ACF of Sedona Grant Cycle

Overview

Background

The goal of ACF of Sedona is to develop a legacy of giving in our communities to enhance the quality of life in Sedona and the Verde Valley. The Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) is an endowment organization that connects community needs to donors who have a passion for meeting those needs. With regional offices around the state, ACF of Sedona serves Sedona and the Verde Valley. Since 1991, ACF of Sedona has developed 88 separate funds with assets exceeding $33 million. ACF of Sedona ha awarded more than $19 million to area nonprofit organizations, schools, and municipalities serving local needs.

Eligibility

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Application Details

Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona
Grant Guidelines & Application Questions
Open Date: 9:00 a.m., Monday, August 4, 2025
Close Date: 4:00 p.m., Friday, August 22, 2025
Timeline for 2025 Grant Making
• Optional Grant Application Workshops: Attendance at one workshop is highly encouraged but
NOT mandatory to be eligible to apply to ACF of Sedona for funding. ACF conducts over 40 grant
cycles per year, so this applies to the ACF of Sedona cycle only. Find the workshop information
and register here or call Chelsea Buck-Leilich at 928.364.4892 with any questions.
Grant Application Workshop #1
Friday, July 25
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Virtual via Zoom
Grant Application Workshop #2
Tuesday, July 29
9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
Yavapai College, 4215 Arts Village Drive, Room 34, Sedona, AZ 86336
Grant Application Workshop #3
Thursday, July 31
10:00 to 11:30 am
Camp Verde Library, Terracotta Room, 130 Black Bridge Loop Rd, Camp Verde, AZ
• Grant cycle opens: Monday, August 4th, at 9:00 a.m.
• DEADLINE: Applications are due on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., no exceptions.
• Grant awards and decline letters sent by November 7, 2025.
• Grant awardees will receive checks via mail throughout the month of November.
• If funded, 2025 Final Report Due one year from funding notice date.
Funding Request Range
ACF of Sedona will accept only one application from each qualified organization. Grant proposals may
range from $1,000 to $10,000. Not all grant applications will necessarily be partially funded or fully
funded.

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Funds can be used to:
• build the capacity of the organization
• support direct service projects and programs
• support capital expenditures (please review the funding range available)
• provide general operating support and indirect/direct administrative costs
• support one-year and/or renewable funding proposals (there is no guarantee of second year
funding)
Eligibility Quiz/Criteria
The online grants portal requires response to these questions/comments prior to applying.
• Is the applicant/organization fully authorized by its board and other applicable
partners/collaborators to submit this application?
• Has your organizational profile been updated? To do so, I will contact grants@azfoundation.org
• Is your organization (or fiscal sponsor) a 501(c)(3) organization, school, municipality, or tribal
entity that operates with fiscal accountability and responsibility? Religious organizations may
apply for funding of non-sectarian programs.
• I have downloaded the latest guidelines and questions document.
• ACF requires all applicants for grants to comply with its non-discrimination policy. Please
confirm that the organization applying for this grant does not unlawfully discriminate against
employees, volunteers, board members, or the members, clients, or students it serves on the
basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, medical condition, veteran status,
marital status, disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by
law.
• If your organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is your tax-exempt status current? Applications
from organizations with a non-exempt status at the time of submission will be declined unless
the organization is applying with a fiscal sponsor.
• I understand that, if funded, a report on expenditure of funds will be due approximately one
year from the funding notice date. I will receive notification of this date, and instructions for
completing this report, through email. Should I not receive this notice, I will contact ACF for
instructions.
• My project or program will serve residents of Sedona and/or the Verde Valley. This is based on
donor intent when funds were established.
• I have read all Field of Interest Fund descriptions provided below and understand that my
organization is responsible for selecting the field that best fits our proposal.
• If your organization received a grant in 2024, you must complete the final report for that grant
by the November 2025 deadline. If a final report was not submitted by the deadline, this will
result in a declined application.
• I understand that my application will not be reviewed by the grant panel if it is incomplete.
For information or to apply, go to the Arizona Community Foundation's grants page at
www.azfoundation.org/grants.
Background
The goal of ACF of Sedona is to develop a legacy of giving in our communities to enhance the quality of

