ACF: Strengthening Organizations Grant

Background

For over a decade, the Strengthening Organizations program has been focused on capacity-building across eight distinct areas. In response to changes in federal funding policies and practices that began in January 2025, this program has been redesigned to provide nonprofit organizations that have been directly impacted by changes in federal funding with immediate, unrestricted support to pivot and plan in a changing funding landscape.

Importantly, this process will serve as both a grant competition and a listening and learning opportunity. As part of this commitment, information collected by this grant competition will be shared with Foraker Group and may be shared with other funders or nonprofit associations such as Philanthropy Northwest.

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Organizational Impact: Organization’s impact on the state or local community.
• Immediacy of Federal Impact: Have funding changes already occurred, or are they likely to occur due to recent court decisions or legislation?
• Proportion of Annual Budget Affected: Priority will be given to organizations with a greater proportion of their budgets impacted than those with smaller proportional impacts.
• Response Plan: To what extent has the organization developed a response plan?
• Learning Opportunities and Insights: To what extent does the organization demonstrate reflective thinking and an openness to learning in uncertain or changing conditions?

All awarded funds must be expended within one calendar year from the date grant funds are received.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Geographic Requirement
  • Organizations must serve Alaska.
  • Organizations headquartered outside Alaska may apply but should demonstrate significant service to the state or partner with a local organization/group that does.
• Entity Type
  • Organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation, individuals and organizations that have a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)(3) designation, Tribes and Tribal entities, K12 schools, city governments and boroughs, collaborations of nonprofit and public agencies, or other entities that have a designated charitable purpose will be considered.
  • Organizations with religious affiliations will be considered for funding only if the project for which they seek support addresses the needs of the wider community without regard to religious beliefs.
• Equal Opportunity
  • Organizations must not improperly discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, creed, religion, religious affiliation, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

Ineligibility

• 501(c)4, 501(c)6, and 501(c)7 organizations are not eligible for funding.
• Post-Award Expenditures Only
  • Pre-award expenditures are not eligible for reimbursement through competitive grant programs.
  • Proposals should be developed with an understanding of the award timeline to avoid pre-award expenditures.
• No Lobbying
  • ACF does not fund lobbying, electioneering, or activities of advocating for a specific candidate, ballot measure, or bill.
• No Capital Projects
  • ACF’s competitive grant programs do not support endowment building, construction projects, or purchase of real property.
• The following activities and expenses are not eligible costs:
  • Registration and travel for professional conferences
  • Contracts with grant writers for specific grant writing projects
  • Annual memberships and subscription fees