The Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky - Who We Are

We are more than a traditional community foundation.

We do things differently

Learn about our

APPROACH

The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky brings together people, ideas and resources to build communities and encourage philanthropy.

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2022 Annual Report

How We Work

We believe in consistently and intentionally shifting control back into the hands of local leaders.

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We Support Communities

We combine the stability of a traditional community foundation with the innovation of impact investing and supporting social enterprises.

We Develop Leadership

We motivate and develop community leaders and eliminate barriers to growth.

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We Grow Assets

We connect resources to local people and programs creating equitable, lasting, and positive change.

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What Makes Us

DIFFERENT?

The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky meets communities where they are instead of telling them where they should be. Because, at the end of the day, we believe that investing in the people rooted in communities is the way to make them better.

Explore our community affiliates

Join our team

We are currently hiring! See open positions and the benefits of working with the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky.

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Feature Fund

Invest your values with the Appalachian Impact Fund.

The Appalachian Impact Fund pursues relationships with startups, initiatives, and organizations that celebrate Appalachian culture and grow local economies. This fund provides both capital and connections to social entrepreneurs and projects in Appalachian Kentucky.

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Stay up-to-date

Rising Where WE’re Rooted

Discover how we are helping to reclaim the power of community for Eastern Kentucky.

June 1, 2022

Celebrating Kentuckian and LGBTQ+ Activist, Lige Clarke

Elijah “Lige” Clarke (1942-1975) was a native of Hindman, Kentucky and a formative figure of the Queer Liberation Movement in the mid-20th Century. In the mid-1960’s, while he was in the US Army (with top security clearances, assigned to the Army’s Chief-of-Staff at the Pentagon), Lige would pass out gay rights pamphlets in the evenings…. KEEP READING

February 16, 2023

Letcher County Community Foundation Presents the Mountain Strong Award

To honor the tireless ongoing work happening in Letcher County, the Letcher County Community Foundation created the Mountain Strong Award. This award recognizes an individual or organization whose involvement in the community has made a significant impact to the Letcher County community. On February 9th, the Letcher County Community Foundation board members presented the inaugural… KEEP READING

February 5, 2023

Foundation Awards Pike County Long-Term Recovery Group $50,000 Grant

Recently, the Pikeville Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, partnered with LKLP Community Action Council to support the Pike County Long-Term Recovery Group effort. SBP, a national disaster recovery and resilience non-profit organization working to shrink the time between disaster and recovery, provided group training and certification for over 60 people… KEEP READING