The East Liverpool-Fawcett Community Foundation was launched in 1992 and has made grants totaling nearly $400,000 in the intervening years. The EL-FCF (the Fawcett Foundation for short) is committed to building a strong community and improving the quality of life for residents of the city of East Liverpool; Liverpool Township; and St. Clair Township, all of which lie within beautiful Columbiana County in eastern Ohio. Occasional projects are also funded within Hancock County, in nearby northern West Virginia.

The Fawcett Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation. It accepts financial donations, and donations or bequests of money, property and services. It distributes grants, property and services to area community groups, foundations, corporations and other organizations which are exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. The Foundation supports (in no particular order and not strictly limited to these):

1) The education and support of the public in matters relating to music, area school bands and choirs; religious instruction; literary and scientific education; and public safety;

2) The fostering of amateur sports competition, other than providing athletic facilities and equipment;

3) Groups which have as their goal the support and encouragement of area children and teenagers, particularly in areas in which they themselves have expressed an interest or talent (such as learning an instrument, needing help or expertise with a school or Scouting project, etc.);

4) The improvement and revitalization of the East Liverpool community, including the preservation and renovation of historically-significant buildings and other structures in the area.

NOTE: The Fawcett Foundation does not make charitable distributions to individuals; to organizations which are not tax-exempt; or to permanent endowments, other than revolving grant or loan funds.

The services and expertise of area residents Bob Gardner, CPA (accounting), Dr. Marc Hoffrichter (investment) and Attorney Jackman Vodrey (legal) are provided to the EL-FCF gratis. This arrangement was made so that no funding is ever used for anything other than the projects and groups the foundation wishes to support.

The foundation meets once annually, in the fall, and announces that year’s grants four to six weeks later.

Boat on the Ohio River near East Liverpool, Ohio, 1962. Painted by Hans Hacker.