Arizona Community Foundation of Sedona | Page 3
life in Sedona and the Verde Valley. The Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) is an endowment
organization that connects community needs to donors who have a passion for meeting those needs.
With regional offices around the state, ACF of Sedona serves Sedona and the Verde Valley. Since 1991,
ACF of Sedona has developed 88 separate funds with assets exceeding $33 million. ACF of Sedona has
awarded more than $19 million to area nonprofit organizations, schools, and municipalities serving local
needs.
ACF of Sedona will accept applications that benefit and support the following nine Field of Interest funds
and their purposes:
Animal Welfare (Sedona Animal Welfare Fund)
Supports the physical, emotional, and social care of animals, as well as animal rights, public policy,
public education, and research on animal welfare-related issues. This includes rescue/adoption of
unwanted pets and wildlife rehabilitation.
Arts (Sedona Arts Fund)
Supports efforts to enrich the cultural life of our community through art, performance, and arts
education. Proposals may include, but are not limited to, the performing and fine arts as embodied
by sculpture, painting, drawing, music, theatre, dance, film, poetry, and architecture.
Diversity Education (Tolerance Learning Center Fund)
Supports cultural diversity education and training, including programs designed to combat hate,
prejudice, discrimination, stereotypes, and violence, and to foster understanding, tolerance,
inclusion, and mutual acceptance of religious, racial, ethnic and other differences.
Education Fund of Sedona and the Verde Valley
Supports educational projects for all ages.
Environment (Greater Sedona Fund for the Environment)
Supports organizations whose purpose is to sustain the local environment, as in preserving open
spaces, protecting wildlife habitat, and helping solve environmental problems such as air, light,
noise, and water pollution. This fund supports environmental services, research, education, and
legislative efforts.
General Community Benefit (Sedona Community Fund, John Boone Kincaid III Fund, Dixie A.
Carlson Fund, and the Nolan Family Fund)
Supports a wide range of projects that benefit the residents of Sedona and the Verde Valley.
Health Care (Sedona Health Care Fund)
Supports programs that provide quality healthcare services to residents of Sedona and/or the Verde
Valley.
Housing (Roof For All)
Supports housing projects in the region, including workforce, affordable, senior, and transitional
housing, and shelters.

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Social Welfare & Justice (Martinez Family Fund and the Glenys and Gerry Wilson Family Fund)
Supports programs that assist the marginalized and the underserved populations of Sedona and the
Verde Valley. Programs may address access to housing, emergency shelter, healthcare, education,
employment, food, human services, and other resources. Issues such as domestic violence,
immigration, civil rights, and worker concerns are also supported.
**Please note: Applications that support event sponsorship or fundraising events CANNOT be
considered for funding from any of these field of interest funds. Also, ACF of Sedona reserves the right
to move an application to another Field of Interest fund if necessary.
Each organization can submit one standalone application. The grants portal tracks this by EIN number,
hence each EIN number can only appear once in the grant cycle.
If you are a grant writer working with more than one agency, inform the regional office of each
organization you have written a grant for prior to the close of the application portal. You must email
Chelsea Buck-Leilich at cbuck@azfoundation.org with the list of organizations you represent.
Exceptions:
• The applicant is a chapter or affiliate of a local or national nonprofit organization. The local
nonprofit organization may submit one application, the chapters or affiliates need to be
included within that one application.
• The applicant is within a school district. You may submit one application per school.
o If several schools are applying for the same project, please treat it as one, collaborative
application.
o A school district may apply separately for a project different from those for which the
schools apply.
o The district office will have a contact person to approve and track the applications.
• The applicant is part of a government establishment or tribal entity. You may submit one
application per department.
o If several departments are applying for the same project, please treat it as a
collaborative application.
• The applicant is within a university. You may submit one application per college/school.
o The university will have a contact person to approve and track the applications.
• Colleges can submit one application.
• A fiscal sponsor may submit one application, whether that application is for your organization or
as a fiscal sponsor for another organization. A copy of the agreement between the fiscal
sponsor and sponsored organization is required. This agreement needs to outline the
relationships and that the fiscal sponsor organization is responsible for the funds. The
agreement should be signed by the sponsor and sponsored.
Review and Evaluation Process
All applications will be reviewed through a competitive evaluation process and ratified by the ACF of
Sedona Board of Advisors. Reviewers will read applicants' online profiles on the ACF portal to obtain
information on the organization.
Please be sure to update your organization's profile before submitting your application. To update your
organizational profile, email grants@azfoundation.org.

