Ohio River Valley Participatory Fund
The Ohio River Valley Participatory Fund supports groups serving northern Appalachian communities that have been adversely impacted by the fossil fuel industry. This intermediary fund is deeply rooted in the region, housed at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, and guided by a Steering Committee of nonprofit leaders.
The Fund provides grants to nonprofit groups that are helping impacted communities address environmental, health, democracy, justice, movement-building, and economic development goals. Current grant offerings are focused on small to medium-sized groups working in eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia.
General Operating Support Grants
These grants help support programs, projects, and capacity-building of organizations serving impacted communities in eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia. The Fund is currently accepting applications between September 30, 2024 and November 1, 2024 for general operating support grants. Additional funding rounds may open in 2025; check here for updates.
Rapid Response Grants
Rapid response small grants help address emergency needs of organizations serving impacted communities in eastern Ohio, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia. Requests will be considered on a rolling basis.
View a list of previous grant recipients here.
Information Sessions
The Ohio River Valley Participatory Fund will hold two virtual information sessions for potential applicants. Each session will cover the same information about the Fund’s goals and current grant opportunities.
- Register here for the information session on Monday, October 7, 6-7 pm EDT
- Register here for the information session on Thursday, October 17, 12-1 pm EDT
Regional Leadership
As a participatory fund, grantmaking and governance are guided by regional leaders who help the Fund respond to the needs and priorities of impacted communities and regional coalitions. The 2024 Steering Committee includes Autumn Crowe, West Virginia Rivers Coalition; Bishop Marcia Dinkins, Black Appalachian Coalition; Gillian Graber, Protect PT; Michael Parker, Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services; and Shannon Smith, FracTracker Alliance.
Fund Supporters
The fund gratefully acknowledges its supporters, including The 11th Hour Project, the Argosy Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, the MacArthur Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Myles D. and J. Faye Sampson Family Foundation.
Questions?
If you have general questions about the Fund, about your organization’s eligibility, or if you need accommodations in order to apply, please contact orvpf@cfalleghenies.org.
If you need technical assistance with the grant application system, please contact ewood@cfalleghenies.org.
Support the ORVP Fund
The Ohio River Valley Participatory Fund gratefully accepts grants and donations through the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.
Contributions support the Fund’s grantmaking to nonprofits serving impacted communities in northern Appalachia. Funder inquiries may be directed to orvpf@cfalleghenies.org. To make an online donation click HERE.
