ARCF awarded $9.6 million in grants during FY 2012

Arkansas Community Foundation (ARCF) announced Monday (Sept. 10) that $9.6 million in grants were awarded to Arkansas nonprofits to support charitable projects between July 2011 and June 2012.

The fiscal year 2012 results revealed about 1,200 organizations received a total of 2,400 grants to support a broad range of causes, including healthcare, education, human services and the arts. 

According to ARCF, 93% of total grant dollars were awarded to organizations directly serving the state of Arkansas, both at the statewide and local level. For example, grants helped the Humane Society of the Delta build an outside kennel to house additional animals in Helena-West Helena, assisted Bridges of Hope in establishing Cross County’s first organized foster care facility and purchased lab equipment for the Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith.

“Our Aspire Arkansas report, released last year, presents a county-by-county look at seven categories of charitable needs in Arkansas, and we’re using it to help identify the key areas where our grants can help make a difference,” Heather Larkin, ARCF president and CEO, said in a statement. “Our goal is to be there to support local charitable organizations when they need it the most and when they stand to create the most impact.”

About $700,000 in grants were made through the Giving Tree Program, which places an emphasis on local philanthropy. Local leaders at each of ARCF’s 27 affiliate offices across the state select the projects to be funded in their own area. Giving Tree grants are made on a twice-annual basis through an open application process.

“This is a great program that multiplies the efforts of local non-profits and impacts the lives of hundreds of people each year,” said Sherry Toliver, executive director of the Fort Smith office.

About half of the $9.6 million in grants were selected by the donors who contributed to the community foundation. Through so-called “donor-advised funds,” individuals, families or organizations pool their charitable dollars at the community foundation and help decide which local causes will benefit from grants.

“We truly are the community’s foundation because the funds we manage were entrusted to us by hundreds of philanthropists across the state,” said Larkin.

ARCF ended fiscal year 2012 with more than $150 million in assets and has provided more than $98 million in grants since it began operation in 1976. Contributions to ARCF, its funds and any of its 27 local affiliate offices are fully tax deductible.

Link here for information about how to apply for grants or establish a charitable giving fund at Arkansas Community Foundation.