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• Applications are reviewed and evaluated by peer panels, comprised of volunteer community
leaders who assess the application’s strengths and weaknesses according to evaluation criteria.
• Evaluation criteria consists of a point system awarded for alignment with the applicant’s mission,
clearly defined community need, populations served, comprehensive project plan and clear
outcomes, defined community impact, appropriate project collaboration among other
organizations, and a reasonable budget.
• If in the “Project Information” section under “Partnerships” your application references
partnering with another organization, provide a contact name and email address so that ACF of
Sedona staff can confirm the partnership.
Grant Reviewer Rubric
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel comprised of local, volunteer community leaders
using the following rubric. Please feel free to use this rubric as a reference when preparing your
application.
Scoring Rubric
k
e
g
g
n
Criteria Measure a e a r o
W e v
A
r t S
o
is
s
iM
n P roject is in line with organization's mission. 1 2 3 4 5
Community Need: The project application clearly defines the
population to be served and aims to address a significant
1 3 5 7 10
community need. The need for duplication of services is
defined, if applicable.
t c Project Impact: The organization has articulated the impact of
a 1 3 5 7 10
p the project for the populations served and community.
m
I
Project Plan and Evaluation: The organization has provided a
realistic and comprehensive project plan. The organization has a
plan for implementing the project and achieving outcomes 1 3 5 7 10
stated in the application. The organization has set forth goals
for the project which can be evaluated or measured for success.
Project Resources: The organization has allocated sufficient
n
resources (personnel, partners, time, existing materials, 1 2 3 4 5
g
is facilities) to ensure that the project is completed successfully.
e
D
/
g Project Budget: The organization has provided a comprehensive
n
in list of program expenses that articulates the need of the
n
a lP project. The organization has identified their greatest needs for 1 3 5 7 10
funding and provided narrative detail on additional funding and
support.

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Total Points Possible: 50
How to Apply Online
If your organization has an ACF profile:
Go to the Arizona Community Foundation's grants page at www.azfoundation.org/grants. Click Apply
Now under the grant opportunity for which you would like to apply, sign in and begin the application. If
you need to reset your password, please use the “forgot password” link.
If your organization does not have a registered ACF profile:
If your organization needs to be registered, please go to www.azfoundation.org/grants.. Click “Apply
Now” and then "Create New Account" to complete the registration process and create your login
credentials.
How to Get Help
Please contact Chelsea Buck-Leilich for questions regarding eligibility at cbuck@azfoundation.org or
928.364.4892 prior to the application open date.
For assistance with the website, including organizational profile and the online application, please
contact the ACF Grants Management Team at 602.381.1400 or grants@azfoundation.org.
Due to the high volume of calls and inquiries as the deadline nears, organizations are encouraged to
contact staff well in advance of the deadline with any questions. During the last week of any grant
cycle’s duration, you may have limited access to ACF technical support. Please allow 24 hours for a
response from staff.
Application Summary
Please refer to the Grant Reviewer Rubric as a reference when preparing your application.
Be sure to note that character limits include spaces within the grant guidelines.
Fiscal Sponsor, if applicable (Character limit 100)
Project Name (Character limit 100)
Project Summary: In two or three sentences, describe what your project is or aims to do, and how grant
funds will be used. Your response to this prompt may be utilized in ACF marketing and promotional
materials should a grant be awarded. (Character limit 350)
Geographic Area of Service: Describe where your project will be implemented. (Character limit 1,200)
Total Project $ Amount (Character limit 20). This amount should be reflected in the embedded budget
table below.

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$ Amount Requested from ACF (Character limit 20). Explain this amount in the Budget Narrative.
Field of Interest: To which Field of Interest Fund are you applying?
With which ACF philanthropic agenda area does your project most closely align?
• Arts & Culture
• Community Improvement & Development
• Environment & Sustainability
• Health Innovation
• Quality Education
Organization Summary
Organization Description: In brief, describe your organization’s purpose or mission, history, and
programs or services. (Character limit 1500)
Total $ amount of overall organizational expenses for most recently completed fiscal year:
(Character limit 20)
Project Information
Project Type [New Project, Project Expansion, Continuing Project] (Select one)
Project Description: What will you do and why? When and where will you do it? Who will benefit or
receive service from your project? Include any relevant statistics and resources. (Character limit 3000)
Outcome Description: How will you measure and evaluate your progress in ways that are relevant and
meaningful to your project? Be as specific as possible about intended outcomes, outputs, and measures,
as relevant to your project. If your project is awarded an ACF grant, you will be asked to complete a final
report, wherein you will reflect upon the outcomes you articulated at the time of application. (Character
limit 3000)
Partnerships: Is the community/population who will benefit or receive service from your project
involved in the project’s development and implementation, and/or is the project being developed or
implemented with other organizations? Please identify community partners, their roles in the project
and provide the contact person and email address for any organizations that have agreed to partner on
the project. (Character limit 1500)
Project Need: Describe how your project does or does not duplicate existing programs or services
provided to the community/population your project aims to benefit. Include any relevant statistics and
resources. (Character limit 1500)
Project Budget
Total Project Budget: List all expenses relevant to your project including, but not limited to labor,
supplies, equipment, fees, travel, or any other items required for successful completion of your project.
Please use the imbedded table provided.

