ACORN GRANTS
The Acorn Grants program, facilitated by the Erie Community Foundation, is designed to empower emerging nonprofits in Erie County, enabling them to advance to the next stage of growth and establish sustainable financial frameworks. The Foundation’s aim is to support smaller, grassroots organizations playing a role within their respective systems, positioning themselves as collaborative partners, ensuring financial stability, and making meaningful impacts on the communities they serve.
Acorn Grants can serve as fundamental building blocks within the Foundation’s grantmaking framework. Recognizing that technical assistance and nonprofit management guidance are often overlooked as early-stage organizations strive to maximize their resources, we prioritize capacity building and encourage an early focus on planning and assessing organizational sustainability efforts. Grants are a maximum of $10,000 and have one year to be expensed.
Eligibility
Criteria
- Must meet the Foundation’s basic eligibility requirements:
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt designation from the Internal Revenue Services
- Located in or serving a sizable population in Erie County, PA
- Must meet at least one of the following:
- The organization is less than five years old
- Annual budget of less than $150,000
Appropriate expenses for Acorn Grants could include:
- Creation of Business Plan
- Governance Training
- Fundraising Plan
- Grant writing assistance
- Financial management services
- Marketing Strategy
- Evaluation
- Technology Assistance
- Leadership and Staff Training
Expenses NOT covered by Acorn grants include:
- Programmatic support
- Fixed operational costs (rent, utilities, overhead)
- Hiring personnel
Application
Process
1
Eligibility Requirements
Make sure that your organization meets all eligibility requirements.
Complete a letter of interest online through GoApply. Contact Rachel Cacchione for the LOI access link.
2
Staff Review
Staff will review the LOI to determine if your organization’s development is at a level appropriate for consideration for Acorn Grant funding.
3
Next Steps
Staff will reach out to notify applicants of next steps:
If approved, the applicant will be invited to complete the full application
If the LOI is not approved, it is recommended that the applicant seek additional educational and training opportunities with The Nonprofit Partnership
FAQs
Are Acorn Grants available for any start-up nonprofit?
Acorn Grants are intended to help emerging organizations continue on a path of growth, while also planning for a future of financial stability. Usually, these organizations have already established and are carrying out activities and programming related to their mission and can demonstrate basic outputs for those activities. Nonprofits still in the earliest stage of development should look to The Nonprofit Partnership and other resources to assist with basic nonprofit management. If your organization has recently received its 501(c) (3) designation, please consider the factors above prior to completing the LOI.
How do I know if my organization can apply for Acorn funding?
First, please ensure your organization meets the basic eligibility criteria for grant funding. Next, you’ll be asked to complete a Letter of Interest form that will be reviewed to determine if your organization is far enough in its development that it would be appropriate to apply for an Acorn grant. Contact Rachel Cacchione for access to the online LOI.
When are the due dates for the application?
Full applications are reviewed quarterly by our Community Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees. In order to provide enough time for review, we ask that all full applications be submitted by the following dates:Â
- May 2
- August 1
- October 15
What types of expenses would be covered with an Acorn Grant?
These grants aim to build organizational capacity and focus on the future stability of the nonprofit. Appropriate expenses for these grants could include:
- Business development plan
- Back-office support through contracted services (accounting, grant writing, HR, IT)
- Fundraising plan
- Website upgrade
- Technology purchases
NOTE: All expenses associated with the request should include supporting documentation. Examples include scope of work, deliverables and price quotes from any consultant-led initiative or contracted service, and price quotes for the purchase of technology.
What types of expenses are NOT covered with an Acorn Grant?
There are a few expenses that are not eligible for Acorn funding, including:
- New or existing personnel
- Operating costs (rent, utilities, administrative overhead)
- Programming
How much can I request with an Acorn Grant?
The maximum grant award is $10,000.
What are the reporting requirements for the Acorn Grant?
At the end of the 12-month grant period, each grantee will schedule a time for a post-grant conversation. An email reminder will be sent out several weeks prior to the end of the grant period, along with the opportunity to schedule the wrap-up meeting.