The Community Trust Foundation (CTF) is one of 30 community foundations in 10 Appalachian states, selected to participate in READY Community Foundations, a track of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) capacity-building initiative, READY Appalachia. READY Community Foundations provides no-cost training and funding access to help Appalachia’s local philanthropic organizations improve their programming, operations, fundraising and financial impact.
“ARC remains committed to providing our Appalachian communities with the resources they need to build toward a prosperous future, including training to strengthen community foundation capacity,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Through the training provided by READY Community Foundations, Appalachia’s philanthropic organizations will be better able to respond to community needs and foster economic development in the areas they serve.”
Following completion of the training program, participants will be eligible to apply for up to $25,000 in funding to implement internal capacity-building projects that will help them better serve their Appalachian community.
“We are honored to be selected and excited about the funding opportunity,” said Leah Shaffer, CTF executive director. “Capacity building support is vital to achieving new levels of effectiveness in fulfilling our mission, yet difficult to find. We’re thankful the ARC recognizes our community foundation as a change maker worthy of their resources.”