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Project Budget Narrative: This is your opportunity to explain your total project budget to reviewers,
including any relevant information about in-kind support, confirmed funding, and specifically how you
would apply the requested ACF grant funds. (Character limit 1500)
Optional Demographic Information
Communities/Populations Served
Unduplicated Numbers: How many unduplicated families or individuals do you anticipate will directly
benefit or receive service as a result of your project? By unduplicated, we mean counted only once, as
some projects serve an individual multiple times. Specify if your numbers are families or individuals.
(Character limit 100)
Some projects are designed specifically to benefit or serve certain communities. For example, a project
could be focused on meal services for people with disabilities living in Yuma, or a program might focus
on engaging Navajo youth in language preservation activities. For projects with broader “audiences” or
populations served, an organization may still collect or maintain demographic information on attendees,
members, or recipients of services. If your organization collects or maintains demographic information
on beneficiaries or recipients of services relevant to your project, you will be invited to enter data as
follows.
For questions in this section, standard options will be provided, alongside the ability to articulate an
option not listed, and the option of choosing “Not applicable/My organization does not collect this
information.”
What is the geographic location of families or individuals directly benefitting or receiving service as a
result of your project? [Arizona Statewide, Tribal Nation, Counties, Multiple States, United States
Nationwide, International/Multinational, Location is not listed, Not applicable/My organization does not
collect this information] (Select all that apply). Please note that some grant cycles have restrictions on
geographic boundaries.
What percentage of the population your project intends to serve fits within the following age
categories? [Babies and Children, Youth, Young Adults, Adults, Older Adults, Multigenerational
Groups/Families, Not applicable/My organization does not collect this information] (Percentage/totals
to 100)
Race and ethnicity of community directly benefitting from your project (anticipated or actual, if
known). [Asian or Asian American (including Central, South, and East Asia), Black or African American,
Hispanic or Latinx/Latine/Latina/Latino (any race), Middle Eastern, Native American, Native Hawaiian or
Pacific Islander, White/Caucasian, Multiracial, Race/ethnicity not listed (please specify), Not
applicable/My organization does not collect this information] (Percentage/totals to 100)
Gender identities of community directly benefiting from your project (anticipated or actual, if known).
[Women, Men, Transgender, Non-binary, Two-Spirit, Gender identifier not listed, Not applicable/My
organization does not collect this information] (Percentage/totals to 100)

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What percentage of the population your project intends to serve do you anticipate will belong to the
LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, etc.) community? [Member of the LGBTQ+
community, Not a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Not applicable/My organization does not collect
this information] (Percentage/totals to 100)
What percentage of the population your project intends to serve do you anticipate will identify as a
disabled person/person with a disability? [Identifies as a disabled person/a person with a disability,
Does not identify as a disabled person/a person with a disability, Not applicable/My organization does
not collect this information] (Percentage/totals to 100)
What percentage of families or individuals benefitting from your project are currently classified as
Below the Median Income Level as defined by the Federal Poverty Guidelines? [Families/individuals
below the poverty guideline, Families/individuals above the poverty guideline, Not applicable/My
organization does not collect this information] (Percentage/totals 100)
How did you collect the demographic information provided here? When did you last collect this
information? Is there anything else you would like to share about this information? (Character limit
1000)
Required Demographic Information
Organization Workforce and Board
ACF acknowledges the many ways organizations choose to organize themselves and that not all
organizations are managed by paid permanent staff. “Workforce” is defined as a group of persons who
hold decision-making authority over an organization’s programs and operations. This may include full-
time or part-time paid employees, long-term committed volunteers, and/or paid contractors.
Provide a current workforce tally.
Enter zeros or decimals to describe the reality of your organization’s workforce. For example, if your
organization does not consider its core volunteers or paid contractors to have organizational decision-
making authority or to be part of its ongoing workforce, enter zero in those fields. If your organization is
staffed by one part-time employee, you would enter 0.5 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent).
• FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) paid employees: __
• Long-term committed volunteers: __
• Paid contractors/Other: __
ACF acknowledges that while most applicants are nonprofit organizations with boards of directors,
trustees, or advisors, other eligible applicants many be governed by different types of oversight bodies.
“Board” is defined as a group of persons who are responsible for an organization’s high-level strategy,
oversight, and accountability.
Provide a current board tally, as in number of active members.
Workforce and Board: Describe how your workforce and board are representative of the
community/population who will benefit or receive service from your project. (Character limit 1500)
Documentation to Upload

