Zach McGinty Leads with Heart and Purpose as Bill Keating Jr. Next Gen Award Honoree

November 3, 2025 | Written by Lindsey Barta

Zach McGinty and Liz Keating at Magnified Giving’s 2025 Fall Dinner.

Magnified Giving is proud to honor Zach McGinty, a 2019 Lebanon High School graduate, as the 2025 recipient of the Bill Keating Jr. Next Gen Award. The award was presented at Magnified Giving’s Fall Dinner on September 16, 2025, by Liz Keating, daughter of the late Bill Keating Jr.—a beloved Magnified Giving board member and community leader who believed deeply in empowering youth to take the lead in philanthropy.

Zach McGinty accepting the 2025 Bill Keating Jr. Next Gen Award

Zach’s journey with Magnified Giving began in 2017 as a student in Mrs. Turpin’s Service Learning Class at Lebanon High School. “In class, we not only researched nonprofits to consider for funding,” Zach shared during his remarks, “we also did service work in our community. My favorite part was when each of the six groups nominated a nonprofit, presented, and then the class voted on the grant recipient. It was inspiring to see where each group’s passions fell.” His group chose to support Camp Joy, a nonprofit summer camp serving youth from marginalized communities—including foster care, low-income families, and those with medical needs. He went on to serve at Camp Joy, and he also gained hands-on experience through roles at Flying Horse Farms, a nationally recognized medical specialty camp providing life-changing experiences for children with serious illnesses. Across these roles, Zach supported thousands of campers and their families, creating transformative experiences. He learned that these powerful moments wouldn’t be possible without funding, and that realization ultimately led him to pursue a career in nonprofit development. 

Kelly Collison, CEO of Magnified Giving; Zach McGinty; and Alison Kaufman, VP of Programs at the Grant Giving Ceremony where Zach accepted a grant to Ronald McDonald House Charities Dayton from youth at Lebanon High School.

The seed that was planted early on through his experience in Magnified Giving’s Youth Philanthropy Program grew and flourished. Today, Zach is the Development Outreach Coordinator for Ronald McDonald House Charities Dayton, where he helps provide a “home-away-from-home” for families with seriously ill children receiving treatment. In his first year, Zach launched new partnerships with schools, businesses, and service organizations; helped generate in-kind donations; and led the organization’s first-ever Kids & Clays fundraiser, raising over $25,000 to directly support families. In a full-circle moment, he even accepted a $1,000 donation from Lebanon High School’s Magnified Giving program—“feeling the impact of Magnified Giving all over again,” as he put it.

Zach was also recently named the 2025 AFP Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award recipient, an honor for which he was nominated by Magnified Giving. His continued commitment to serving families and strengthening his community exemplifies the values of empathy, collaboration, and youth empowerment that define Magnified Giving’s mission.

Now living in Dayton, Zach has built a life rooted in connection and purpose. A proud Ohio University graduate, he enjoys exploring new restaurants, playing in local sports leagues, and cheering for the Bengals and Reds. Inspired by his close-knit family in Lebanon and Madeira, he continues to carry forward the compassion and joy that first sparked his passion for philanthropy through Magnified Giving.

Congratulations, Zach, on continuing to live out the heart of Magnified Giving and carrying forward the legacy of Bill Keating Jr.—a leader who believed that when youth are trusted to lead, they can change the world.