HCECF awards $100K in new community grants to 17 Holmes County nonprofits

Holmes County has always been known as a community of people who know how to take care of one another.

This fall, thanks to donors who care deeply about the community and a board of directors committed to making an impact, the Holmes County Education & Community Foundation launched its community grant cycle, offering a total of $100,000 in grants of up to $15,000 each and planned to be annual.

After a thorough review of all applications, the board selected 17 nonprofit organizations whose projects and programs promise to make a difference in Holmes County.

The following organizations will receive awards: Killbuck Methodist Church, Christ’s Cupboard; Fostering Love of Holmes County; Holmes Center for the Arts; Holmes County District Public Library; Holmes County General Health District; Holmes County Park District, Legacy Point Park; Holmes Fire District #1; Holmes Soil & Water Conservation District; Holmesville Community Center; Love INC of Greater Holmes County; Pure Gift of God; Sacred Ground; Scouters of Holmes County Inc.; Viola Startzman Clinic; West Holmes Athletic Booster Club Inc.; West Holmes High School Counseling & Student Services Departments; and YMCA of Holmes County.

For HCECF Executive Director Holley Johnson, this is why the HCECF board was so eager to put the community part of the name into action.

“Our board was so excited to kick this program off this year,” Johnson said. “Prior to having this community foundation, there weren’t a lot of ways to apply for grants specifically for Holmes County. To have a group of people who had the foresight to think about this opportunity and make it happen was huge for our county.”

The HCECF has been doling out scholastic scholarships to graduating seniors for years, but now that the community portion of the foundation has been established, it creates opportunity to impact many other county nonprofits.

With the release of a new list of community recipients from the Holmes County Education & Community Foundation, that sense of giving to others was on full display.

The Holmes County Education Foundation was established through a trust agreement Aug. 24, 1989, by a group of forward-thinking individuals who understood the power of education to strengthen the community and expand opportunities for Holmes County residents.

For the last 36 years, the Holmes County Education Foundation has been a leader in providing local students with financial aid to achieve their higher education goals. The foundation now awards more than $700,000 in scholarships from 89 funds to hundreds of Holmes County students each year.

In 2021 the education foundation expanded its focus and became the Holmes County Education & Community Foundation. This transition enabled the foundation to deepen its impact across the entire community.

While continuing to build its capacity to support students in achieving their educational goals, the foundation also broadened its mission to connect philanthropic resources with the community’s most pressing needs, working to enhance the quality of life for all who call Holmes County home.

“We have a community grant selection committee, and we hated to have to narrow it down at all, but we did have to,” Johnson said. “They looked for projects they felt were the most impactful for the community that would sort of have a long-term effect. We wish we could have given the full amount that everyone asked for, but it was really insightful to see where the various needs are in the community. It was very beneficial for the committee to recognize how much need there is and the impact our nonprofits are making in our communities.”

Johnson said with this being the first year, the process was encouraging, and they expect it to continue to grow as needs continue to be met and the community gives back.

Johnson said the benefits from the foundation are only possible through the generosity of the many people who give and want to see Holmes County thrive.

“All of these people who gave have one thing in mind, and that is helping Holmes County long-term,” Johnson said. “This should grow and increase every year moving forward as we invest the funds, and it is a good feeling knowing that the dollars are being stretched into perpetuity.”

These grant awards were made possible through the Anonymous Donors Community Fund, the Community Impact Fund and the Patrick Shriver Memorial Fund for Mental Health — all held by the Holmes County Education & Community Foundation.

Donors can give to the fund anonymously to the general fund, to an already established fund, designate donations to a specific fund, or create their own new scholarship or community endowment fund.

The next round of applications will begin in October 2026, but donations can be made throughout the year.

For more information on donating to one of these funds or starting a fund of your own, visit www.hcef.net/giving or call 330-674-7303.