Grants are awarded to charitable organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. No grants are made to individuals.
Requests for endowment; annual fund campaigns; sponsorships; and special events are discouraged.
Grants are not made to affiliates of large public charities such as The United Way, The March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, The Salvation Army, etc. Instead, the foundation prefers to fund organizations that do not receive wide public support.
Government agencies, political and religious organizations do not receive funding. Occasional exceptions have been made for religious groups which provide social services in the community at large.
The AEC Trust Advisory Board meets twice a year to consider grant proposals. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals well in advance of, but no later than, April 1st for the May meeting and September 1st for the October meeting.
To begin the application process, take the online eligibility quiz. Organizations that meet the requirements will be invited to submit a full proposal by completing an online application.
Please note: Access to the online Eligibility Quiz and subsequently application will be closed for 45 days following each deadline. Please check back after May 15th to access the Eligibility Quiz for the Fall meeting and after October 15th for the Spring meeting.
The AEC Trust prefers to initiate site visits, if needed, and generally discourages pre-application meetings. Proposals are screened and evaluated upon receipt. Organizations are notified promptly as to the status of each proposal. Those that are considered inappropriate under the guidelines are declined on a rolling basis.