The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation recognizes the inequitable hardships that exist in Washtenaw County and that were made more apparent due to the pandemic. The inequities in our communities related to education, criminal justice, housing, health are only some examples of areas that require institutional and systemic change. AAACF’s COVID Relief and Recovery funding will prioritize efforts that advance social justice in our communities. This grant program understands social justice as working at a systems level to influence change that sustainably addresses inequities and efforts to support marginalized communities gaining access to resources that positively contribute to relief and recovery.
AAACF’s Community Grantmaking Program will be seeking opportunities to invest funds in community-based projects that specifically support COVID-19 relief and recovery 1) Provide resources to limit the damage and harm caused by health and economic hardships and/or 2) Efforts related to COVID-19 which create opportunities for immediate and long-term recovery, systemic transformation, and revitalization throughout Washtenaw County to communities underserved and affected most by COVID-19.
Within this three-pronged grant program, grantees are evaluated upon three core areas: leadership & governance; high-quality, impactful programs; and financial strength. Based on national best practice and local nonprofit input, the Community Grantmaking Program supports the mission, activities, and community impact of the local nonprofit sector.
We define high performance as the ability to deliver—over a prolonged period of time—meaningful, measurable, and financially sustainable results for the people or causes the organization is in existence to serve. (Source: Leap Ambassadors)
Effective philanthropy, by AAACF or any individual donor, relies on effective nonprofits doing great work. National studies consistently conclude that grants or gifts with “strings attached” are ultimately detrimental to the nonprofit sector’s overall effectiveness. AAACF believes our Rewarding Success program will help promote greater mission achievement by every grantee, smarter giving by other local donors, and ultimately a stronger and more sustainable local nonprofit sector. Capacity building support focuses on supporting a nonprofit's future sustainability.