OVERVIEW: This funder supports a broad range of issues in a majority of the counties in Arkansas. Most of these grants come from donor-directed funds, but the foundation itself also awards grants to local education, arts, and well-being organizations.
IP TAKE: ACF is a statewide funder that, coupled with its numerous affiliates, offers a lot of opportunity for support. Like most community foundations, it is accessible and provides detailed information about its past giving in several years’ worth of annual reports and financial statements. Grant seekers should start by learning about ACF’s Giving Tree Program: this is the stronghold for local philanthropy. The foundation prioritizes youth and children lately.
PROFILE: The Arkansas Community Foundation (ACF) is based in Little Rock, Arkansas, and has been around since 1976. The foundation “engages people, connects resources and inspires solutions to build community.” In total, it has made over $179 million in grants. It works with a network of affiliate offices that each have their own local staff and advisory board.
ACF makes grants based on county data about charitable needs in the state. It publishes a quarterly magazine called ENGAGE that tells stories about local initiatives. Broadly, this foundation supports health, education, economic well-being, and quality of life throughout the state of Arkansas; however, current priority areas early literacy and food security.
Grants for Community Development, K-12 Education, and Food Security
Most of the grants here are awarded through donor-directed funds, and these funds do not typically accept applications. However, foundation-directed grants are also available through a competitive application process. The foundation opens several opportunities each year for this purpose.
- The Giving Tree Grant program supports many different causes in the state, but it is currently focused on early literacy and food security.
- Early Literacy grants support efforts to help Arkansas students read at grade level by the end of third grade.
- Food Security grants work to reduce hunger and provide residents with access to healthy food.
- Giving Tree Grants are awarded in about 21 Arkansas counties, and the affiliates determine the funding range for each service area. The application period for these grants typically falls in January and February.
- Access to Local Foods Grants support nonprofits working to increase access to locally produced food and strengthen the local food ecosystem in food desert communities.
Grants for BIPOC
The Arkansas Community Foundation supports the African American population in the state through two separate grant opportunities.
- Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation grants provide between $1,000 to $2,500 for projects serving African American or other underserved populations in the state.
- Building Black Communities Fund offers up to $25,000 in funding for programs that improve the lives of Black community members in Pulaski, Saline, Perry, Grant, Faulkner and Lonoke Counties.
Grants for LGBTQ
The foundation supports the local LGBTQ community through an advancement fund.
- LGBTQ+ Advancement Fund grants, currently paused, support efforts to “improve the quality of life for LGBTQ+ Arkansans by providing legal, health, education, advocacy or other high-demand services/programs.”
Grants for Arts and Culture
Local creative culture is another priority, and the foundation periodically supports smaller nonprofits that either support local arts and artists or bring outside arts and culture locally.
- Arts in Arkansas Fund provides up to $5,000 in grants over two years to small arts organizations throughout the state.
Other Funding Opportunities
The foundation also engages in Impact Investing. It focuses on “Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) and other financial intermediary organizations to improve quality of life in Arkansas.” View current financial data here.
Important Grant Details
Grant amounts typically range between $ and $ . The foundation awarded $53.9 million in grants in a recent year and held more than $744 million in assets.
- The community foundation accepts unsolicited applications from nonprofits in the state.
- Grant guidelines and eligibility requirements are available here.
- Lists of current and past grantees are available on the individual program pages.
- Direct general inquiries to 888-220-2723 or arcf@arcf.org. Contact specific members of the staff via their email addresses, found here.
PEOPLE:
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