Appalachia Funders Network Issues Siren Call to Philanthropy with Release of New Report: Your Investments in Appalachia Can Go Further

 Researchers from Reinvestment Fund and the University of Kentucky will present the findings during an Oct. 11 webinar sponsored by Appalachia Funders Network

Hazard, KY – Appalachia Funders Network (AFN), whose members facilitate hundreds of millions in annual philanthropic giving, is pleased to share the results from a recently completed asset scan of the six-state, 257-county region designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) as Central Appalachia, noting significant opportunities for philanthropic investment. Members of the research team and AFN will share findings and insights at an upcoming webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m.

“This report validates what we’ve been experiencing in our communities for a long time: A little social glue goes a long way. People who live in Central Appalachian communities with highly engaged residents tend to do well economically and live longer healthier lives,” said Michelle Foster, president and CEO of The Greater Kanawha Valley Community Foundation. “It begs philanthropy to consider how much social connections matter. Central Appalachian investments that bolster local economies and health outcomes will be most effective when people are connected to each other in ways that matter to them.”

The primary goal of the asset scan, conducted by Reinvestment Fund and the University of Kentucky’s Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK) was to create a data-informed framework for funders that would guide targeted investments resulting in enhanced quality of life in Central Appalachian communities. The full report can be found here along with an online story map presenting the results of the analyses.  

The research team examined indicators representing the economic wellbeing and population health of residents throughout the region. Indicators of key community assets, including economic infrastructure, health facilities, public investment, housing burden, non-profit organizations, and civic engagement were examined as well. The report reveals elevated levels of civic engagement – promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes – were most strongly associated with higher levels of economic wellbeing and population health. Across all 257 Central Appalachian counties only a single county proved the exception to this rule where low levels of civic engagement could co-exist with elevated levels of economic wellbeing.

“Our central Appalachian region is considerably under-resourced from the private philanthropic sector, and even fewer of those resources go to areas of civil society that promote what we would identify as civic engagement,” said Ryan Eller, interim executive director, Appalachia Funders Network. “I hope this report serves as a clarion call to reverse that trend.”

The researchers note that the findings from the report provide a nuanced framework for thinking about potential approaches to enhance the quality of life in Central Appalachian communities. AFN hopes that the findings, which also feature a map showing the distribution of community assets across the region and how the intersection of these characteristics can point to new funding strategies to enhance the quality of life throughout the region.

“AFN’s groundbreaking new report suggests that Central Appalachian investors may need multi-pronged strategies to support the region’s most pressing challenges – strategies that connect people to one another and build local economies that can participate in broader networks across the region and nation,” said Garrett Blaize, grants manager of Appalachian Community Fund. “Not only does it help place-based funders understand the incredible assets our communities have, but it provides a tool for funders everywhere to understand which counties are the most underserved and those most poised for shifts in wellbeing.”

During the webinar, experts from Reinvestment Fund, University of Kentucky and AFN will share their findings and offer a high-level analysis in addition to answering questions. Anyone is welcome to attend and may register here.

AFN is a 68-member network of groups across philanthropy that exists to accelerate a just and equitable Appalachian transition by convening and connecting funders for learning, analysis, and collaboration.