ACT utilizes small seed grants to help jump-start innovative ideas aimed at creating solutions to unmet community needs. We focus our effort on three main program areas, health & nutrition, education, and workforce development. We look for opportunities where institutional partners, policy makers, funders, and local community organizations have agreed to work together to make big changes and create meaningful impacts in their communities.

We support non-profit organizations that have a proven track record of developing programs and initiatives that serve the needs of individuals and families that live in poverty and have limited access to education, employment, and basic social and economic services.
ACT is particularly interested in funding organizations that create partnerships, provide unique approaches to funding raising, and have a proven track record of providing resources and support to their constituents and community.

ACT invites prospective grantees to submit applications for funding after careful screening and due diligence. Our grants generally support larger community initiatives and are one piece of our strategy to strengthen low-income communities.

Featured 2010 Grant Recipients

Wholesome Wave: Supporting Access to Fresh & Healthy Food in New Haven’s Food Desert
ACT is pleased to announce our most recent grant award to Wholesome Wave. This exciting grant provides the seed funding to launch a new model for implementing nutrition incentives at co-operative grocery stores. The goal of this incentive program is to increase the accessibility and affordability of fresh, locally-grown food in underserved and underinvested communities where residents are at high risk of obesity and dietary diseases.

Clinica Esperanza Hope Clinic: Supporting Accessible Health Care in Providence, RI
ACT is excited to support Clinica Esperanza Hope Clinic, a free health care clinic in Olneyville, RI. This grant will help the Clinic expand a recently developed program called Patient Integrated Medical Home and Advocacy. In a nutshell, PIMHA integrates locally available community services to its patients’ health care treatment plan including employment assistance, financial advice, language skills, day care, transportation and other services.

Contemporary Arts Museum: Supporting Arts Education and Middle School Partnerships
ACT is pleased to support an educational partnership between the Contemporary Arts Museum and Moore Square Museums Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, NC. This partnership includes activities designed specifically around the museums magnet theme and provides in-school and after-school arts instruction, participation in CAM student docent and mentorship programs and unique access to museums exhibitions and arts projects.

BCCC Life Sciences Fund: Supporting Career Track Education for Baltimore Community College Students
ACT contributed to the Life Sciences Fund to support an estimated 20 graduates from the Baltimore City Community College in their effort to find permanent employment with biotech companies at the University of Maryland BioPark. This award is part of our STEM to Workforce Initiative which is helping to define and strengthen the educational and career track programs and opportunities is the emerging field of life sciences and bio-technology.