If you’re an organization in Appalachia looking for resources to build your capacity, you need to take a look at the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) READY Nonprofits program. Formerly known as the Appalachian Nonprofit Resource Center, this revamped initiative is part of a larger effort called READY Appalachia and includes a full training curriculum and flexible funding to nonprofit executives and board members.
READY Appalachia is made up of five tracks: READY Local Governments, READY Grants to Grow, READY Community Foundations, READY Nonprofits, and READY LDDs. In Kentucky we call these last organizations Area Development Districts or ADDs. ARC's national materials refer to this same group as Local Development Districts, or LDDs. This page focuses on READY Nonprofits, with links to the other four tracks below.
Organizations accepted into the program join a 10 week long course covering topics on organizational capacity building.
Upon completion of the course, organizations become eligible for up to $25k in match-free grant funding, and receive free assistance in formulating their proposals.
More details on the training and funding program
Who is eligible
Any nonprofit organization in the Appalachian Region is eligible, however special consideration will be given to those serving communities in what ARC considers "distressed areas" and marginalized populations. If you serve in one of these areas, you stand a better chance of winning a spot in the program.
ARC-classified distressed areas
About the courses
Those accepted into the program will participate in virtual courses with only a small group of one or two organizations, and will also have regular one-on-one time with the instructor. The courses are tool-based, and will include a 3 month follow-up consultation with the instructor. Course topics include:
- Board Development
- Financial Management
- Fundraising
- Human Capital: Recruitment & Retention
- Marketing Communications
- Programs & Operations
Match-free funding
The organizations who complete the 10-week course become eligible for non-competitive grant funding. This is funding that no one but the cohort has access to. The organizations can apply for up to $25k in funding, but it must be for a project related to organizational capacity building, such as: hiring more staff, IT infrastructure, contracting out for strategic plans, etc. While in the grant application phase, READY Nonprofits provides free assistance in developing the grant idea.
This model is also available to community foundations, local governments, and Area Development Districts (ADDs) through READY Appalachia's other tracks.
Other READY Appalachia tracks
• READY Local Governments helps local government officials identify, secure, manage, and implement federally funded economic development projects. Learn more
• READY Grants to Grow is an ARC funding opportunity that helps Appalachian organizations strengthen their local economies. Learn more
• READY Community Foundations helps participants strengthen operations, programming, and fundraising to advance local economies. Learn more
• READY ADDs has awarded funding to Appalachian Area Development Districts to help them enhance efficiencies in planning and implementing economic and community development projects. Learn more
How to apply
Cohort application dates vary from year to year and are announced on ARC's website. Grant Ready Kentucky will remain in close contact with ARC, and be sure to send out information through our newsletter and this blog. In the meantime, we highly encourage you to sign up for ARC’s Weekly Newsletter here: https://www.arc.gov/newsletter-signup.