulfillment, this fund supports collaborative projects across 32 counties. Thanks to contributions like the $10,000 from Columbia Gas of Ohio, the fund aims to make a lasting impact in the region, fostering growth and development.

Nonprofit and charity organizations in Adams County, Ohio seeking support for education, community services, or environmental work can apply for funding that matches volunteer time or financial gifts. Grants from Makulinski Family Foundation help local and international charities by leveraging match ratios based on beneficiary affluence, and proposals connected with Rotary may also be considered.

With a mission to strengthen Appalachian communities, Appalachian Regional Commission provides Adams County, Ohio public agencies, local governments, nonprofits, tribes, and higher education institutions with funding for critical infrastructure and business and workforce development projects. Eligible applicants can support water and wastewater systems, transportation, broadband, entrepreneurship, worker training, and related economic development initiatives in ARC-designated Appalachian counties.

Nonprofits, local governments, and other organizations planning multi-state economic and community development projects that include Adams County, Ohio can seek funding for planning or implementation efforts. Appalachian Regional Commission supports regional initiatives across eligible Appalachian counties with grants up to US $10,000,000 to strengthen businesses, workforce, tourism, and community revitalization.

With a mission to support K-12 civics education, this program provides Adams County, Ohio public schools, educators, students, and public or nonprofit organizations serving K-12 students with US $500 - US $10,000 for civics learning projects. Grants from the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio back programming that helps students become informed, engaged community members.

The CALT Emerging Traditional Artists Program, funded by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, supports early-career Appalachian traditional artists with $5,000 grants and personalized professional development. Artists engage in learning opportunities, including workshops and mentorship, to enhance their skills. Eligible applicants must be traditional artists from designated Appalachian counties in Ohio, Virginia, or West Virginia, at least 18 years old, and in good standing with Mid Atlantic Arts. This initiative fosters cultural preservation and artistic growth in the region.

Nonprofit and safety-net health organizations in Adams County, Ohio working on oral health for older adults and people with disabilities can apply for grants from HealthPath Foundation of Ohio. Awards up to US $50,000 over two years support community-based programs, education, outreach, advocacy, and service delivery to advance oral health equity.

The Duke Energy Foundation offers Local Impact Grants of up to $20,000 to support initiatives in vibrant economies, climate resiliency, and equity. These grants aim to enhance community well-being through workforce development, environmental projects, and inclusive programs. Open year-round, the grants prioritize organizations serving Ohio counties where Duke Energy operates, fostering sustainable growth and opportunity for underrepresented populations.

The Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative aims to revitalize communities impacted by coal industry transitions. This initiative provides funding for projects that diversify local economies, enhance job training, and create new employment opportunities. By fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, the POWER Initiative supports strategic investments that align with regional economic development plans, ensuring a more resilient future for coal-affected areas.

Adams County, Ohio public and nonprofit organizations, plus fiscally sponsored groups, can seek up to US $25,000 for projects in environmental protection, renewable energy, education, and reducing disparities. Adams County groups and those serving its residents can access funding via Foundation for Appalachian Ohio’s Edge of Appalachia – Adams County Fund.

Adams County, Ohio students pursuing ecology, forestry, wildlife, natural resources, energy efficiency, agriculture, land stewardship, or DEI-related programs can receive scholarship support up to US $25,000. With a mission to strengthen Appalachian communities, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio helps local residents access undergraduate, trade, vocational, or technical education that benefits the region’s environment and equity.

Environmental Stewardship: Community Grants

FAO, through its Environmental Stewardship Pillar of Prosperity Fund, offers funding opportunities to advance conservation, environmental stewardship and the greater well-being of Appalachian Ohio.

To support locally driven projects that preserve and enhance our natural environment.

Community grants empower local communities to preserve and enhance our natural environment.

We know relatively modest projects can make an outsized difference when they promote environmental stewardship and engage whole communities in conservation. More details about these grants and how to apply can be found on page 5. At least $50,000 is available to support community grants.

The Educational Foundation of America (EFA) supports the Reproductive Health & Justice Grant Program to enhance access to abortion and contraception throughout the U.S., particularly in Appalachia, Alabama, and Florida. EFA funds innovative organizations that advocate for reproductive rights, provide direct support to abortion services, and leverage impact investing strategies. This commitment aims to ensure reproductive freedom, foster equity, and promote sustainability in underserved communities.

The CALT Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship, supported by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, celebrates and preserves the rich traditions of Black Appalachian storytelling. This fellowship honors those who embody the history and culture of African Americans in the region. Each year, fellows are recognized at the National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference, receiving awards crafted by Dr. Dena Jennings. The program fosters a deeper understanding of these traditions and invites fellows to share their stories at future events.