The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky

We Do Things Differently

Regional Impact

Regional Impact

rising where we’re rooted

Local people, local decisions, local impact. The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky is an organization serving Southeastern Kentucky with 8 affiliates in 12 counties. We help Kentuckians across the state give to the causes they care about, and we make grants to make life better for all people.

Donate to the Rise With Us Fund

impact by the Numbers

since inception in 2006 through November 30, 2021

$45,433,827

in donations received

6,168

total grants awarded

$1,007,463

in grants provided by our community affiliates

6,168

individual donors

$17,556,428

given in grants, scholarships & investments

516

total scholarships awarded

covid-19 relief

over $1 million

in urgent COVID relief funding for Appalachian people, small businesses and nonprofit organizations

345

small businesses and farms supported

$180,000

supporting six eastern Kentucky counties

The Southeast Kentucky Healthy Downtowns Initiative provided $180,000 in funding to 6 Eastern Kentucky towns, supporting new ways for people to interact safely with public spaces and commerce.

153

businesses grants awarded

The Southeast Kentucky Downtown Business Stimulus Fund provided urgently needed grants to 153 business owners in 23 counties. The Fund also released 0% emergency interest loans to small businesses.

over 910

jobs saved

$114,718

in response and relief grants given by our affiliates to their communities

54

Black-owned family farms supported

The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky also helped pool funds for the Kentucky Black Farmers Fund to support 54 Black-owned farm families statewide during COVID.

138

grants awarded to small family farms

The Central Appalachian Family Farm Fund provided urgently needed grants to 138 local farms in 20 counties.

2021 Flood relief

$1,312,987

awarded for flood relief

$250,000

in family farm grants

104

business grants awarded

$650,000

awarded in individual grants

202

family farms supported

$412,987

awarded in business grants

1,300

individual grants awarded

Stories of Impact
The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky invests in people rooted in communities working toward lasting, positive change.

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

December 22, 2022

Housing Can’t Wait

Affordable Housing through Community Partnership At the 2022 Appalachian Big Ideas Festival, the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky announced alongside Fahe, the Housing Development Alliance and HOMES, Inc. that we would be partnering to build 16 new homes for flood survivors. The housing plan is supported by a $50,000 investment from Fahe and $1.23 million from… KEEP READING

December 22, 2022

Newly Appointed Executive Director of the Appalachian Impact Fund

Dear Friends,  This year has been one of juxtapositions for the Appalachian Impact Fund—laughter and crying, celebrations and grieving, innovation and destruction, stability and transitions—but we move into 2023 as a stronger and more united community. As many of you know, after five years of founding, growing, and leading the Appalachian Impact Fund as its… KEEP READING

November 22, 2022

Introducing the Knott County Community Foundation

Welcome to the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky is pleased to announce its newest affiliate, the Knott County Community Foundation.  The affiliate program was created to combine deep understanding of community priorities and passion of local people with the support and expertise of a nationally accredited foundation. When these two come… KEEP READING