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Allegany Community Out Reach

ACOR

Allegany Community Out Reach (ACOR) Grants provide short-term support to projects and organizations that extend the mission and vision of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. Grants focus on improving health, wellness and quality of life in marginalized communities. Funding is limited to nonprofit organizations directly affiliated with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany or Allegany Franciscan Associates, or that are a ministry of Trinity Health. Requests up to $10,000 will be considered.

Grant requests may be submitted for either program or general operating support. Program requests should be for specific projects and activities. Examples include nutrition education, food, shelter and clothing, and employment skills. General operating requests support the organization’s overall mission and goals and should help strengthen the organization or further its charitable purposes. Examples include strategic planning, technology upgrades, infrastructure costs such as utilities, rent and personnel.

ACOR Grant Information Webinar FY24

Priority Criteria

Priority will be given to organizations and projects that meet most or all of the following criteria:

  • Improve the health, wellness and quality of life through a holistic approach;
  • Promote self-sufficiency or bring about systemic change;
  • Provide services to individuals from marginalized groups: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color – People of color refers to any racial group or population that identifies as non-white), members of LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, low-income populations and other historically disenfranchised groups;
  • Strive to incorporate the viewpoint of individuals who are served;
  • Focus on women;
  • Focus on environment.

Eligibility

To be considered for funding, the organization must meet the following basic requirements:
  • Have received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Services confirming exemption from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Be willing and able to comply with all requirements of the Allegany Franciscan Ministries’ grant agreement*.
  • Projects must be affiliated with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany or Allegany Franciscan Associates (i.e. where the FSA members/associates are present as sponsor, trustee, staff or volunteer), or your organization must be a ministry of Trinity Health.

*See Sample Agreement

Limitations

  • No organization may receive more than one ACOR Grant per year.
  • Only one application may be submitted for an organization per cycle.
  • Organizations with an active (current) ACOR Grant may not apply until the active grant is completed.
  • ACOR Grants are not available for individuals, public agencies, fundraising events, or endowments.

Application Process

There are two steps to the ACOR application. First, a brief LOI (letter of intent) application must be completed. Second, if LOI is approved, you will be invited to complete a full application.

Access ACOR applications through the Access Grant Portal link at the bottom of this page. If this is your first time applying, review the Grant Portal Instructions & FAQs also located at the bottom of this page.

If your previous application was declined, we recommend you speak with us before submitting another request (see contact information below).

We have the following grant cycle open for our current fiscal year (July 2023 – June 2024)

Total Awards

We anticipate making up to 28 grants with individual grants up to $10,000 for one-year term.

Past Grants Awards

Reference Documents

ACOR LOI Application Questions* (English)

ACOR LOI Application Questions* (Portugese)

ACOR Full Application Questions (English)*

ACOR Full Application Questions (Portugese)*

*LOI and Full Application grant questions are provided in advance for reference only. Applications must be submitted online using the Access Grant Portal button at the bottomw of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

In order to be eligible for an ACOR Grant, your organization MUST already be directly affiliated with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, Allegany Franciscan Associates, or be a member of Trinity Health before applying. Examples of affiliation include: having a Franciscan Sister of Allegany or Associate serving as board or staff member, or volunteering with your organization. Unfortunately, there’s not an affiliation or connection to obtain, it’s more about if your organization or project already has an affiliation (or involvement) with a Franciscan Sister of Allegany, a Franciscan Sister of Allegany Associate, or your organization is a member of Trinity Health. The ACOR funds are intended specifically for those. If you don’t already have the affiliation needed, we ask that you don’t submit an ACOR Letter of Intent (LOI) which is the first step in the ACOR application process.
For Allegany Franciscan Ministries, “public agencies” refers to state, county, and local governmental agencies; these entities are not eligible for an ACOR Grant from us. Public universities and colleges may not apply directly for funding. However, if a state university or college has set up a separate foundation, the foundation may apply for funds. The foundation must meet all our eligibility criteria, including 501(c)(3) designation. In addition, a public agency may be a partner in an initiative with another organization that serves as the lead agency; this project would be eligible. Beyond these two specific grant programs, we are open to partnerships with public agencies.
Organizations cannot apply for an ACOR grant if they have an active grant of the same type. However, grant partners with one type of active grant (e.g., Tau Grant) can apply for a different type of grant (e.g., ACOR Grant) in the same year. This guiding principle is Allegany Franciscan Ministries’ intentional effort to create equitable opportunity and access to our funding for many diverse and exceptional organizations and programs. In addition, ACOR Grants are not intended to provide ongoing funding, thus we do not renew grants annually.

If your organization completes a full application for an ACOR grant and is not funded, a new request can be submitted during the next available grant cycle.

Questions?

Contact Erin Baird for grant program questions and Carla Batts for grant portal questions.

Grant Portal Information

Applications must be accessed and completed through our online grant portal. Returning and new applicants and active grant partners can access the grant portal here.

Contact Carla Batts at [email protected] for questions about Grant Portal.

View Portal FAQS & Instructions
Access Grant Portal
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