Alexandria Area Community Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Two Grant Rounds

Alexandria, Minn. – The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) announced the opening of their two annual grant rounds; the “Difference Maker” grant round and the Ruth McDonald grant round are now accepting applications for programs that serve people in Douglas County. The deadline to apply for funding is June 30. For additional information about the grant rounds, visit www.communitygiving.org/grants. 
 
Eligible organizations are 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, schools or governmental entities that must serve the residents of Douglas County.  The “Difference Maker” grant round seeks to support community initiatives that will bring about positive change for the Alexandria area.  The Ruth McDonald grant round will award grants to programs that support the health and wellness of the community, especially for the health needs of people in poverty. 
 
A.J. Koewler, AACF Executive Director, stated, “Your local community foundation is proud to stand with the nonprofits who are leading creative, meaningful work to make a difference in the Alexandria area. Funding is just one way we can back the incredible efforts happening all around us. We’re truly grateful for everything our nonprofit partners do to help our community grow and thrive. We see these grants as investments in the future of our community.”

During last year’s grant rounds, $78,000 was invested into local projects. Some of the projects that were supported included the Garfield Action Committee to support their playground project, Life Connections to support their Solutions Project which is a multi-pronged assistance program for families, the Car Care Program to support purchasing parts and equipment to repairs vehicles, United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties for their Community Schools program and Lakes County Service Cooperative for their Raising a Reader program. 

The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local Alexandria area. Since 1992, AACF has grown to nearly $7.3 million in assets and awarded over $11.1 million in grants to nonprofits. The AACF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,200 funds totaling nearly $240 million in assets. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/Alexandria.