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If you are applying under a fiscal sponsor, please upload a copy of a written agreement between your
organization and the fiscal sponsor.
Grantee Final Report
Due one year from date of funding. Approximately November 7, 2026.
Mark your calendar to complete a final report which will be due approximately one year after funds
were awarded. The report is filed online in the portal utilizing a form with pre-populated questions that
directly correspond to the application questions.
Terms and Conditions
1. I acknowledge that funding by the Arizona Community Foundation, its Regions, or any of its
philanthropic partners is not guaranteed simply by virtue of completing this application.
2. Should my organization be awarded a grant through this funding opportunity, I agree to submit
a final report for this project by the final report due date.
3. Should my organization be awarded a grant through this funding opportunity, I agree to the
following terms and conditions:
a. Use of Grant. The Grantee shall use the grant only for the project and in accordance
with the proposal and budget previously submitted to and approved by The Arizona
Community Foundation. The Grantee shall not make any significant change in the
project without the prior approval of The Arizona Community Foundation. At the end of
the grant period, the Grantee shall promptly return to The Arizona Community
Foundation any unused portion of the grant.
b. Reports. The Grantee shall submit written reports on the accomplishments of the
project as well as an accounting of expenditure of grant funds. Reporting and
documentation required by The Arizona Community Foundation shall be provided as
outlined in the Grantee Final Report, which will be available as the final report due date
nears. The Grantee shall provide The Arizona Community Foundation with copies (if
available) of any press releases, photographs and published material about the grant
and the work it made possible.
c. Meeting Requirement. The Grantee may be asked to attend a meeting at the Arizona
Community Foundation, to be set at a later date, to discuss your project. Discussions on
capacity building in the future and other topics will also take place at the meeting. A site
visit to review the progress of funded projects will also be conducted.
d. Publicity. You will allow the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) to review and
approve the text, including quotes, of any proposed publicity concerning this grant prior
to its release. ACF may include information regarding this grant, including the amount
and purpose of the grant, any photographs you may have provided, your logo or
trademark, or other information or materials about your organization and its activities,
in ACF's periodic public reports, newsletters, news releases or any other printed
materials distributed by the Community Foundation. Please ensure that all publicity
(including printed material, press releases and websites) states “partial funding provided
by the Arizona Community Foundation” If you require an electronic copy of ACF’s official
logo please contact the Marketing/Communications department at the Community
Foundation.

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e. Retention of Records. The Grantee shall keep all financial records pertaining to the
Project for at least four years and shall make such records available to The Arizona
Community Foundation at reasonable times upon The Arizona Community Foundation's
request.
f. Revocation of Grant. The Grantee must return all unexpended grant funds immediately
upon request by The Arizona Community Foundation if (1) the Foundation, at its sole
discretion, determines that the Grantee has not performed in accordance with this
Agreement, or (2) the Grantee loses its exemption from federal income tax under
Section 501C 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the) "Code" and is
classified as other than a private foundation under Section 509(a) of the Code.
g. Grant Does Not Create a Partnership. The Grantee shall not in any manner indicate, nor
shall the grant or any documents related thereto be in any manner deemed to create or
construed as creating, any kind of partnership, joint venture or other similar relationship
between The Arizona Community Foundation and the Grantee or other party. The
Arizona Community Foundation shall not be deemed in any manner responsible for the
debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the Grantee, including any such debts relating to
this project.
h. Amendment. This Grant Agreement shall not be amended or revised except by a written
document signed by the parties hereto.
i. Changes or Problems Occurring During Grant Year. Any changes or problems in the
Grantee Agency that affect the Project must be reported to The Arizona Community
Foundation immediately.