Grant Application Form 2026 | American Endowment Foundation

AEF Philanthropic Council 2026 Grant Application

For 2026 grant nominees

Instructions

Complete the Cover Sheet, Narrative, and Attachments and return them to Paula Hogan via email (paulahogan@aefonline.org) by March 25, 2026. You are also welcome to send a draft application in advance of the site visit and finalize the application after the site visit. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Paula or call her at 234-380-4432.

I. Cover Sheet

Date of application

Legal name of organization applying

Should be same as on IRS determination letter and as supplied on IRS Form 990.

Year founded

Current operating budget

Executive Director name and email address

Board Chair name and email address

Contact person/title/email (if different from Executive Director)

Mailing address

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Phone number

Website

List any previous support from American Endowment Foundation in the last 5 years:

Purpose of grant (one sentence):

Type of grant—Indicate how you intend to use the grant funds (if selecting multiple, indicate the approximate percent of grant funds allocated to each):

Program/Services

General Operating Support

Organizational Capacity Building

Capital

Signature, Chair, Board of Directors

Date

Signature, Executive Director

Date

II. Grant Application Narrative

Please provide the following information.

1. Organization Information: a) Brief summary of your organization’s history. b. Brief statement of your organization’s mission and goals. b) Brief statement of your organization’s mission and goals.

2. Executive Summary: Briefly explain the purpose of this grant, what outcomes you hope to achieve and how you will spend the funds if you receive the grant. (250-word limit)

3. Describe the population to be served through this grant (note that AEF funding is for children and youth ages birth to 20).

4. Health Need: Describe the demonstrated health need(s) for this population you intend to meet through this grant (inclusive of physical, mental, and social well-being). Explain if/how this is an urgent or growing issue. Include any data or evidence describing this need.

5. Programs and Services: Describe the programs, services, and/or solutions you offer to meet these needs and that will be addressed with this grant. If you are using evidence-based or evidence-informed approaches to develop and implement your programs and services, please describe. If you are using novel or innovative approaches to solving health issues affecting children and youth, please describe.

6. Outreach and enrollment: Describe how you find your participants/clients, and/or how they learn about or are referred to you. What is the demand for your services? For example, how many people request your services vs how many people you can serve per year?

7. Impact: Describe the impact you are having on the children and youth you serve. Include any evidence of this impact you might have (e.g., data or evaluation results).

8. Geographic Focus: Indicate the geographic area you will serve through this grant. Indicate the number or percent of children and youth you anticipate serving in Cuyahoga and/or Summit counties.

9. Equity and Inclusion: Describe how your organization is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion, addressing health disparities, and/or meeting the needs of marginalized or underserved children.

10. Collaboration and Partnerships: If you collaborate or partner with other organizations to provide the services to be funded with this grant, please list those organizations, and describe the partnerships (e.g., other nonprofit organizations, community groups, local government agencies, schools, hospitals, health departments, etc.).

11. Monitoring and evaluation: Describe how you monitor your programs and outcomes.

For Applicants Requesting General Operating Support: Describe how a general operating support grant will help your organization and help you to positively impact the children and youth you serve.

For Applicants Requesting Organizational Capacity Building Support: Describe your organizational needs and how the grant fund will be used to meet those needs. Provide as much detail as possible, including your timeline, how the project will be implemented, and any consultants or vendors you intend to engage or products or services you intend to purchase.

For Applicants Requesting Support for a Capital Grant: 1) Purpose and Impact. Describe the proposed capital project, why it is needed, and the anticipated impact it will have on your organization and/or the children and youth you serve. 2) Status and Timetable. Describe the status of this project. Has it started yet? What is the timeline for completion? 3) Sustainability. Would this grant from AEF cover the full cost of this Capital project? If not, list other financing sources or strategies you are developing.

III. Organization Details

Please provide the following information.

Staff list: List the staff responsible for implementing this grant and a brief description of their qualifications (alternatively, you can attach their resumes).

Board of Directors (Include occupation and place of employment)

Strategic Plan (if you have one)

Evaluation Results (if you have them)

Funding Sources: Provide a list of foundations, corporations, and governmental agencies that have funded your organization in the last two years (including dollar amounts). Also list all your current funding/revenue sources and the percent of total revenue from each (e.g., 40% from foundation grants, 20% from fee-for-service, 10% from individual donors, etc.).

Audited Financial Statement (most recent year)

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Organizational Budget (current fiscal year)

Project Budget for this Grant (if different from your Organizational Budget)

Additional Attachments

Feel free to include additional information you feel will support your grant application (optional).

Upload files

Max. file size: 50 MB.