READY Community Foundations provides training to help organizations strengthen operations, programming and fundraising to boost local economies.
Following successful completion of the training program, participating organizations will be eligible to apply for up to $25,000 in funding (no-match required) to implement internal projects and bolster their organizations as critical local funding sources for economic development.
Nearly $564,000 Awarded to Community Foundations
In November 2025, ARC awarded nearly $564,000 to 23 community foundations from 10 Appalachian states.
Building a Strong Foundation
READY Community Foundations participants developed skills in areas including:
- Foundation-specific financial management
- Endowment investing and accounting
- Affiliate models
- Community-centric fundraising and grantmaking
- Community-rooted collective impact agendas
- Mission and strategy development
- Communications strategy
Helping All Communities Access Resources
Community foundations serving economically distressed counties in the Appalachian Region are strongly encouraged to participate.
Contact Us
If you have questions, please contact READY@arc.gov.