ACF Competitive Grants Program

Geographic Scope: Athens County, Ohio (or organizations outside Athens County whose projects benefit Athens County residents)

Focus Areas: Education, health and social services, environmental sustainability, economic development, and the arts

Eligibility:

• 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations
• Government agencies
• Churches
• Fiscally sponsored organizations
• Other non-501(c)(3) entities on case-by-case basis

Ineligible Organizations:

• Individuals
• For-profit organizations
• Organizations outside the U.S.
• Political parties, campaigns, or candidates
• Churches or religious groups serving only congregation members
• Organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, disability, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation/identity, national origin, or political orientation
• Organizations designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)

What ACF Cannot Fund:

• Endowments
• Scholarships
• Religious purposes
• Reimbursement for already completed services/projects
• Deficits or debt reduction
• Political or legislative action groups
• Annual fundraising drives
• Propaganda or attempts to influence legislation
• Participation in or influence over public elections
• Voter registration drives
• Religious instruction or activities
• Gift or advancement fees
• Indirect or overhead costs as general rate or percentage

Grant Timeline: Funds typically must be spent within one year of receipt

Recommendation: Minimum request $1,000; for proposals exceeding $20,000, contact ACF staff before submission

Address: PO Box 366, Athens, OH 45701
Office: 2 S Court St, 2nd Floor, Athens, Ohio (entrance through Chase Bank)

Application Process

1. Submission Method: All applications must be completed online using ACF's grant portal (https://www.athensfoundation.org/grants)
2. Alternative Submission: If unable to access online forms, applications can be submitted by email, mail, or in person on or before the deadline
3. Support Available: Step-by-step instructions and video tutorials available through Foundant's Support Hub

Required Materials

• Online application form via grant portal
• Supporting documents as specified in the application
• Project narrative explaining what you're trying to do, funding request, and expected outcomes

Review Process

1. Preliminary Review: ACF staff reviews applications to ensure all required information is supplied
2. Staff Follow-up: Staff may request additional information before committee review
3. Committee Review: Grants Committee (board representatives, fund advisors, and/or funding partners) evaluates using these criteria:
   • Alignment to ACF and funding opportunity's mission, vision, values, and priorities
   • Feasible and reasonable use of resources
   • Capability to achieve anticipated impact through proposed project
4. Notification: Email notification of decision and next steps

Application Tips

• Clearly explain what you're trying to do
• Specify what funding is requested for
• Define outcomes you hope to achieve
• Multiple applications permitted (each evaluated on own merit)
• Combine updates for multiple grants in one report if preferred