The Faulkner County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation, recently announced $33,375 in grants for nonprofits in Faulkner County.  

The three grant programs administered by the local affiliate board awarded $22,875 in Giving Tree Grants, $8,000 in Venture Task Force grants, $5,000 in Grade Level Reading and $2,500 in Stop Hunger. These grant awards were announced at the annual Celebration of Giving on May 14.

The Celebration of Giving luncheon recognizes the important work done by local nonprofits and how the foundation tries to support their efforts. 

“This year we broaden our criteria to include grant requests for programs that would provide a critical, timely benefit for Faulkner County and a unique opportunity to impact specific Aspire target areas,” said Shelley Mehl, executive director of the Faulkner County affiliate.

“Our Giving Tree program helps Arkansans support a variety of important needs in their own hometowns,” said Heather Larkin, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “Funding for our Giving Tree grants comes from local individuals and families who want to improve their community. We invest their donations in endowments that provide a permanent source of funding for local charitable causes.”

Many grants this year were awarded to programs addressing the homeless in Faulkner County.  This need, reflected in the organization’s Aspire data, also has a City of Conway sponsored task force working to find collaborative solutions.  

The Grade Level Reading grant will expand the Imagination Library Program in Faulkner County. United Way of Central Arkansas will take over the administration of the Imagination Library program.  

Other grant recipients were Compass Academy, Conway Ministry Center, Counseling Associates, Inc./HAVEN girls shelter, Faulkner County Council on Aging, Milestones Services, Pine Street Backpack Program, St. Vincent Conway Interfaith Clinic, UCA Foundation, Conway Ministry Center, Greenbrier School District, CAPCA, Conway Police Department, Conway Symphony Orchestra, United Way of Central Arkansas and the Vilonia School District.

Faulkner County makes grants through the Giving Tree program annually. The next grant cycle will begin in January 2020.

More information about Community Foundation grants is available at arcf.org.